Rib-tickling, and heartwarming: Some unknown facts about Hrishi Da’s ‘Chupke Chupke’

Dharmendra’s first brush with comedy

Dharmendra played the role of professor Parimal Tripathy to the tee. But did you know that it was his first tryst with comedy? And the credit goes to director Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Hrishi da, and the stick on the sets

Off the sets, Mukherjee was a tough taskmaster, and he didn't even spare Big B and Dharmendra, the two reigning stars of the time. In fact, he used to carry a stick with him on set to ensure that nobody could do anything without his approval.

Jaya Bachchan was pregnant!

During the making of the movie, Jaya Bachchan was pregnant. Many of her shots were taken very carefully so as to avoid her profile view.

Hrishi da wanted newcomers!

Hrishikesh Mukherjee ideally wanted newcomers for the roles essayed by Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra. Well thank god he didn't go ahead with his original plan and chose Big B and Dharmendra instead. We cannot imagine anyone else in those roles, now, after so many years of loving this movie.

Mohd. Rafi and Kishore Kumar!

During the dubbing session, legendary singer Mohd. Rafi was not present. Hence, there is one stanza less in the song 'Sa re ga ma'. Another legendary singer Kishore Kumar sang the additional stanza.

When Government used it to shield people from Solar Eclipse!

During the February Solar eclipse of 1980, the Indian Government broadcast 'Chupke Chupke' on India's broadcasting channel Doordarshan so as to encourage people to say indoors during the eclipse and not move out as viewing a solar eclipse with the naked eye causes damage to the eyes.