The BBC Asian Network managed to a pull a coup of sorts when it aired an interview with legendry filmmaker Yash Chopra who confirmed one of the most infamous affairs in Bollywood.
In the interview on Sonia Deol's show on Wednesday 11th August (listen to clip below), Yash Chopra spoke openly about the Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha affair in the late 70s / early 80s. It's the first time since the affair that a person of Yash Chopra's stature has spoken so candidly about it.
He said the affair was definitely going on before he started work on 'Silsila', which coincidentally mirrored what was happening in real life. Yash said, "I was always on tenterhooks and scared (during Silsila) because it was real life coming into reel life. Jaya is his wife and Rekha is his girlfriend – the same story is going on (in real life). Anything could have happened because they are working together."
Yash said that 'Silsila' was not inspired by the infamous affair; even though the movie was released post the controversy. He further added that he was only able to complete the film (despite the rising tensions) because he had good relations with the cast. "I cast them because they are great actresses, not because of what was going on. I felt lucky to get them."
Even now, the Bachchan clan is remaining tight-lipped about what really happened, so no doubt this public revelation on the BBC Asian Network will cause embarrassment to the family.
Yash said, "When a man and woman are doing romantic scenes it's not possible they won't get in a relationship – in the past it wasn't so open, but today it is. No one cared in the past."
Britain's popular Asian weekly, Eastern Eye has also covered this story. Earlier this week, showbiz editor, Asjad Nazir tweeted that the filmmaker and the BBC Asian Network had betrayed Amitabh Bachchan for exposing the affair.
Some suggested that Amitabh had met in an angry exchange with the BBC Asian Network for broadcasting the interview, however the station denied this. It said, "Following the interview with Yash Chopra on the BBC Asian Network's Sonia Deol Show on Wednesday 11 August, we have had no contact or correspondence from Amitabh Bachchan's representatives."
However, host Sonia Deol expressed her surprise at Yash's revelation, "It's a rumour we have grown up with, but no one has ever confirmed it," Sonia told Eastern Eye.
Listen back to the extract from the interview by clicking below. Clip courtesy of the BBC Asian Network.
Listen to mp3 interview here:
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