Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore recently revealed a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about her iconic role as Vandana in the 1969 romantic drama 'Aradhana.' Directed by Shakti Samanta and co-starring Rajesh Khanna, the movie is celebrated for Sharmila's outstanding performance.
In a surprising revelation during an episode of 'Koffee with Karan,' Sharmila shared that she wasn't the initial choice for the role, and she had to actively advocate for it.
Recalling the circumstances, Sharmila stated, "I chose Aradhana, rather fought for Aradhana. Shakti (Samanta) Ji said, 'We are thinking of somebody else.'"
Curious, host and filmmaker Karan Johar asked, "Your image was scarred?"
To which, the 79-year-old actress responded, "No, he didn't say that. He was very fond of me. But he felt that I was too young, and I won't be able to do it. But Sachin will make the screenplay writer as a friend. He kind of said, 'Yes, I think we can do it.' So there was much debate. And in any case, they were making a big film with Shammi ji. Right. And with Shammi Ji, they were having problems with dates. So this happened very quickly."
Karan Johar enthusiastically added, "What a blockbuster. Oh my God. What a blockbuster."
Sharmila Tagore concluded, "It ran for 50 weeks."
This revelation provides a unique insight into the casting dynamics and challenges faced during the making of a classic film. The 'Koffee with Karan' episode, where this conversation took place, is available for streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
(With Agency Inputs)
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