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Time of India
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Chandra Barot struggled to promote Amitabh Bachchan's 'Don' after the producer's death, he settled Nariman Irani's debts after the film became a hit
Veteran filmmaker Chandra Barot passed away on Sunday (July 20) at the age of 86. The director had reportedly been battling pulmonary fibrosis. Following his demise, Amitabh Bachchan , who starred in the classic film 'Don' directed by Barot, shared a heartfelt note in his memory. Barot had once spoken about the financial struggles he faced during the release of 'Don' due to the untimely death of its producer. Barot revealed the financial struggles he endured while shooting Don In an old conversation with Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Barot opened up about the challenges 'Don' faced. Producer Nariman Irani passed away six months before the film's release, which significantly affected the production financially. 'Don' had to compete at the box office with major releases like Yash Chopra's 'Trishul', Satyajit Ray's 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi', 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram', and Prakash Mehra's 'Muqaddar Ka Sikandar'. As a debut director, Barot had to navigate this competitive landscape without sufficient funds to promote the film. Official confirmation for 'Aankhen 2' soon They had no money for promotion after the producer's death Barot revealed that the film was shot on a shoestring budget of just Rs 25 lakh. After Irani's demise, many aspects of the project were at risk. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Casa Maquista chefs explore turmeric's essence in Macanese cuisine. MGTO Undo Initially, the response to 'Don' was underwhelming. Theatres saw low footfall, and the film was almost written off as a flop. However, that changed rapidly, due to its promising music and the power of word-of-mouth publicity. 'It was a big disappointment and declared a flop because not many people turned up. Luckily for me, within a week, the song Khaike Paan Banaraswala became a big hit. Word-of-mouth publicity led to the film becoming a major success from the second week onwards. It ran for 50 weeks in all centres and for 75 weeks in Hyderabad,' Barot recalled. 'Don' became a hit due to its music and word-of-mouth reviews B arot credited music director Babla for delivering a track that ultimately turned the tide for 'Don'. He also acknowledged actor Manoj Kumar, who gave him crucial advice during the film's final cut. Manoj suggested that the film felt too dry and needed a song to lift its appeal. 'Don' was the only film at the time in which Amitabh appeared in a solo lead role, unlike his other projects that featured ensemble casts. This added to Barot's pressure as a first-time filmmaker. Barot offered financial support to the late producer's family After the film became a box office success, Barot and his team made sure that Irani's debts were settled. 'When it became a big hit, we gave the money to Salma Irani, the producer's widow, to settle her husband's debts,' he said. The film also featured Zeenat Aman, Pran, Iftekhar, Om Shivpuri, and Satyen Kappu in key roles.
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
When Chandra Barot recalled Amitabh Bachchan's Don being declared a flop and how Manoj Kumar's advice saved the film
Filmmaker Chandra Barot, best known for directing Amitabh Bachchan's cult classic Don, passed away on Sunday at the age of 86 following a prolonged battle with pulmonary fibrosis. While Don eventually went on to become a landmark film for both him and Big B, it wasn't an easy project to complete and release. In an old interview with Syed Firdaus Ashraf, Chandra Barot had revealed that Don faced severe financial troubles and was even declared a flop on the day of its release. He shared that the film's producer, Nariman Irani, passed away six months before its release, leaving the team without any money for promotions. This put the movie at a disadvantage as it was competing with major releases like Yash Chopra's Trishul and Shashi Kapoor's Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Adding to the challenge was the fact that Chandra was a debutant director. He said, 'Don was to hit screens on May 12, 1978. Two weeks before that date, Yash Chopra's Trishul was released and became a big hit. We had no money to promote Don because the