A humorous incident occurred at Bimalda’s place. These days, Hrishida additionally suffered from gout, so he would limp a bit. As soon as he reached the home, he began limping, and the artwork director Sudhenduda (Roy) joked that he had gout in his left leg, not the fitting. Hrishida appeared sheepish and laughed on the joke sportingly.
There’s a scene in Aashirwad the place a baby’s chain has been snatched on the highway, and sometimes within the scene, a crowd gathers. An onlooker says, “There’s a lot crime and corruption; yeh authorities nahi chal sakti.” I believed Hrishida would lower that line, however he truly liked it and mentioned it provides the scene its character.
It sounds cliché, however all of us labored like a household. We collaborated on so many issues and by no means fought for our credit score as a result of we realized a lot from him. He gave us a lot by means of his movies.
What did I study from Hrishida? I realized that it’s necessary to have a way of humour, to maintain your cool, and to focus on your work. Nothing else issues.
I additionally realized brevity in a scene from Hrishida: hold to the purpose. Many occasions, I’ve labored on Hrishida’s movies written by different writers too. He would say, “Gulu, dekh lena.” And we did it fortunately out of affection and respect for him.
There are such a lot of reminiscences with Hrishida that I might fill a guide together with his anecdotes. I keep in mind narrating Anand to Kaka (Rajesh Khanna). He was excited and got here with me to Hrishida’s bungalow, insisting on doing the movie. Hrishida advised Kaka that he couldn’t afford his exorbitant value. Actually, he couldn’t pay him something in any respect. The producer, Mr. NC Sippy was sitting there, and Hrishida requested Kaka to debate funds with him. Lastly, it was determined that Kaka wouldn’t take his remuneration however the Bombay territory of Anand, which turned out to be a clever transfer as a result of the movie did very nicely. These days, when a movie ran for 25 weeks, the technicians acquired a bonus. After they approached Hrishida, tongue firmly in cheek, he advised them to please ask the producer or Rajesh Khanna; he has the Bombay territory.
I keep in mind throughout Anand, two songs—Kahin door jab and Zindagi kaisi hai—had been written by Yogesh for Salilda (Salil Chowdhary) for an unreleased movie. Hrishida purchased the songs from the producer of the unreleased movie for 2000 every. He then requested me to write down a sequence acceptable for the songs and likewise requested me to write down two extra songs for the movie. That’s how I wrote Maine tere liye and Naa jiya lage na for Anand.
Sippy saab was a beautiful man and really empathetic. I keep in mind he wasn’t too completely happy about Khubsoorat and didn’t give it a lot of an opportunity. He mentioned, “I will provide you with 10,000 rupees if this movie crosses 10 weeks on the field workplace.” Khubsoorat ran for over 30 weeks. I had forgotten the matter utterly. True to his phrase, Sippy Saab referred to as me to his workplace and made his son Romu lower me a cheque.”
One other incident occurred throughout Anand when my identify was lacking from the credit. Two folks, together with Meenaji (Meena Kumari), observed that my identify was absent. I introduced it to Sippy saab’s consideration. He referred to as again all of the prints of the movie and ensured that my identify as dialogue author was reinstated. One other enjoyable incident throughout Khubsoorat occurred when, midway by means of the movie, Hrishida requested me for a title. I recommended “Namkeen.” After some days, he mentioned it didn’t work for him. So I mentioned I’d give him a “Khubsoorat” title, however he needed to promise me a bottle of cognac. He agreed, and I gave him the title Khubsoorat. I used “Namkeen” for my very own movie, and once more, true to his phrase, Sippy Saab gifted me a bottle of cognac.
Coming again to Hrishida, it was such a beautiful time collaborating with him on so many different movies like Chupke Chupke, Abhimaan, Golmaal, and Khubsoorat.
I keep in mind whereas taking pictures a movie referred to as Sardar Udham in London, Hrishida requested me to write down Guddi and Anand. Later, Hrishida opted out of that movie, which later turned Jallianwala Bagh.
Hrishida hated his actors coming late and would reprimand them sharply. He would additionally repair the scene by means of his modifying abilities. This occurred with Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar in a few movies. They have been late for the shoot, so Hrishida skillfully edited them into the sequence; the actors have been stunned by how he did it. He would by no means pander to star egos or tantrums and by no means overshot. He skillfully edited his sequences even whereas directing them.
Hrishida’s sense of humour was legendary. In his wry method, he made his level. He was very keen on his canines and doted on them. As soon as, a gentleman got here from Kolkata and was chatting with Hrishida when Hrishida advised his man Friday to make some tea. The gentleman politely declined, saying he didn’t need it. Hrishida shot proper again, “It’s for my canine, not for you.”
So many reminiscences, so many great occasions once we all labored like one completely happy household.
If Bimalda was the principal of the institute referred to as my life, then Hrishida can be its professor.
