Zeenat Aman reveals how she made Raj Kapoor take her in Satyam Shivam Sundaram: ‘His lack of interest in casting me…’

She wrote, “Now Rajji had a radical approach to his art, and he was brimming with enthusiasm for a film he wanted to make. For days he regaled us with his idea for a story about a man who falls in love with a woman’s voice but can’t quite reconcile himself to her appearance.”

Despite his enthusiasm, Zeenat felt that Raj Kapoor had no intention of casting her in the role, which irritated her, especially since she was already a major star. “He spoke with unfettered and rousing passion, but never once even hinted that I could be a part of this film. I was already a star in my own right, and his lack of interest in casting me began to chafe. I knew that my “modern image”, complete with mini skirts and boots, was the culprit. So I determined to take matters into my own hands,” she wrote.

 

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Determined to prove her worth, Zeenat decided to take action. She revealed, “I made my move. One evening, having wrapped up early from shoot, I spent an extra 30 minutes in my dressing room making myself up in my own interpretation of Rupa. I put on a ghagra choli, braided my hair with a parandi, and then stuck tissue paper onto my face with glue in an effort to scar my visage.”

Leaving her fans in suspense, Zeenat ended her story on a cliffhanger. She continued, “When I reached The Cottage I was greeted at the door by John, Rajji’s right-hand man. He looked quizzically at me but followed my request – “Saabji ko kaho ki Rupa ayi hai” To be continued tomorrow…”

Satyam Shivam Sundaram explored the complex relationship between physical and spiritual love. Despite receiving an ‘A’ (Adults Only) certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification for its sensual content, the film was a massive success at the box office.