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India Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Why Mahesh Babu's Khaleja is finally getting the love it missed 15 years ago
The final dialogue from the film 'Khaleja', 'Athbhutham jarige tappudu evvaru gurthinchaleru, jarigina tharuvatha evvaru gurthinchalsina avasaram ledu' which translates to, 'No one recognises a miracle while it's happening; and once it's done, there's no need to recognise it" - has come to reflect the film's own journey. What was once seen as a commercial failure in 2010 has now, fifteen years later, turned into a record-breaking success with its re-release. A miracle that went unnoticed at first, only to be celebrated long after it had quietly made a film's success is judged by its box office performance. But is that the only metric? This debate of success versus impact has existed for as long as cinema itself. Box office numbers depend on much more than just the quality of the film: timing, audience sensibilities, release competition, packaging, genre, the star's momentum. All of these played a part in the film's box office success. But, if success also means longevity, cultural relevance and emotional celebration, then a good film will always find its way into the hearts of audiences, even if it takes are countless examples in Indian cinema. From Guru Dutt's Kaagaz Ke Phool and Raj Kapoor's Mera Naam Joker to Shah Rukh Khan's Swades, films that failed at first found cult status later. Telugu cinema too has its share of such films, including Ram Charan's 'Orange', Rana's 'Leader', Ravi Teja's Neninthe, and among them, Mahesh Babu and Trivikram's Khaleja stands out as a film whose second life seems far more powerful than its Khaleja Failed to Impress in 2010advertisement Released on October 7, 2010, Khaleja arrived with high expectations. It marked the reunion of Mahesh Babu and Trivikram Srinivas after Athadu, a film that also gained widespread recognition after its satellite run. By then, Mahesh had already become a mass hero following Pokiri. However, his previous two films - Sainikudu and Athidi - were commercial disappointments, and Khaleja marked his comeback after a three-year the film's promotional interviews, when asked about his hiatus and the role in Khaleja, Mahesh Babu remarked, 'I felt a sense of monotony with the characters I was playing. I wanted to break out of that bubble, so I went all in with this one. Alluri Seetharama Raju in Khaleja is the most challenging and significant role of my career.' This shift in tone and the long gap between films contributed to heightened expectations among too, was riding high after Pawan Kalyan's Jalsa, and expectations were sky-high. But, upon its release, Khaleja received mostly negative responses. Critics pointed to its confusing themes, uneven screenplay and the lack of strong action moments. Despite Mahesh Babu's entertaining performance, fans were divided. The film also released around the same time as Rajinikanth and Shankar's Enthiran, which affected Khaleja's run in an interview with iDream, producer C Kalyan remarked, 'Before common audiences saw the merit in the film, Mahesh Babu's fans themselves killed the film. Their expectations were high, expecting a mass entertainer, but here he was, doing comedy which people didn't accept. They compared it to Robot (Endhiran) and dismissed it. But, I knew Khaleja would become a trendsetter.'What Makes Khaleja an Over-Time Classic?While Khaleja may not be a perfect film, several of its elements are undeniably striking. Mahesh Babu as Alluri Sitarama Raju, a taxi driver, is fresh, humorous, grounded and entirely believable. His reactions, one-liners and comedy timing add a layer of spontaneity. Even in high-stakes sequences, he never breaks the character of Seetharama Raju. His iconic use of "Bhayya!" became a pop culture comedy is another high point. It's woven into the fabric of the narrative, not added as filler but as organic, dialogue-heavy moments. The chase scene involving Govardhan in the second half is a great example. The intensity is contrasted by its quirky energy, making it both entertaining and Trivikram attempts to layer deeper philosophical ideas into the plot, about God, purpose and faith. At the film's success meet, the director, explaining the core of the film, said, 'After the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna ruled for many years. He died a normal man, his children were killed, thieves looted the kingdom. We don't talk about that because, to us, he is God when he speaks the Bhagavad Gita. Similarly, when an auto driver saves a man in an accident, he becomes God to that man, for that moment, for the outside world, he is an ordinary auto driver. Similarly, our hero.' It's a bold, layered idea. One that took time to be understood and Trivikram's signature dialogue writing elevated the film, intense lines like "Gaali velu chusthundi (the wind will lead the way) or 'Nela vollu virucukuntundi sidda (The earth will tear apart its skin, Sidda), or the famous monologue in the climax are now quoted with reverence, not just for their meaning, but for their literary time, social media discourse, decoding videos, and re-watches have also brought attention to the film's aesthetics, from Mani Sharma's music to the cinematography and production Khaleja a Perfect Film?Despite its cult following, many of the film's original criticisms still hold. The pacing is slow. While the chemistry between Mahesh Babu and Anushka works, her character Subhashini's role, too, feels underwritten. The villain, a corporate mining kingpin, comes across as a convenient caricature in an otherwise ambitious importantly, the film fails to invest enough time in its central theme. About 50 per cent of Khaleja is comedy, 40 per cent is set up, and barely 10 per cent is devoted to exploring the idea of godhood and existentialism. The one scene where Seetharama Raju has his realisation is brilliant, but there should have been more such moments to lend weight to the for all its flaws, Khaleja is a rare attempt. A film that blends philosophy, humour and commercial sensibilities in a way Telugu cinema hadn't seen before. It may not have worked in 2010, but fifteen years on, its resonance is louder than ever.
