EXCLUSIVE: When Hema Malini said 'NO' to Raj Kapoor for 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram'
October 21, 2015 Seema Sinha, Source
Hema Malini, now, when looks back to reflect upon her long and flourishing career, feels bad about not getting an opportunity and privilege of working with the great showman of the Indian Cinema – Raj Kapoor, as a director. As we all know, Hema made her debut in Bollywood with ‘Sapno Ka Saudagar’, in 1968, in which she was paired with Raj Kapoor.
Interestingly, Zeenat Aman was not the first choice for 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' as Raj Kapoor was very keen that Hema played Roopa’s part but it eventually went to Zeenat Aman. Reminisces Hema, “Raj Saab would bring up the topic time and again and we had several discussions but then he himself said, ‘You won’t be able to do what I want’. But he really wished from his heart that I do it but then I had to refuse the film.” Obviously, he knew that Hema would be uncomfortable with the idea of seducing the camera with her body. “Of course, he knew my image. Yet he offered me the role, he came and spoke to me hoping that I will say, ‘Yes’. Shashi and I would have made a great pair but sadly I couldn't do...”
The veteran actress further adds, “Those days there was this talk of him making 'Mera Naam Joker' Part 2 and he’d wanted me in that film, but the film never happened. I was also very keen to work with Raj Saab since he was a very passionate filmmaker, he wouldn’t bother about time or money spent on a project, it was just his passion.”
It’s a known fact that 'Satyam Shivam Sundaram' was a splendid showcase of Zeenat’s powers of seduction, her voice, her figure, and her limited acting potential, too. Says Hema, who's quite close to Zeenat, “Zeenat played the part so well. Bold, yes, and then it was done in the 70's...but she was beautiful. Till date nobody has done that kind of a role what Zeenat did. She had such a beautiful body.”