‘Raj Kapoor was a terror, he’d give up alcohol and be in a foul mood for months’: Anees Bazmee recalls fleeing set in fear

Filmmaker Anees Bazmee, whose Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 debuted in cinemas on Diwali, recently reminisced about his time working with the legendary auteur Raj Kapoor, sharing intimate anecdotes that showcase the veteran filmmaker’s multifaceted personality. “I have a treasure trove of memories of Raj Kapoor sahab,” Bazmee revealed. “If I sit to write a book, I think I can write 2000-3000 pages.” Working closely with Kapoor, Bazmee experienced firsthand the dichotomy between the legend’s on-screen persona and his demanding nature as a filmmaker. “He was a different personality as an actor, he was bhola bhala, simple, but he was a terror (as a filmmaker).”

Kapoor’s unpredictability was a hallmark of his directing style. Bazmee recalls, “Raj sahab was very unpredictable, one would not know what would happen when.” This trait, combined with his short temper, made for an intense working environment. “He used to really enjoy alcohol and smoking, but when he would start editing a film, he would give up on these habits. So, until the film edit was not complete, whether it was for a month, two months, or ten months, he wouldn’t drink and smoke.” This self-imposed discipline would often lead to increased irritation levels.

Also read – ‘Raj Kapoor tailored my look for Bobby,’ Dimple Kapadia recalls how she went through the ‘painful’ process of getting into the look

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Bazmee shared a hilarious incident that showcased Kapoor’s fiery personality. During a particularly productive shooting day, Kapoor took an impressive 15-17 shots, prompting a celebratory party announcement. However, Bazmee’s mistake – providing the wrong costume to actor Kulbhushan Kharbanda – quickly dampened the mood.

“I informed another assistant about the goof up… and the happiness on his face disappeared instantly,” Bazmee recounts. “We, the six assistants, started stepping back. This was in RK Studio. Raj ji was sipping on his drink, and as soon as he was told about the goof-up, he raised his eyebrows and asked, ‘Where are these assistants?’ Hum jo bhaage hai (we fled).”

The assistants hid across the set, with Bazmee taking refuge in the costumes department. Eventually, a message summoned them to face Kapoor. “So, we assembled at one point on the set and started marching towards him.” To their surprise, Kapoor declared, “Party is not cancelled this evening…” Bazmee chuckles, “Bohot saare kisse hai aise… (there are many more stories like this).”