producer Nariman Irani died six months before the release. There were other films out at around the same time — including Satyajit Ray's Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Satyam Shivam Sundaram and Prakash Mehra's Muqaddar Ka Sikandar — and I, as a debutant director, was a dwarf compared to them.' Chandra Barot also admitted that the pressure was high since Don was the only solo Amitabh Bachchan-starrer at the time, as his other films were all multi-starrers. He said, 'Moreover, Don was the only Amitabh film with him as the lead; his other projects were all multi-starrers. So, I was obviously nervous.' Chandra Barot revealed that the film was made on a modest budget of Rs 25 lakh. After the producer's death, they had to wrap the film on a constrained budget and couldn't afford any promotions. This lack of publicity meant there was barely any footfall on the first day. He explained, 'Don was shot with a budget of around Rs 25 lakh. After Nariman Irani's death, we somehow managed to wrap the film without any money for promotion.' However, luck was on their side. The song 'Khaike Paan Banaraswala' struck a chord with audiences and pulled them into theatres. The film's turnaround was driven entirely by word-of-mouth. 'It was a big disappointment and declared a flop because not many people turned up. Luckily for me, within a week, the song Khaike Paan Banaraswala became a big hit. Word of mouth publicity led to the film becoming a big hit from the second week on. It ran for 50 weeks in all centres and for 75 weeks in Hyderabad,' he said. Chandra Barot credited the film's music director Babla and actor Manoj Kumar for the film's success. The latter had advised him to add a song to provide relief from the fast-paced narrative. 'I must also thank Manoj Kumar, who told me a song was needed. When he saw it, he said the film was too tight. He said it made taking a toilet break difficult, because the story was so gripping! So, we included that song,' he said. In the end, Don's team ensured that the film's success helped deceased Nariman Irani's family. Sharing how they helped pay back the debts of the late producer, Chandra said, 'When it became a big hit, we gave the money to Salma Irani, the producer's widow, to settle her husband's debts.'
India.com
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
'I will not become....: director started abusing Zeenat Aman after she said no to..., the director was..., film was...
One of Bollywood's most iconic and trailblazing actresses of the 1970s and '80s, Zeenat Aman redefined glamour and boldness on-screen at a time when few dared to break the mould. The diva is known for her unconventional roles and striking screen presence. She became a trendsetter with films like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and Qurbani. In a recent candid conversation with Shemaroo Lifestyle, the actress shared a poignant moment from her early days in Bollywood. The actress, a reigning icon of the '70s with blockbusters like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Dharmveer, shared that she once turned down a role in Feroz Khan's Dharmatma and paid for it with an unexpected verbal backlash. 'Feroz Khan had offered me a second lead role in Dharmatma, which I declined. He got furious and later called me, hurling abuses. I was shocked. We didn't speak for a long time after that,' she revealed. Did the two ever reconcile? According to the reports, despite the sour exchange, fate had other plans. Years later, Feroz Khan returned with another offer, this time with a lead role. The film? The cult classic Qurbani. 'He called again and said, 'This time it's the lead role, Zeenat.' He was making Qurbani, and I said yes,' she recalled. The decision proved game-changing. Qurbani went on to become a massive hit, and Zeenat's role was hailed as one of her most iconic. Their professional dynamic warmed up post-release. 'After Qurbani, he started calling me chhoti begum,' she added with a smile. Was there a personal connection as well? Interestingly, yes. Zeenat Aman was briefly married to Feroz Khan's brother, actor Sanjay Khan. Their relationship, however, was short-lived and ended on a bitter note. Although her personal and professional journeys often intersected, Zeenat emerged as one of Bollywood's most enduring names. From slammed phones to silver screen success, Zeenat Aman's journey with Feroz Khan proves that sometimes, the biggest hits begin with the loudest 'no.'
