My son Priyank Sharma started Dhamaka Records with Paras. They wanted to launch it with my song. This song first came to his mind. When I came to know, all I said was that how can we recreate the iconic song sung by Lata ji (Lata Mangeshkar) and Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Priyank calls Lata ji and tells about the recreation of the song. She looks like my cousin. He said, ‘Absolutely do it and move on.’ When it happened from all sides, then a big responsibility came. After a lot of hard work, effort and responsibility, this song was recreated. There was a lot of pressure on me. I sang it from the point of view of mother-daughter and when I sent this song to Lata ji with a lot of fear, her reaction was, don’t be afraid, keep singing.
Talking about your life and career, be it deciding to choose your life partner at 21 or kissing a celebrity like Prince Charles or choosing your roles or keeping your family together, you have always been a strong force. Been a woman To whom do you give credit for this?
I would like to give the credit of my personality to my parents. He always supported me. Those people used to accompany me in every outdoor shooting. He was with me in every right and wrong decision. Now like the incident of Prince Charles, then how many memes have been made of it. Today it has been 41 years since that incident, but even today when any kissing incident happens, my kiss is added. Today I laugh too. The incident was covered by the media all over the world. At that time he was about to get married and people also blew the news that Prince Charles would marry Lady Diana or Padmini? There was also a lot of uproar over the nude scene in the form of Balkalkar in the depths. Although for me it was not a big deal. Children usually roam around naked with ease, yes, but even at that time there was a lot of hue and cry about that role. I have never given such importance to those things.
A woman has to fight battles on many fronts? What message would you like to give them?
The best thing about today’s era, I think, is that today parents are motivating their daughters to move forward. The biggest example is today’s Miss Universe Harnaaz Sandhu. He is from Chandigarh and his parents, his mother were his driving force. I think in today’s era only a woman can take a woman forward. The only thing I would tell women is to support every other woman. Now take my example. I am a working woman, I also take care of the house. Similarly, my daughter-in-law (Shaja Morani) is also working, takes care of the house like me. She not only takes care of us but also takes care of her parents. We are each other’s support system. I think Indian women are very strong in every way. She is able to do multitasking in many ways.
Talking about your career, you are a well-known actress, but have you belonged to the musical gharana too?
Absolutely. As a child, I wanted to become a singer and after growing up, when I became an actress too, the urge of not being able to become a singer remained within me. Me and Shivangi (his sister and Shraddha Kapoor’s mother) sang a song with Lata ji in Yaadon Ki Baaraat. We have sung in many films in our childhood. We sang in the chorus in Ishq Ishq. In the book too, I lent my voice to a song by Shivangi.
Then how else did you get attracted to singing and acting?
My grandfather was a theater artist. The name of his drama company was Balwant Natak Company. In those days, women did not act in plays, so often my grandfather used to do female-oriented roles. I myself used to dance in my childhood. It was my grandmother’s wish that I should get work in films. So whenever Asha Tai (Asha Bhosle) came home, Dadi would follow her to get Asha Padmini a role in films. The recording of Ishq Ishq was going on. Dev uncle (Veteran actor Dev Anand) also came in the recording, then Asha Tai introduced me to him and told me if there is any chance for me to act. He immediately cast me in Ishq Ishq and my acting journey began.
Known as the great showman of the industry, Raj Kapoor chose you as a child actor in Satyam Shivam Sundaram, then also gave you the opportunity to become a heroine in Prem Rog? experience with them?
Whatever I am today, I am because of them. Whatever I learned, I learned from them. Acting school of acting guru Roshan Taneja ji was launched and I had to perform a dance there. At that time Raj uncle (Raj Kapoor) was the chief guest. They were looking for Satyam Shivam Sundaram’s baby Roopa in those days. By then, two-and-a-half hundred child actors had auditioned. Seeing my dance, he called me and asked, will you work in my film? So I said, I have already worked in the film. I know acting. He called me to RK studio with my parents and from there I became his actress. I never got scolded by him, except once. When I forgot to speak some one dialogue of Prem Rog, they screamed at me, girl you spoiled my shot. For me that was a big blow. I had become weary.
Rishi Kapoor may not be with us today, but you worked with him in many memorable films?
It was a lot of fun working with Chintu ji (Rishi Kapoor’s pet name). He was a fine co-star. I remember in a scene of Prem Rog, I had to slap Chintu ji. I just took action, then Raj uncle said, no, I want a real shot. I then slapped softly. Then Raj uncle said, absolutely real. After that sometimes light, sometimes proper shot and sometimes due to some technical problem I had to slap 7-8 to Chintu ji and his cheek became red. When I think of it today, I feel very bad.
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