India.com
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
This hero's debut movie broke records of Dharmendra, Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan; It was a love story, featured…, film's name is…
The showman of Bollywood, veteran actor Raj Kapoor, was a leading filmmaker during the 'golden age' of Indian cinema. He and his family ruled the Hindi film industry. Like his father, Prithviraj Kapoor, he first acted and then brought his three sons into this profession. His eldest son, Rishi Kapoor, became more successful in films. To bring Rishi Kapoor into the industry so soon was not planned. In 1970, Raj made the biggest film of his career, 'Mera Naam Joker' . He invested almost all his savings in this film. He also introduced his son, Rishi Kapoor, as a child actor. It was expected that this film would be a blockbuster, but it did not happen. The film flopped badly, and Raj Kapoor lost all his money. After three years, Raj had to return with something solid, so he decided to launch his son Rishi Kapoor. He was the last hope for Raj and they released Bobby movie in 1973. The movie features debutants Rishi and Dimple Kapadia. It was a musical romantic film that was inspired by the Archies comics. Bobby became a blockbuster, securing the position of highest highest-grossing Indian film of that year. Raj Kapoor also made a strong comeback and recovered financially. Bobby was the highest-grossing film of 1973 and, adjusted for inflation, it earned the equivalent of Rs 1,853.94 crore in 2025. No one believed that this new boy would make such a splash with his first film in front of superstar actors like Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Amitabh Bachchan. The movie broke records of all the famous actors mentioned above.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Prithviraj Kapoor had strictly forbidden women of the house from working; Mumtaz was forced to turn down Shammi Kapoor's proposal
Mumtaz was still a newbie in the Hindi movie industry in the 1960s, when she appeared in the hit song 'Aaj Kal Tere Mere Pyaar Ke Charche' in the Shammi Kapoor-starrer film Brahmachari. They fell in love as soon as they met and Shammi proposed to her, but Mumtaz had to turn down his proposal despite being in love with him. In a recent interview, Mumtaz said that Prithviraj Kapoor, the father of Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor and Raj Kapoor, had a strict rule for the women of the house, and especially the daughters-in-law. Mumtaz said that Prithviraj forbade them from working so if Mumtaz was to marry Shammi, she would have to give up on her dreams, and she did not want to do that. In a chat with Radio Nasha Official, Mumtaz recalled, 'He proposed to me. Papaji (Prithviraj Kapoor) was very particular. He didn't want that the daughter-in-law should work, as simple as that. So Shammi ji told me that he doesn't want you to work, you have to give up and I was very ambitious. I said mujhe kaam karna hai (I want to work). He said Papaji is saying no.' Mumtaz shared that it was during this time that Raj Kapoor was casting for Mera Naam Joker, and she lost out on a role in the film because he did not want to go against his father's rules. 'There was one role where they cast that foreigner woman. Raj ji took my pictures and I was looking so beautiful because I was much younger so he asked Shammi ji, 'Shammi tu shaadi kar raha hai kya? (Shammi, are you getting married?)' He said, 'I don't know, it depends'. Obviously, he didn't know for himself so Raj ji said, 'I can't take you because there is this rule in the house',' she recalled. ALSO READ | Sikandar: Anurag Kashyap's right; Bollywood is doomed if stars like Salman Khan enable the Snapchat-ification of cinema Mumtaz was very serious about her career so she gave up on her love for Shammi but insisted that the Kapoor family was right for making this rule. 'I don't blame them. They are right and this was their rule. Now the younger generation has started working. Earlier, they made Geeta Bali leave her work as well. And I respect that Papaji had this rule. Even today, there are so many people who don't approve of their wife's job,' she said. Shammi had been previously married to Geeta Bali, until she passed in 1965. He then married Neila Devi in 1969. Mumtaz married businessman Mayur Madhvani in 1974. In the same chat, Mumtaz recalled her last meeting with Shammi Kapoor and teared up. She shared that she was invited to his last birthday by his wife. 'I went there and I saw him sitting on the chair and he was still drinking, I asked him, 'Why are you drinking when you're not well?' And that is the time I came to know… He said he won't live for long so then I said, 'You can drink, enjoy yourself.' He wanted to be happy so I didn't say anything. I sat with him for a while and then I came back home. It was very sad to see him dying,' she said and added, 'He was a wonderful person. He was a bit fussy about choosing because Shammi was such a beautiful man, if he wanted he could have had any woman but he was a very choosy man.' Shammi Kapoor passed away in 2011 at 79.