India.com
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
This actress' suhagarat outfit landed Raj Kapoor in trouble, faced backlash for showing bold scenes, yet the film became blockbuster, name is…, lead actor was…
This actress' suhagarat outfit landed Raj Kapoor in trouble, faced backlash for showing bold scenes, yet the film became blockbuster, name is..., lead actor was... In Bollywood's golden era, few filmmakers dare to make films that break barriers like the legend Raj Kapoor did with one of his most iconic films Satyam Shivam Sundaram . Zeenat Aman who portrayed the role of Rupa, made headlines for playing such a groundbreaking character with utmost grace and poise. Released in 1978, the film not just made history, but was also caught in many controversies. Which scene in Satyam Shivam Sundaram created controversy? One was with the song Saiyan Nikas Gaye , that was set during the suhagraat (wedding night) sequence, featuring Zeenat Aman and Shashi Kapoor. Raj Kapoor's decision to conceptualise the whole song with Zeenat Aman in bold costumes and seductive poses was considered scandalous at the time. Especially, one scene in the song where she almost appeared nude shocked many traditional viewers. Zeenat Aman's revealing attires ignited widespread debate across the industry circles. Raj Kapoor was accused of objectifying the female form in guise of spirituality and innocence. As per reports, a case was filed against him by a man named Laxman from Himachal Pradesh, accusing that the film was obscene, and had inappropriate title. Lata Mangeshkar and Raj Kapoor had a fallout during the making? The film also caused a rift between Raj Kapoor and Lata Mangeshkar. While the legendary musician sang all the songs, she had a disagreement with Kapoor regarding the music composer. Even actor-filmmaker, Dev Anand criticised the film for its perceived sexualisation of women. However, despite all the controversies, Satyam Shivam Sundaram became a box office success. Many still wonder whether the bold scenes in the film were justified, but one thing was sure: the film dared to challenge conventions. Shashi Kapoor, who played the dashing engineer, and fell in love with Roopa's voice after seeing her face, matched Zeenat's on-screen intensity quiet well. Their chemistry created fireworks- credits to Raj Kapoor, who never shied away from public opinions when it comes to storytelling. Satyam Shivam Sundaram is still date remembered for its daring, unconventional themes, Zeenat's fearless performance and electrifying music.
India.com
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Vinod Khanna's actress broke all boundaries of boldness in one song, audiences were shocked, but it turned blockbuster hit, film was... her name is...
There's always been a certain poetic intensity to Raj Kapoor's cinema — but in 1978, he directed a film that stirred not just emotions but national headlines. That film was Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and while it became a box office blockbuster, it also earned notoriety for one unforgettable sequence. A legacy of cinema, a storm of controversy Casting his son Shashi Kapoor opposite the stunning Zeenat Aman, Raj Kapoor told a story that was visually rich — and unapologetically sensual. Zeenat played the character of Roopa, whose half-scarred face and full heart became the central emotional thread of the narrative. But the aesthetic boldness Kapoor brought to the screen had never been attempted at this level in Indian cinema. Costume clashes and cultural shock Zeenat's wardrobe in the film became the talk of the nation. Audiences weren't used to such skin-baring costumes, especially from mainstream actresses of the time. 'People lowered their gaze in theatres,' said critics who recalled the premiere. And yet, Zeenat carried the character with fierce confidence. The song that 'crossed all limits' The most debated moment came in the song 'Rang Mahal ke Das Darwaze…', filmed as a suhaag raat (wedding night) sequence. 'Raj Kapoor broke all boldness barriers in that scene,' said industry insiders. The visual styling — dimly lit but suggestive — created an uproar. 'She was almost shown nude,' many recalled. The scene, filled with intimate moments and suggestive visuals, remains etched in Bollywood folklore. Despite the backlash, the song — and the film — became instant favourites, both musically and theatrically. The pairing of Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman was hailed as iconic. 'Zeenat simply lit up the screen,' wrote a 70s-era reviewer, 'and Shashi looked regal as the groom.' A blockbuster that still whispers Despite public outrage and moral debates, Satyam Shivam Sundaram (1978) was a commercial hit. The film's soundtrack, story, and visuals still inspire conversations — proving once again that Raj Kapoor knew exactly how to blend art, beauty, and shock.
