Yash Chopra admits AB/Rekha affair

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: SOURCE

Rekha - Line of Beauty

The enigmatic Rekha shares more than thoughts and memories

Excerpts from the interview:

How would you analyse yourself on screen today?
Believe it or not, I actually cringe when I see myself on screen. Not that I am critical or even have an opinion. It’s just that my standards are very high. Like my performance in Khiladiyon Ke Khiladi was not up to my standards but you guys loved it and even gave me the Filmfare Award for it. I enjoyed working in Kudiyon Ka Zamaana but the whole world including the critics took it personally and shredded the film to bits. They asked me, “Ma’am how could you do a film like that?” I say as an actor every film is my baby and I’m equally proud of it. Even if my child turns out to be handicapped, I don’t believe in disowning it. It’s my responsibility for life. I will nurture it, protect it and will stand by it for life. Because it’s my sweat and blood, it’s my joy, an integral part of me. Also my gurus in this craft are stalwarts, the best in the business. So I better live up to the expectations of my predecessors and fans. I think 40 years is a long time in the same profession. So it’s a huge responsibility to give nothing but my best. I’m terribly humbled by the reaction of my loved ones which makes me want to be better than the best.

What do you think of the present generation actors?
It’s a now generation. There are a whole lot of youngsters whom I’m so proud of. I’m really envious of them because they are way ahead of what we used to be at their age. We used to be so hilele dulele (clueless) we had no clue of what we were doing. It took us a good 10 films to get our bearings. I’m so proud of Bebo (Kareena Kapoor) and the way she conducts herself. And for that matter Vidya Balan. She shone in her very first film, without any godfathers or film background. Fantastic! Look how Ranbir has carried the Kapoor legacy forward. I’ve so much to learn from them.

Who among the present girls reminds you of yourself?
None. Thank God I am not reminded of myself; they are way ahead of me. Look at them in their first film and look at me in Saawan Bhadon. Of course, they all have their uniqueness but the plus point is that they are also very techno savvy. Which is not my forte. They know how to market themselves. It comes naturally to them. I can’t do it. I am shy; my nature comes in the way. Today’s world functions on networking and all that… but then there’s another section of youngsters who are the wannabes, what’s-in-it-for-me generation. Who lack the patience and want to make it big making all the wrong choices. That kind of desperation can be fatal. Sadly they chose the wrong path and the repercussions are deadly and the price is too high to pay. The lessons easily learnt are easily forgotten. But I don’t believe in preaching, I believe in sharing. I believe in making people joyous. There is no end to knowledge; there is no end to the quest for creativity. There is no end to originality.

How do you retain your positive attitude?
That’s the way I am. Remember, positive energy is the key. Preserve all positive energy and repel all the negative energy. You do your best and leave the results to nature. The more you practice, it becomes more of you. It’s the typical example of practice makes one perfect. Like the saying, ‘‘Apne mann ka ho toh achcha, na ho toh aur bhi achcha (If things happen according to your wishes it’s good, if they don’t, it’s better).’’Coz ‘He’ knows best.

Anuradha Choudhary

Rekha - Line of Beauty

The enigmatic Rekha shares more than thoughts and memories

Excerpts from the interview:

How would you analyse yourself on screen today?
Believe it or not, I actually cringe when I see myself on screen. Not that I am critical or even have an opinion. It’s just that my standards are very high. Like my performance in Khiladiyon Ke Khiladi was not up to my standards but you guys loved it and even gave me the Filmfare Award for it. I enjoyed working in Kudiyon Ka Zamaana but the whole world including the critics took it personally and shredded the film to bits. They asked me, “Ma’am how could you do a film like that?” I say as an actor every film is my baby and I’m equally proud of it. Even if my child turns out to be handicapped, I don’t believe in disowning it. It’s my responsibility for life. I will nurture it, protect it and will stand by it for life. Because it’s my sweat and blood, it’s my joy, an integral part of me. Also my gurus in this craft are stalwarts, the best in the business. So I better live up to the expectations of my predecessors and fans. I think 40 years is a long time in the same profession. So it’s a huge responsibility to give nothing but my best. I’m terribly humbled by the reaction of my loved ones which makes me want to be better than the best.

What do you think of the present generation actors?
It’s a now generation. There are a whole lot of youngsters whom I’m so proud of. I’m really envious of them because they are way ahead of what we used to be at their age. We used to be so hilele dulele (clueless) we had no clue of what we were doing. It took us a good 10 films to get our bearings. I’m so proud of Bebo (Kareena Kapoor) and the way she conducts herself. And for that matter Vidya Balan. She shone in her very first film, without any godfathers or film background. Fantastic! Look how Ranbir has carried the Kapoor legacy forward. I’ve so much to learn from them.