India.com
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Superstar Manoj Kumar once rejected kissing Zeenat Aman onscreen, but broke ‘no-intimacy' rule for this actress, was obliged due to…, the actress is…
At a time when romantic scenes were common in Bollywood films, the superstar of that era, Manoj Kumar, fondly known as Bharat Kumar, stood out. He was known not only for his patriotic roles but also for his principles. The most interesting thing about his principles was the no-intimacy policy in films. Manoj Kumar did not like to touch, hug or kiss any actress on screen. For him, it was not a matter of shame, but it was about his values and that image. Manoj Kumar never touched this heroine Actress Hema Malini, who has worked with Manoj Kumar in many films like Sanyasi, Dus Numbri, and Kranti, said. He said, 'He never used to touch the heroine in the scenes of romantic films, which made him different from other heroes. Manoj Kumar broke his 'no-kiss policy' for this actress Interestingly, there came a moment when Manoj Kumar broke his principles. The reason for this was none other than Raj Kapoor. In Mera Naam Joker, Manoj Kumar did a small kissing scene with actress Simi Garewal. This was the first and only romantic scene for the actor. Although he did not want to do this, he did it for Raj Kapoor. Let us tell you, he had deep respect for Raj Kapoor, and he could not refuse him. Refused to do a romantic scene with Zeenat Aman You will be surprised to know, but this is true. Manoj Kumar had clearly refused to do a romantic scene with Zeenat Aman in the film Roti Kapda Aur Makaan. Manoj Kumar said in a conversation with Subhash K Jha, 'In the film Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, the girl (Zeenat Aman) is dancing in the rain and is asking me to join her. How can I get wet when I'm going for a job interview and carrying a college degree? I have broken my no-intimacy rule only once in my life, and that was for Raj Kapoor. I kissed Simi Garewal in Mera Naam Joker. I couldn't say no to Raj sahab.'
News18
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Manoj Kumar Broke No-Intimacy Rule For A Kiss With Simi Garewal On Screen: 'Couldn't Say No...'
Last Updated: Yesteryear superstar Manoj Kumar, fondly known as Bharat Kumar, had a strict no-intimacy policy in films. In an era where romantic scenes were often the norm in Bollywood films, yesteryear superstar Manoj Kumar, fondly known as Bharat Kumar, stood out — not just for his patriotic roles, but also for his personal principles. One of the most intriguing of them? A strict no-intimacy policy in films. Yes, you read that right! Manoj Kumar simply didn't do physical romance on screen. No touching, no hugs, certainly no kisses. This wasn't about shyness — it was about his values and the image he carefully built as the upright, idealistic Indian hero. Actress Hema Malini, who worked with him in several films like Sanyasi, Dus Numbri, and Kranti, once shared a sweet anecdote that says it all. She said, 'He would never touch the heroine in the romantic scenes. Very sweet and lovely person, very nice and inspiring." But here's the interesting bit — there was one moment when he bent his own rule. And the reason? None other than Raj Kapoor. In Mera Naam Joker, Manoj Kumar shared a brief kissing scene with actress Simi Garewal — a first and only for the actor. It shocked many at the time, but Manoj Kumar later explained his rare exception with complete honesty: He had deep respect for Raj Kapoor and couldn't say no to him. That was it — one kiss in a lifetime of films. In fact, he even turned down a romantic scene with Zeenat Aman in Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, reportedly because he felt it didn't align with the image of Bharat Kumar and would disappoint his loyal fans. In a chat with Subhash K Jha, he had said, 'In Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, the girl (Zeenat Aman) is dancing in the rain and asking me to join her. How can I get wet when I am carrying my college degrees on the way to a job interview? I broke my no-intimacy rule only once, and that too for Raj Kapoor. I had a kiss with Simi Garewal in Mera Naam Joker. I couldn't say no to Rajsaab." Manoj Kumar Death Manoj Kumar passed away on April 4, 2025, at the age of 87. He breathed his last at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai due to heart-related complications and decompensated liver cirrhosis. In recognition of his contributions to Indian cinema, Kumar was given a state funeral at the Pawan Hans Crematorium in Mumbai on April 5. His mortal remains were draped in the national flag, and a police unit gave a three-volley gun salute. Celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Salim Khan, and others, attended the funeral to pay their respects. First Published:
