Ranjeet Recalls Rekha’s 'Tantrums', Recalls She Was Not On Good Terms With Amitabh Bachchan
Veteran actress Rekha, one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed stars, continues to shine even at 70. Once among the highest-paid actresses of her time, she was in high demand after delivering multiple hits.
Veteran actress Rekha, one of Bollywood’s most acclaimed stars, continues to shine even at 70. Once among the highest-paid actresses of her time, she was in high demand after delivering multiple hits. However, in a recent interview, actor-filmmaker Ranjeet opened up about signing Rekha for a film and the challenges he faced due to her alleged tantrums, which eventually led him to ask for his signing amount back.
Speaking to Vickey Lalwani, Ranjeet recalled a time when he was frustrated with the roles being offered to him and decided to venture into filmmaking. “I didn’t sign films for almost a decade. I used to get frustrated. When I started making films, I insisted on paying actors, regardless of my personal bond with them. Even though many hesitated to take money from me, I made sure to pay them,” he said.
When it came to Rekha, Ranjeet followed the same approach. “I told Rekha, ‘You are my friend, but if I am signing you for a film, I want you to quote me a price, and I will pay you.’ She did. Later, I found out that someone else who had also signed her for a film was paying her ₹5 lakh less than what she had quoted me,” he revealed.
Rekha’s Alleged Attitude Towards Producers
Ranjeet claimed that this was just the beginning. “I knew she would make producers wait outside her house and wouldn’t meet them. When I was narrating the story to her, my entire team was waiting outside, but she didn’t let them in. I spoke to her about it, but she dismissed it, saying, ‘Let them all wait outside.’ Only Farzana, her close confidante, would take messages from them and convey them to her.”
The situation escalated when Rekha refused to shoot in the evening. Ranjeet explained, “She was working on another film at that time, so she told me we would do a ‘day for night’ shoot (a technique where night scenes are shot during the day). I bluntly told her, ‘I am making this film for myself, not for you.’ I realized that she would soon start treating me like any other producer. So, before things got to that point, I politely asked her to return my signing amount. I said, ‘Rekha, please return my money. I can’t make this picture with you.’ It all happened on a friendly note.”
Rekha’s Issues with Locations and Choreographers
Ranjeet further disclosed that Rekha was not on good terms with Amitabh Bachchan at the time, though they later rekindled their friendship. “She didn’t want to travel outside Mumbai, but I wanted to shoot at a farm outside Bombay. She insisted on returning home in the evenings, but my songs were scheduled for night shoots. She told me, ‘Let’s shoot this in the day. I want to return home at night.’”
Additionally, Rekha had reservations about working with a particular choreographer. “She said she wasn’t comfortable with him, so we changed the choreographer. But she had a lot of tantrums throughout,” Ranjeet added.
Although Ranjeet and Rekha remain friends, he chose never to cast her in his films again to avoid professional conflicts.
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