Subhash Ghai: Dilip Kumar asked me to work on Raaj Kumar’s role in 'Saudagar'

Dilip Kumar and Subhash Ghai. Pics/Getty Images, PTI, Instagram

My association with Dilip saab goes back 40 years. My first narration to him was for the film Vidhaata [1982], but he didn't hear the story, instead he started talking to me as a friend and asked about my previous film Krodhi [[1981]. I kept wondering why he was asking me. He loved the story [of Krodhi] and immediately said, ‘Yes, you think well and understand cinema, so we will do the film'. I rewrote the script because I had a responsibility towards him and wanted to live up to his expectations. He reheard the script of Vidhaata after six months.

One of my favourite memories of Dilip saab was during the filming of Vidhaata in Goa. The car designated to pick him up from the airport and drop him off at the
shoot location, didn't reach on time. He boarded a taxi, found the location and came alone. I was so embarrassed, so was the unit. I immediately went to him and began apologising. He smiled and said, ‘Don't worry. These are production hassles. If technicians suffer, artistes suffer too. You focus on getting a better shot for
the movie'.

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A young Ghai explaining the next shot to Kumar for the film Karma

As an actor, he had a unique style and manner, which made him a great artiste. Dilip saab delivered dialogues from his heart. In every take, his words would [slightly] differ, but he would convey the required emotions [accurately] in every scene. Whenever we met socially or for dinner, he would ask me to narrate a story more than five times. Without commenting on [the characters], he would tell me, ‘You are working. Good. Just carry on working'. And I'd understand that I had to work more on his characterisation. During the shoot, he would always know more about the story and character than me.

Among all my films with him, my favourites include - Vidhaata, Karma [1986] and Saudagar [1991]. He was always concerned about giving equal importance to the other characters. He'd say that it is always the story and characters that work in movies and not Dilip Kumar. [In fact], during Vidhaata, he would often ask me if I had done something to groom Shammi Kapoor's character. He [even] asked me to work more on Raaj Kumar's role in Saudagar. I realised [much later] what he meant - the story and characters matter, not the star.

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