Bollywood Flashback: When Hema Malini and Shabana Azmi Competed For a Plum Role
February 14, 2022
Richard Attenborough decided to cast an Indian actress for the lead role and the final selection zeroed in on Hema Malini and Shabana Azmi. Both the actresses were keen to play this iconic role and thus were trying their level best to grab the film. Shabana had an upper edge over Hema as she had worked in several international projects (‘The Bengali Night’ (1988) with Hugh Grant, ‘City of Joy’ (1992) with Patrick Swayze, ‘Immaculate Conception’ (1992), ‘In Custody’ (1992) and ‘Son of the Pink Panther’ (1993) with Roberto Benigni). Shabana used her international connections to grab the role in Richard Attenborough’s film and was also recommended by few of her loyal friends who were part of the movie ‘Gandhi’ (1982). It was evident that Shabana was going to bag the iconic role but at end moment, Hema Malini started playing her cards. Hema requested Richard Attenborough to see a film of hers and then make his final decision. The moment Richard saw that film, he immediately announced Hema Malini for his next film.
The movie which Hema recommended was Kamal Amrohi’s ‘Razia Sultan’ (1982), where she played the lead role of the historic ruler. Richard was totally fascinated by Hema’s work and was convinced that it’s only Hema who could portray the role of Rani Lakshmi Bai in his next magnum opus film. The grace and screen presence he required for his lead actress was all there in Hema Malini. None of Shabana’s supporters could manage to change his opinion. The competitive approach of Hema and Shabana was enjoyed by the press as they circulated many cooked up stories related to the cold war between these heroines. The movie was just in its final stage of pre-production and at that time, few of the investors backed out from the film. Richard tried his level best to get the right amount of required funds for this grand film but failed to generate so. He decided to wait for a while and thus moved on to his next directorial film ‘In Love and War’ (1996). Time flew but Richard failed to get the funds and eventually his dream of directing Hema Malini as the historic freedom fighter failed to see its daylight.
Fun Facts –
Ben Kingsley’s birth name is Krishna Bhanji and his father was a Gujarati.
Over 300,000 extras were used in the funeral scene in the movie ‘Gandhi’, the most for any film according to Guinness World Records.
Bhanu Athaiya won Academy Award (Oscars) for Best Costume Design for the movie ‘Gandhi’.
Hema Malini played the role of Rani Lakshmi Bai in the TV serial – ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’.
Hema Malini and Shabana Azmi had worked together only in ‘Ram Tera Desh’ (1984) and few more films where one of them was in guest or special appearance.
In the year 1953, director Sohrab Modi made ‘Jhansi Ki Rani’ based on the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai. This movie was later dubbed in English as ‘The Tiger and the Flame’ and was released in 1956. Sohrab modi roped in many Hollywood technicians. He lavishly spent on technicians, sets, war scenes and making it in colour, due to which the movie became very expensive and this ended up being a big box-office disaster.
Director Ketan Mehta has announced a film based on the life of Rani Lakshmi Bai featuring Kangana Ranaut in the lead role.
