Latest news with #MeraGaonMeraDesh
Mint
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mint
Raj Khosla@100: Asha Parekh remembers director who helped her break glam girl image with Do Badan
Mumbai, Jun 1 (PTI) Veteran actor Asha Parekh has credited the late writer-filmmaker Raj Khosla with recognising her potential beyond the "glam girl" image by offering her "Do Badan", a film that changed the trajectory of her career. At a retrospective event to mark Khosla's 100th birth anniversary on Saturday evening, Parekh said the filmmaker's decision to cast her in the 1966 drama came as a surprise to her as it went against the industry's perception of her. "Everyone in the industry thought I was just a glam girl, a dancing girl and that I am not a good actress. I do not know what Raj ji had in mind when he came to me and offered me 'Do Badan'. The critics wrote good things about me and my work in the film. It gave me confidence to do more such films," Parekh said at a panel discussion. "Do Badan" tells the story of two lovers -- Asha (Parekh), a wealthy young woman, and Vikas (Manoj Kumar), an orphan -- whose romance takes a tragic turn due to a series of unforeseen events. The film, which became a box-office hit on its release, also featured Simi Garewal and Pran in pivotal roles. The Dadasaheb Phalke award winner revealed that initially, her contemporary, Rakhee, was supposed to star in the film. "I remember, Raj ji called me and said, 'I want to talk to you'. I said, 'okay'. He came home and narrated the story. After the narration, I told him to promise me to make the film as it is. It was a beautifully-written film. It was poetic. I remember, women would cry watching the film," Parekh said. The actor also shared that she had suggested a different climax to Khosla for "Do Badan", one where only her character would die. However, after further discussions, Kumar convinced the director to go with a more tragic ending in which both lovers meet their fate. "He would say what he wanted but leave the artists to emote the way they want," Parekh said about their collaborative process. After "Do Badan", the two also collaborated in "Chirag" (1969), "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" (1971) and "Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki" (1978). Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt was also part of the panel discussion along with Amborish Roychoudhury, the author of "Raj Khosla: The Authorised Biography", and Khosla's daughter, Anita. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), moderated the panel discussion. Khosla gave Hindi cinema some of its most memorable songs like "Lag Jaa Gale", "Mera Saaya", "Jhumka Gira Re", "Kahin Pe Nigaahen Kahin Pe Nishaana", "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan", "Nazar Lagi Raja Tore Bangle Par", "Hai Apna Dil To Awara" and many more. Parekh said she loved the way Khosla shot the song sequences in his movies. "When you work in four films, the whole unit becomes like a family.... Raj ji came from the Guru Dutt school, there was a little bit of Guru Dutt ji that he had while doing (songs)," she said. The daylong retrospective, titled "Raj Khosla 100 -- Bambai Ka Babu", was curated by the FHF at the Regal Cinema in south Mumbai. As part of the celebrations, three of Khosla's acclaimed films -- "CID" (1956), "Bambai Ka Babu" (1960) and "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" -- were screened. The first two films have been restored in 4K resolution by the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and National Film Archive of India (NFAI) under the National Film Heritage Mission, an initiative of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Parekh said re-watching "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" brought back fresh memories. "It did bring back fresh memories. I had the most fun working with him. I wish I could see the entire film, but I had to leave," the veteran actor told PTI. "It was a film that was different from the films I was doing. It had beautiful songs. Laxmi Chayya had a better role than I, but despite that, I stood my ground," she added. Earlier in the day, actor Raima Sen introduced "Bambai Ka Babu", which featured her late grandmother, Suchitra Sen, opposite Dev Anand. Sen said she is glad that these classic films are being reintroduced and thanked the FHF for taking the initiative to commemorate Khosla's work. "I am excited to introduce this film, which is my favourite film. For her (Suchitra Sen), to take up this subject was a very bold move because it was not conventional and she was a star. "So to do an unusual film story of a brother and a sister, who till the end do not know that they are brother and sister, and the romance between the two, I think the film was way ahead of its time," Sen said.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Raj Khosla@100: Asha Parekh remembers director who helped her break 'glam girl' image with 'Do Badan'