Who among the present girls reminds you of yourself?
None. Thank God I am not reminded of myself; they are way ahead of me. Look at them in their first film and look at me in Saawan Bhadon. Of course, they all have their uniqueness but the plus point is that they are also very techno savvy. Which is not my forte. They know how to market themselves. It comes naturally to them. I can’t do it. I am shy; my nature comes in the way. Today’s world functions on networking and all that… but then there’s another section of youngsters who are the wannabes, what’s-in-it-for-me generation. Who lack the patience and want to make it big making all the wrong choices. That kind of desperation can be fatal. Sadly they chose the wrong path and the repercussions are deadly and the price is too high to pay. The lessons easily learnt are easily forgotten. But I don’t believe in preaching, I believe in sharing. I believe in making people joyous. There is no end to knowledge; there is no end to the quest for creativity. There is no end to originality.

How do you retain your positive attitude?
That’s the way I am. Remember, positive energy is the key. Preserve all positive energy and repel all the negative energy. You do your best and leave the results to nature. The more you practice, it becomes more of you. It’s the typical example of practice makes one perfect. Like the saying, ‘‘Apne mann ka ho toh achcha, na ho toh aur bhi achcha (If things happen according to your wishes it’s good, if they don’t, it’s better).’’Coz ‘He’ knows best.

Anuradha Choudhary

A Blast from the Past - Khayyam, composer extraodinaire!

A pricey and egoistic musical genius
S V Krishnamachari

At age 82, Khayyam has been for a while a victim of that typical Bollywood syndrome: pushing yesteryear legends into oblivion. It’s particularly cruel in this music composer’s case as he was a legend in Hindi movies during its golden period from the early 1950s till about the early 1980s. Remember Kabhie Kabhie and Umrao Jaan? His power to tune songs catapulted many such movies to the heights of success. Khayyam’s last movie as Razia Sultan in 1983 directed by Kamal Amrohi. He did return after the long hiatus, in 2008 — but that was by composing music for a ghazal album Zah-e-Naseeb by Anita Singhvi.
Born as Mohammad Zahur Khayyam Hashmi in 1928 in Punjab, his passion for Hindi movies led him to move to Delhi, where he trained under masters Husnlal-Bhagatram and Pandit Amarnath. He then moved to Lahore in 1943 where he worked under the tutelage of G A Chisti, a classical music exponent. But he wasn’t paid, and soon, ran short of money. It is said that during that period, he approached his brother for money and was admonished. This left a deep scar on him; desperate to earn money, he joined the Indian Army in 1945.
But the lure of music was too strong, so he quit the Army within two years and headed for Mumbai. He recalls, “I got a chance in 1948 to team up with a composer called Aziz Khan, nicknamed Vermaji. I myself was given the name Sharmaji because the producer considered my original name too long!” The duo composed music for three movies — Heer Ranjha, Parda and Biwi. “The song Akele mein woh ghabrate to honge by Mohammad Rafi was a hit,” he notes.
It was in 1953 that he worked as Khayyam and the first movie was Footpath. “Shaam-e-gham ki kasam sung by Talat Mehmood became popular; the movie established me as an accomplished composer, like Naushad, Madan Mohan and Shankar-Jaikishan.” And then came Phir Subah Hogi, about which he has an interesting anecdote (a Raj Kapoor movie based on the novel Crime and Punishment).
“During those days, his most-preferred composers were Shankar-Jaikishan. But Sahir Ludhianvi, who penned the lyrics for the film, insisted that only a person who is familiar with the original story should compose music. As I was well-versed with the novel, I bagged the offer.” All the songs were great hits, especially Woh subah kabhi to aayegi and Phir na kije meri gustakh nigahi ka gila.
About Kabhie Kabhie, he says, “In 1974, I had completed recording the song, Ae dil-e-nadaan for Razia Sultan. After reaching home, I had my usual conversations with my wife and went to sleep. At about 2 am, Jaya Bhaduri came to my house. She was reportedly sent by Amitabh Bachchan to get a recording of the song, about which he came to know from his friends. I told her they’d have to wait, as the tapes were with Kamal Amrohi. Later, Amitabh, along with Sahir, and director Yash Chopra heard the song. They were so impressed that they decided to sign me for Kabhie Kabhie.”
The songs Tere chehre se nazaar nahi haththi, Kabhie kabhie mere dil mein and Main pal do pal ka shayar are popular even today.
His next major hit was the period flick Umrao Jaan, in 1981. This film, he says, posed a challenge, as Pakeezah, with a similar story line, of a courtesan, was released in 1972. The mujras and ghazals, composed by maestros Ghulam
Mohammad and Naushad, were stupendous hits. “When director Muzaffar Ali approached me, I posed this question to myself — how do I come up with compositions that are equally popular, if not more?” He said that Umrao Jaan was not only a great dancer, but also an accomplished singer and a beautiful woman popular among the royal families in the area.
“Keeping all these in mind, I came up with a mujra and gave the form of ghazal to the rest of the songs. Asha did a wonderful job singing those ghazals and mujra. Rekha was simply superb.” Both these movies earned him the Filmfare Award, in 1977 and 1982.
Khayyam was also conferred other awards, notably the Sangeet Kala Akademi award in 2007, the Lata Mangeshkar award in 2007, and the Naushad Samman, in 2008. And he proudly recalls appreciation from poets and singers.

