Bhubaneswar: Vijay Anand aka Goldie Anand, brother of Dev Saab has been a renowned film maker. The gems he had helmed are Guide, Teesri Manzil, Jewel Thief and Johny Mera Naam.
Vijay Anand during the Emergency period was directing a film that paired Amitabh Bachchan with Dharmendra to recreate the Sholay magic. Goldie had even scripted a song sequence where both – Dharmendra and Amitabh – could create the magic of Yeh Dosti Hum Nahin….
Due to clamping of Emergency, Vijay Anand was forced to make changes to the script. But when the film was on the verge of completion, the Emergency period was annulled by the government. After the end of the Emergency period, Vijay Anand was in two minds whether to re shoot the film or go ahead with his existing shoot. But he subsequently decided to continue. And the film hit the sliver screens on Nov 28, 1980 – exactly 44 year ago this day.
AMITABH DOWN WITH JAUNDICE
Jaundice a water transmitted disease had infected Big B. During the shooting of the film, B contracted jaundice. And the infection was so strong of MAitabh Bachchan that he didn’t come to shoot the film for 8 months.
AMITABH – REKHA LOVE ‘SILSILA’?
When the buzz in B-town then that Amitabh Bachchan – Rekha love affair blossomed in the film Do Anjaane, Amitabh and Rekha were together then seen in Muqadar Ka Sikandarand Natwar Lal, but the big gossip then was it is Amitabhy Bachchan who recommended Rekha’s name to Vijay Anand for his heroine in the Film.
While Zeenat Aman was signed for the film opposite Dharmendra on Dev Ananad’s recommendation, this is the first time that Rekha and Zeenat worked together in afilm. This was a big news then because, both were the contenders for the No 2 spot in mid 70s, when Dream Girl Hema Malini was No. 1 in B-town.
The Film where Rekha became heroine of Amitabh Bachchan was the 1980’s hit film Ram Balram. The chartbuster song Ek Raasta… Do Rahi, Ek Chor, Ek Sipahi.. was filmed to create the magic of Sholay’s Yeh Dosti…
FILM TRIVIA
- A scene in the film where Amitabh Bachchan lands in Goa and a beggar approaches him at the bus stand saying, Aami Garib Munis Goankar (means We are poor Goans) dialog didn't go well with Goans.
- Goans demanded a ban on the scene that showed them in bad light.
- Popular Konkani singer Bab Peter released a song on this scene highlighting how Goans were shown in bad light.
