EXCLUSIVE: Ramesh Sippy reveals Mumtaz was the first choice for Seeta Aur Geeta, opens up on why Hema Malini replaced her

Filmmaker Ramesh Sippy is known for delivering one of the iconic movies of Indian Cinema, Sholay. Well, he has always made a cinema which was ahead of time. He began his career by helming Andaz, a film that promoted the idea of widow remarriage and went on to make comedy yet emotional film Seeta Aur Geeta. Both the films starrer dream girl Hema Malini. However, did you know Hema Malini had replaced Mumtaz in Seeta Aur Geeta? In an exclusive chat with Bollywood Bubble on The Invincibles season2 with Arbaaz Khan, director Ramesh Sippy reveals why Mumtaz backed out.

Ramesh Sippy on Hema Malini replacing Mumtaz in Seeta Aur Geeta

Talking about why he chose to make Seeta Aur Geeta after Andaz, Ramesh Sippy says, “I always went by instinct and stability should also prevail.”

When quizzed about replacing Mumtaz with Hema Malini, he remarks, “I had worked with her (Hema Ji) in Andaz and she was very much into it. So you like people who are involved and want to be a part of it. When we decided to make it, we though that Mumtaz would probably be the right person at that time. However, she had too many commitments at that time and I didn’t want to wait. So I asked Hema Malini. I was even asked was I confident to take her. Because as per her personality she could have portrayed Seeta easily, but how would she play Geeta?”

Talking about Seeta Aur Geeta, the story is about identical twins (portrayed by Hema Malini) who are separated at birth and grow up with different temperaments. After they meet as adults, emotions of love and longing ensues. Post this movie, Hema Malini and Ramesh Sippy went on to work in Sholay from which her character Basanti remains classic.

Watch the full interview here:

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