Raj Kapoor, often called the Showman of Indian Cinema, was known for being very particular about every shot in his films. He believed in showing emotions in the most real and powerful way possible. A story shared by actress Padmini Kolhapure proves just how serious he was about his work. It happened during the filming of Prem Rog (1982), a movie starring Rishi Kapoor and Padmini, which was also directed by Raj Kapoor.
In a recent interview with Times Now Digital (via Hindustan Times), Padmini Kolhapure spoke about a memorable scene in Prem Rog. There was a moment in the film where her character had to slap Rishi Kapoor’s character. Usually, in movies, slaps are faked with the help of camera tricks and sound effects. But Raj Kapoor didn’t want to do that. He wanted the slap to be real.
Padmini recalled, “It was a slapping scene. I had to slap Chintu (Rishi Kapoor), and normally in films, the slap is timed with the movement, so it looks real. But Raj uncle said, ‘No, no, tum thappad maro. I want it to look real.’”
What’s surprising is that Rishi Kapoor, despite being Raj Kapoor’s son, agreed with his father’s request. He told Padmini not to hold back and said she should slap him properly for the shot.
However, things didn’t go smoothly. Padmini found it difficult to actually slap Rishi. “In the first take, I moved my hand, but it slowed down before reaching his cheek,” she said. Raj Kapoor wasn’t happy with that. He wanted the slap to be stronger and more realistic.
They had to shoot the scene multiple times. “We had to do the shot 7-8 times,” Padmini said. “Sometimes the lighting wasn’t right, other times it was a camera issue. Every time something went wrong, I had to slap him again.” She laughed and added, “Now that I think about it, I wonder what would have happened if I had to be slapped that many times!”
Prem Rog is one of the most respected films in Raj Kapoor’s career. It was bold for its time, especially because it talked about widow remarriage, which was a sensitive and often avoided topic in Indian society back then. The movie became a cult classic and is still remembered today for its progressive storyline and powerful performances.
Released in 1982, Prem Rog became the second highest-grossing film of the year. The movie holds a special place in Indian cinema history and also in the hearts of fans. After this film, Padmini Kolhapure and Rishi Kapoor worked together in several other movies as well.
This behind-the-scenes story gives fans a deeper look into Raj Kapoor’s dedication to his art. He didn’t take shortcuts, even when it came to directing his own son. It also shows the strong teamwork and commitment of actors like Rishi Kapoor and Padmini Kolhapure who trusted their director’s vision.
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