EXCLUSIVE: Prem Chopra calls Rajesh Khanna a Superstar for delivering 20 out of 25 super duper hits; recalls Amitabh Bachchan’s perseverance during career low

Bollywood Bubble

July 23, 2024
2:52 pm
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While on The Invincibles season 2, Prem Chopra spoke highly of his costars including Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand & Dilip Kumar. Read on

Prem Chopra on working with Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand

Praising co-stars Dilip Kumar and Dev Anand for their work ethics, Prem Chopra tells Arbaaz Khan, “Dilip Saab used to be so active, you would see him agile as soon as you would come on sets. Everyone used to be inspired seeing him. After working with him for 1 week continuously, you will talk like him, and walk like him. Kaafi actors ne Dev saab ke film mein unhi ke nakal karke dialogues bolte the. He would scold them saying, ‘Tum log aisa bologe toh main kya karunga.’ He had a great sense of humour. Very hardworking and a great gentleman. Dilip saab was the greatest actor we have ever had in this country. (Many actors used to copy Dev Anand when delivering dialogues. He used to scold them saying, ‘If you guys do it, then what do I do?’)”

Prem on working with Rajesh Khanna

Talking about Kaka – the first superstar of Indian cinema, Prem Chopra said, “Rajesh Khanna Saab, superstar hi the uss waqt ke. 25 picture ki hongi jisme se 20 picture super duper hit hui thi. People were very fond of him because he was a very nice actor but, there was something about him that people didn’t like him. (Rajesh Khanna was a superstar at that time. Out of the 25 films he did, 20 were super-duper hits. People were very fond of him because he was a very nice actor, but there was something about him that people didn’t like.)”

He continued, “9 baje ki shift joh hoti this, unka 12-12.30 hojata tha, toh sab tayyar hota tha. Unke absence mein sab bolte the, ‘Aree kya yaar, dekho sab tayyar hai, sab baithe hue hai.’ Jab Rajesh Khanna aata tha, ‘Haa, aaiye aaiye saab aaiye aaiye, lunch ke baad kaam kare’ toh woh (Rajesh Khanna) kehte he ‘nahi nahi abhi shuru kardete hai’. (Shifts used to be scheduled to stars at 9 AM, but he would arrive around 12 or 12:30 PM. Everyone would be ready, and in his absence, people would crib, ‘Oh man, look, everyone is ready and just sitting here. Time’s getting wasted.’ But when Rajesh Khanna used to arrive, they would say, ‘Yes, yes, come in sir, come in. We’ll work after lunch’. To which Rajesh Khanna would respond, ‘No, no, let’s start now’.)”

He also spoke about how Rajesh and he went on to star in many films together.

Prem Chopra on Amitabh Bachchan’s trials

During the chat, Prem Chopra spoke about Amitabh Bachchan and his never-give-up spirit despite facing career lows. The ‘Animal’ actor said, “He had to face a lot of flops before he succeeded because here were some people… Director Shridhar was there and another person was there and Amitabh and I were there. Shridhar kehte hai, ‘Agar meri yeh picture nahi chali na toh main zameen pe aa jaauga, sadak pe aajauga, because nobody would take me’. Amitabh said, ‘Aisa kyu bolte hai aap, meri taraf dekhiye, meri lagataar picture flop hui hai, lekin I have confidence ki ek din main bhi aaunga aur zoro shoro se aaunga. So that was a great thing. That’s why he succeeded.

(He had to face a lot of flops before he succeeded because there were some people… Director Shridhar was there, and another person was there, along with Amitabh and myself. Shridhar said, ‘If this picture doesn’t work, I will be finished, I’ll be out on the streets because nobody would take me.’ Amitabh replied, ‘Why do you say that? Look at me, my movies have continuously flopped, but I have confidence that one day I will make it, and I will come back with a bang.’ So, that was a great thing, and that’s why he succeeded.)

Watch Prem Chopra’s full interview here: