Censors cut Howrah Bridge scene where Madhubala’s scarf touched Ashok Kumar’s lips: Director’s son recalls CBFC calling it ‘very sexy’

Recalling an instance that highlighted Madhubala’s generosity, he further shared, “When we asked Madubala about finances, she told us to talk to her father. She introduced us to her father and went away. He told us her fees and when we started giving him the money, he stopped us and said that, ‘Madhu ne bola hai abhi 1 rupaya lene ke liye (Madhu has asked just to take Re 1)’.” He added, “Her father told us, ‘We got to know that you don’t have money, so you give Re 1 right now, but when you will start shooting the film at that time, give the signing amount. Give the money when you can.'”

Ashim Samanta also revealed that not just Madhubala, Ashok Kumar too did not take any money from his father initially. Speaking about the senior actor’s gesture, he said, “Ashok Kumar had the same terms because he and my father had worked on several films together. Both Madhubala and Ashok Kumar didn’t take money for the film at the beginning. It was only when the film was sold in advance and the makers received funds that they accepted their remuneration.”

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Ashim also shared another interesting anecdote from the film, recalling how the censor board cut a romantic scene between Ashok Kumar and Madhubala. Talking about the film’s song Yeh Kya Kar Dala Tune, he said, “In the song, Yeh Kya Kar Dala Tune, a lot of the beginning scenes of the song were shot on a cart. My dad told me that there was a beautiful shot in which Madhubala‘s scarf covers Ashok Kumar’s face and it brushes against his lips, but the censor board cut this shot. My father asked them the reason behind cutting it and they said ‘it is looking very sensuous and sexy’.”