Mumbai, Veteran actor Asha Parekh on Saturday credited the late writer-filmmaker, Raj Khosla, with recognising her potential beyond the "glam girl" image by offering her "Do Badan", a film that changed the trajectory of her career. At a retrospective event to mark Khosla's 100th birth anniversary, Parekh said the filmmaker's decision to cast her in the 1966 drama came as a surprise to her as it went against the industry's perception of her. "Everyone in the industry thought I was just a glam girl, a dancing girl and that I am not a good actress. I do not know what Raj ji had in mind when he came to me and offered me 'Do Badan'. The critics wrote good things about me and my work in the film. It gave me confidence to do more such films," Parekh said at a panel discussion. "Do Badan" tells the story of two lovers Asha , a wealthy young woman, and Vikas , an orphan whose romance takes a tragic turn due to a series of unforeseen events. The film, which became a box-office hit on its release, also featured Simi Garewal and Pran in pivotal roles. The Dadasaheb Phalke award winner revealed that initially, her contemporary, Rakhee, was supposed to star in the film. "I remember, Raj ji called me and said, 'I want to talk to you'. I said, 'okay'. He came home and narrated the story. After the narration, I told him to promise me to make the film as it is. It was a beautifully-written film. It was poetic. I remember, women would cry watching the film," Parekh said. The actor also shared that she had suggested a different climax to Khosla for "Do Badan", one where only her character would die. However, after further discussions, Kumar convinced the director to go with a more tragic ending in which both lovers meet their fate. "He would say what he wanted but leave the artists to emote the way they want," Parekh said about their collaborative process. After "Do Badan", the two also collaborated in "Chirag" , "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" and "Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki" . Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt was also part of the panel discussion along with Amborish Roychoudhury, the author of "Raj Khosla: The Authorised Biography", and Khosla's daughter, Anita. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the Film Heritage Foundation , moderated the panel discussion. Khosla gave Hindi cinema some of its most memorable songs like "Lag Jaa Gale", "Mera Saaya", "Jhumka Gira Re", "Kahin Pe Nigaahen Kahin Pe Nishaana", "Yeh Hai Bombay Meri Jaan", "Nazar Lagi Raja Tore Bangle Par", "Hai Apna Dil To Awara" and many more. Parekh said she loved the way Khosla shot the song sequences in his movies. "When you work in four films, the whole unit becomes like a family.... Raj ji came from the Guru Dutt school, there was a little bit of Guru Dutt ji that he had while doing ," she said. The daylong retrospective, titled "Raj Khosla 100 Bambai Ka Babu", was curated by the FHF at the Regal Cinema in south Mumbai. As part of the celebrations, three of Khosla's acclaimed films "CID" , "Bambai Ka Babu" and "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" were screened. The first two films have been restored in 4K resolution by the National Film Development Corporation and National Film Archive of India under the National Film Heritage Mission, an initiative of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Parekh said re-watching "Mera Gaon Mera Desh" brought back fresh memories. "It did bring back fresh memories. I had the most fun working with him. I wish I could see the entire film, but I had to leave," the veteran actor told PTI. "It was a film that was different from the films I was doing. It had beautiful songs. Laxmi Chayya had a better role than I, but despite that, I stood my ground," she added. Earlier in the day, actor Raima Sen introduced "Bambai Ka Babu", which featured her late grandmother, Suchitra Sen, opposite Dev Anand. Sen said she is glad that these classic films are being reintroduced and thanked the FHF for taking the initiative to commemorate Khosla's work. "I am excited to introduce this film, which is my favourite film. For her , to take up this subject was a very bold move because it was not conventional and she was a star. "So to do an unusual film story of a brother and a sister, who till the end do not know that they are brother and sister, and the romance between the two, I think the film was way ahead of its time," Sen said.
News18
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Film Heritage Foundation Celebrates Raj Khosla's 100th Birth Anniversary With Restored Classics
Last Updated: Raj Khosla's centenary will be celebrated with restored 4K screenings of C.I.D., Bambai Ka Babu & more at Mumbai's Regal Cinema. Free public event. On the occasion of legendary filmmaker Raj Khosla's 100th birth anniversary, the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) has announced a day-long celebration titled 'Raj Khosla 100 – Bambai Ka Babu'. Taking place on May 31, 2025, at Mumbai's historic Regal Cinema, the event will offer a rare chance to revisit some of Khosla's most iconic films on the big screen—restored to their original cinematic glory. The retrospective will feature special screenings of C.I.D. (1956), Bambai Ka Babu (1960), and Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971). Two of these films—C.I.D. and Bambai Ka Babu—have been restored in 4K resolution by the NFDC – National Film Archive of India under the National Film Heritage Mission, a government initiative dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Indian cinema. The event will also include a panel discussion featuring distinguished guests such as veteran actress Asha Parekh, filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, and Amborish Roychoudhury, author of Raj Khosla: The Authorized Biography. Together, they will reflect on Khosla's cinematic vision and the cultural impact of his diverse body of work. Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, Director of Film Heritage Foundation, described Khosla as 'the Howard Hawks of Indian cinema," referencing his mastery across genres—from thrillers and musicals to romance and action. 'He was a filmmaker whose name on the hoarding was as important as his stars," Dungarpur noted, adding that Khosla's innovative storytelling and nuanced depiction of strong female characters made him a trailblazer. 'We are proud to celebrate his centenary with this retrospective, and grateful to the NFDC for restoring two of his classics for the occasion." For Asha Parekh, who worked with Khosla on several hits including Do Badan and Mera Gaon Mera Desh, the tribute is deeply personal. 'He gave me one of my most memorable performances," she said. 'His understanding of emotions and song picturization was unmatched. I'm thrilled the Film Heritage Foundation is keeping his legacy alive for new generations." Mahesh Bhatt, in a heartfelt statement, recalled Khosla as a philosophical mentor. 'He once told me fame is like starlight—traveling across time even after the star is gone. Raj Sahab was that star. His influence lives on in all of us who were lucky enough to be shaped by him." NFDC Managing Director Prakash Magdum emphasized the importance of the restored versions being screened. 'Bombai Ka Babu has been preserved in our collection for decades, and showcasing it in 4K for the first time is a landmark moment. It's our honor to present these restored prints during such an important celebration." The screenings are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis—part of Film Heritage Foundation's ongoing mission to make classic cinema accessible and preserve India's rich film legacy. The foundation has previously curated tributes to cinematic icons like Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Amitabh Bachchan, earning praise for its commitment to cultural preservation. Over the course of his three-decade career, Raj Khosla directed 27 films that redefined the grammar of Hindi cinema. From his early days as an assistant to Guru Dutt to his collaborations with stars like Dev Anand and Asha Parekh, Khosla was an architect of visual storytelling whose work bridged art and commerce. He introduced a lyrical style to thrillers, reinvented romance with psychological depth, and pioneered narrative song sequences that would become standard across Bollywood. As Raj Khosla 100 – Bambai Ka Babu brings his work back to the silver screen, audiences old and new will get to experience the light of a cinematic star whose brilliance refuses to fade. First Published: May 31, 2025, 17:54 IST
The Print
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Print
Cinema meant everything to my father: filmmaker Raj Khosla's daughter Sunita
Legacy was something that Khosla never thought off or even talked about with his family, said Sunita, the second of the director's five daughters. Khosla was an important figure in Hindi with several hits like 'C.I.D.' (1956), 'Woh Kaun Thi?' (1964), 'Mera Saaya' (1966), 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh' (1971) and 'Dostana' (1980) to his credit. His 100th birth anniversary will be celebrated on Saturday. Mumbai, May 30 (PTI) Cinema meant everything to Raj Khosla and he kept working till the very end, says daughter Sunita Bhalla, reminiscing about the director's career and the close bond he shared with Guru Dutt, Dev Anand and Vijay Anand. 'He never thought or talked about legacy, like what he is going to leave behind. He just worked and worked. That's all he did all his life. He never regretted what he did. He never regretted his work. He loved his work. He was very happy with what he did till the end. Cinema meant everything to him,' Sunita told PTI in an interview. Khosla would take good care of people who worked with him and maintained a calm atmosphere on his sets, she said. 'He used to enjoy his work and that was the best part… The stars used to enjoy working with him. He would just say, 'Give your best.' Everybody worked so happily with him. He worked with many top actresses — from Madhubala, Sadhana, Mumtaz, Waheeda Rehman, and Asha Parekh, and others,' she added. Among the over 25 films that her father made as a director, Sunita said she loved 'C.I.D.', 'Bombai Ka Babu' and 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh'. She remembered being on the set of 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh', which featured Dharmendra and Asha Parekh in lead roles with Vinod Khanna playing the antagonist. 'It was in Udaipur. I saw my dad taking shots for the movie, the song 'Maar Diya Jaye Ke Chhod Diya Jaye', which is such a brilliant song, was shot in the studios. 'Apni Prem Kahaniyan' was another memorable track. 'We fell in love with the costumes and jewellery and we would tell dad we wanted to wear all that,' Sunita said, adding that she also saw the shooting of 'Dostana' in Ooty, and 'Kachche Dhage' in Mahabaleshwar. Dev Anand and Guru Dutt played a pivotal role in Khosla's life. The director wanted to be a playback but destiny had different plans for him. He served as an assistant director to Dutt before making his directorial debut with 'Milap' in 1955. Anand and Khosla collaborated on several hits, including 'C.I.D.', 'Kala Pani' and 'Solva Saal'. Sunita said the bond between the trio was 'strong' and unbreakable. 