In 1981, Rekha immortalized herself playing the enigmatic enchanting Lucknowi 19th century courtesan Umrao Jaan Adaa who danced into a poetic doom. When Umrao Jaan was on the verge of being revitalized by Aishwarya Rai, Rekha was all for J.P.Dutta’s remake. Rekha shocked me by saying she “sleepwalked” through Umrao Jaan. “I mean it. I don’t remember a single shot or moment. I was thoroughly disinterested in what I was doing.”
Rekha reveals she was in support of Aishwarya Rai Bachchan to play Umrao Jaan
But what about the stunning dances? “That’s no big deal. I think I danced well even in Sheshnaag. How many people remember that film? It’s not the dances that make a film.” She was all for the remake. “Why not? I’m all for Umrao Jaan being remade. If a filmmaker has the conviction, belief, need and desire to remake Umrao, then I see nothing wrong it. The enthusiasm with which J.P. Dutta has chosen the subject proves his heart in it. I’m completely for the project. I’ve no doubt JP Saab must have really done his best with the subject. And all my best wishes are with the project. He’s one of our few filmmakers with the vision. He’s one of the few remaining stalwarts of our cinema. And JP has an insight into both classic and contemporary cinema. His father (O.P Dutta) goes back a long way. JP himself has worked with some of the best talent of the bygone era and continues to work with the best today.”
Rekha got nostalgic about J.P. Dutta. “We go back a long way. He was an assistant to Randhir Kapoor when I was working in RK. Films’ Dharam Karam. JP has a great command over language. He knows all about the grace elegance and dignity of the old world. If he could portray Kareena Kapoor so gracefully in Refugee I don’t see why he won’t do justice to Umrao. He has an eye for feminine grace.”
The mystical diva was all praise for Aishwarya. “I’m really curious to see what she has done in Umrao Jaan. She was fabulous in Sanjay Bhansali’s Devdas though she had a hard act to follow up. Everyone wondered what she would be able to do after what Suchitra Sen had done as Paro in Bimal Roy’s Devdas. I’m sure the comparisons with me would stop after Umrao Jaan is released.”
Rekha endorsed the trend of remakes. “What I did was Umaro Jaan in the 1980s. One has to move with the times with open times, keeping in mind what today’s young viewers demand and how much technological improvement has been made achieved over the years and how much of the values beauty and simplicity of the original can be retained. I think Sanjay Bhansali achieved that difficult transition in Devdas. I’m sure J.P Dutta will do the same.”
She admitted to a fascination with the way Sanjay Bhansali presented Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai in Devdas. “The NRIs went crazy over the setting and costumes. To have Birju Maharaj contributing in today’s day and age wasn’t short of a miracle.I’d do anything to be in his film. Even if I just have to hold a file for film I’d do it gladly. I’ve offered to be his assistant. But he doesn’t want to scandalize his staff. I admire Sanjay Bhansali as a filmmaker. Ek saaf suthra insaan hai. And yes, there’s no finer filmmaker from our era. He has the soul of Mehboob Uncle (Khan) and Guru Dutt.”
She reverted to Umrao Jaan. “I think Aishwarya will do ample justice to the role. I think she’ll be projected in a way that she has never been. And I’m sure she enjoyed every bit of it. I’m really looking forward to seeing the film. I know it will be fantastic.”
More Pages: Umrao Jaan Box Office Collection , Umrao Jaan Movie Review
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