Veteran screenwriter Kamlesh Pandey, in a recent interview, recalled an incident from the sets of Saudagar, where Dilip Kumar stayed away from the shoot for three days, pushing director Subhash Ghai to the brink of calling off the film.
The Manali Schedule Disruption
Speaking about the Manali schedule, Kamlesh shared that the unit was fully prepared to shoot a key scene, but Dilip Kumar did not report to the set. “For three days, although the entire unit was ready with all equipment and preparation, Dilip saab didn’t show up. On the first day, he said he was unwell. The next day, he said Saira Banu was unwell,” Kamlesh revealed on The Raavya Sarda Show.
Subhash Ghai’s Ultimatum
By the third day, the delay had clearly taken a toll on the production. “Subhash Ghai got upset. He called his brother Ashok Ghai and said, ‘The shooting is cancelled. We are going back to Mumbai. Book everyone’s tickets. Saudagar will not be made.’ Everyone got scared,” he added. It was then that Kamlesh stepped in to speak to Dilip Kumar.
The Real Reason Behind the Absence
When they met the actor at his hotel, Dilip Kumar explained the real reason behind his absence. “He told me, ‘I have played drunk in films like Devdas, Sagina, and Sunghursh, but that was when I was young. At that age, you have control over your body. If the performance is slightly less, it looks like underacting; if it goes higher, it becomes overacting. Maintaining that balance is not easy now, especially in my 60s,’” Kamlesh recalled.
A Compromise with a Signal
Dilip Kumar eventually agreed to shoot the scene, but with a specific request. “He told me, ‘Don’t tell Subhash Ghai, but you stand behind the camera. If I start overacting, give me a signal; if I underact, give me another signal. I will find the balance accordingly,’” Kamlesh said. The scene was shot, but the legendary actor remained unsure.
A Friendly Bet
Kamlesh then made a friendly bet. “I told him, ‘If people don’t clap after this scene, I’ll give you Rs 100. If they do, you give me Rs 100,’” he shared. The scene eventually received applause, but Kamlesh added, “I never got those Rs 100.”
About the Film
Saudagar also starred Raaj Kumar, Manisha Koirala, Amrish Puri, Anupam Kher, and Jackie Shroff, among others.