'I've been with him to Dev Anand's house. He had close association with Chetan Anand and Guru Dutt. So, it was four of them together. They would often talk about films. I remember a discussion around who would direct 'Guide'. Some of the portion was shot by dad also, and then Vijay Anand took over after that.' She said Bhatt considered Khosla as a mentor. 'He was an assistant at that time, working under him, assisting in movies and all that.' Khosla was also close friends with poet lyricist Majrooh Sultanpuri, lyricist Anand Bakshi, filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee and writer Rahi Masoom Raza. 'They were like a family (Bakshis). I must be 14 or 15 maybe that time. There were so many good moments… Rahi Masoom Raza was his close friend. He also had a bond with Majrooh Sultanpuri, and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. With Hrishkesh Mukherjee, he used to play chess everyday. That's how he used to pass his time in the evenings.' Sunita shared that as a father had set certain rules for his five daughters to follow and weekends were always reserved as 'family time.' 'He used to make sure that all five of us used to be in the house at seven o'clock in the evening. Nobody was allowed to go anywhere (after that) unless we told him. Every Saturday,Sunday, we used to have family time at our ancestral house. My grandfather would be there and keep all our stuff ready for us. We used to eat biryani over there, and enjoy it,' she added. Despite making some of the most critically-acclaimed films of Hindi cinema, Sunita believes her father hasn't been appreciated much. And that's why a retrospective to commemorate his 100th birth anniversary is a 'special' moment for the family, she added. 'All the heroines and people who have worked with him should come together and just honour him. That's all my request from the industry. I would appreciate it if people in the industry understood and just honoured him,' Sunita said. Titled 'Raj Khosla 100 – Bambai Ka Babu', the event will take place on May 31 at Mumbai's Regal Cinema and also features a special panel discussion on the legacy of one of Indian cinema's most versatile directors. As part of the celebrations, three of Khosla's acclaimed films — 'C.I.D.' (1956), 'Bambai Ka Babu' (1960), and 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh' (1971) — will be screened. PTI KKP RB BK BK This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Mumbai's Regal theatre to screen Bambai Ka Babu, CID, Mera Gaon Mera Desh during Centenary celebration of Raj Khosla
The face-off between Dharmendra, essaying the character of a reformed petty thief-turned-farmer Ajit, and Vinod Khanna as dreaded dacoit Jabbar Singh will play out on the screen of Regal, the city's heritage single-screen theatre, on Saturday evening as it will showcase Mera Gaon Mera Desh (1971). The screening is organised as part of its director Raj Khosla's birth centenary celebration and will be introduced by one of the film's leading actor Asha Parekh. A day-long mini-retrospective of the popular writer-director's movies, titled 'Raj Khosla 100 – Bambai Ka Babu', organised by the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) at Regal on Saturday, commemorates this 100th birth anniversary. The event will also hold screenings of Khosla's C.I.D. (1956) and Bambai Ka Babu (1960), which have been restored in 4K resolution by the National Film Archive of India (NFDC). His just-published biography, written by Amborish Roychoudhury, will be released. In a career spanning three decades and 27 films, Khosla is known for his remarkable song picturisation in the 1950s and 60s as well as revolutionising the way music was integrated into Indian film narratives. Born in Punjab (now in Pakistan), he shifted to Bombay with dreams of becoming a playback singer. Instead, he ended up being an assistant director on Guru Dutt's directorial debut, Baazi (1951), which featured actor Dev Anand. Though Khosla's directorial debut, Milap (1955), was not a box-office hit, he went on to direct several successful entertainers — from neo-noir crime dramas like CID (1956) and Solva Saal (1958) to the haunting Woh Kaun Thi? (1964) and Mera Saaya (1966). Describing Raj Khosla as 'the Howard Hawks of Indian cinema' for his remarkable ability to successfully make films in every genre from thrillers, whodunits, musicals, action adventure to love stories and dacoit films, Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of Film Heritage Foundation says: 'Raj-ji excelled in song picturisation and was known for having strong female characters in his films. It inspired me as an upcoming filmmaker when I saw images of his hoardings that had a director's chair with his name emblazoned on it.' Parekh counts Do Badan, Chirag, Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki and Mera Gaon Mera Desh — directed by Khosla — among her favourite films. 'Before my first film, Do Badan, with Raj Khosla, I was known more for my dancing and glamorous roles. Do Badan that changed people's perception of me as an actress that could perform more serious roles. He was a very fine filmmaker and his song picturization was remarkable,' says the Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipient. 'This screening at Regal, Mumbai is a unique opportunity for the cinema lovers to view, for the first time ever, Bombai Ka Babu in 4K restored version. We are also showcasing another classic, CID, restored by NFDC-NFAI,' says Prakash Magdum, managing director of NFDC.