Read more at http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=A+pricey+and+egoistic+musical+genius&artid=xsk5EzV195k=&SectionID=f4OberbKin4=&MainSectionID=f4OberbKin4=&SEO=&SectionName=cxWvYpmNp4fBHAeKn3LcnQ==

Some gems fro Khayyam:


AND:

A Blast from the Past - Khayyam, composer extraodinaire!

A pricey and egoistic musical genius
S V Krishnamachari

At age 82, Khayyam has been for a while a victim of that typical Bollywood syndrome: pushing yesteryear legends into oblivion. It’s particularly cruel in this music composer’s case as he was a legend in Hindi movies during its golden period from the early 1950s till about the early 1980s. Remember Kabhie Kabhie and Umrao Jaan? His power to tune songs catapulted many such movies to the heights of success. Khayyam’s last movie as Razia Sultan in 1983 directed by Kamal Amrohi. He did return after the long hiatus, in 2008 — but that was by composing music for a ghazal album Zah-e-Naseeb by Anita Singhvi.
Born as Mohammad Zahur Khayyam Hashmi in 1928 in Punjab, his passion for Hindi movies led him to move to Delhi, where he trained under masters Husnlal-Bhagatram and Pandit Amarnath. He then moved to Lahore in 1943 where he worked under the tutelage of G A Chisti, a classical music exponent. But he wasn’t paid, and soon, ran short of money. It is said that during that period, he approached his brother for money and was admonished. This left a deep scar on him; desperate to earn money, he joined the Indian Army in 1945.
But the lure of music was too strong, so he quit the Army within two years and headed for Mumbai. He recalls, “I got a chance in 1948 to team up with a composer called Aziz Khan, nicknamed Vermaji. I myself was given the name Sharmaji because the producer considered my original name too long!” The duo composed music for three movies — Heer Ranjha, Parda and Biwi. “The song Akele mein woh ghabrate to honge by Mohammad Rafi was a hit,” he notes.
It was in 1953 that he worked as Khayyam and the first movie was Footpath. “Shaam-e-gham ki kasam sung by Talat Mehmood became popular; the movie established me as an accomplished composer, like Naushad, Madan Mohan and Shankar-Jaikishan.” And then came Phir Subah Hogi, about which he has an interesting anecdote (a Raj Kapoor movie based on the novel Crime and Punishment).
“During those days, his most-preferred composers were Shankar-Jaikishan. But Sahir Ludhianvi, who penned the lyrics for the film, insisted that only a person who is familiar with the original story should compose music. As I was well-versed with the novel, I bagged the offer.” All the songs were great hits, especially Woh subah kabhi to aayegi and Phir na kije meri gustakh nigahi ka gila.
About Kabhie Kabhie, he says, “In 1974, I had completed recording the song, Ae dil-e-nadaan for Razia Sultan. After reaching home, I had my usual conversations with my wife and went to sleep. At about 2 am, Jaya Bhaduri came to my house. She was reportedly sent by Amitabh Bachchan to get a recording of the song, about which he came to know from his friends. I told her they’d have to wait, as the tapes were with Kamal Amrohi. Later, Amitabh, along with Sahir, and director Yash Chopra heard the song. They were so impressed that they decided to sign me for Kabhie Kabhie.”
The songs Tere chehre se nazaar nahi haththi, Kabhie kabhie mere dil mein and Main pal do pal ka shayar are popular even today.
His next major hit was the period flick Umrao Jaan, in 1981. This film, he says, posed a challenge, as Pakeezah, with a similar story line, of a courtesan, was released in 1972. The mujras and ghazals, composed by maestros Ghulam
Mohammad and Naushad, were stupendous hits. “When director Muzaffar Ali approached me, I posed this question to myself — how do I come up with compositions that are equally popular, if not more?” He said that Umrao Jaan was not only a great dancer, but also an accomplished singer and a beautiful woman popular among the royal families in the area.
“Keeping all these in mind, I came up with a mujra and gave the form of ghazal to the rest of the songs. Asha did a wonderful job singing those ghazals and mujra. Rekha was simply superb.” Both these movies earned him the Filmfare Award, in 1977 and 1982.
Khayyam was also conferred other awards, notably the Sangeet Kala Akademi award in 2007, the Lata Mangeshkar award in 2007, and the Naushad Samman, in 2008. And he proudly recalls appreciation from poets and singers.

Read more at http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=A+pricey+and+egoistic+musical+genius&artid=xsk5EzV195k=&SectionID=f4OberbKin4=&MainSectionID=f4OberbKin4=&SEO=&SectionName=cxWvYpmNp4fBHAeKn3LcnQ==

Some gems fro Khayyam:


AND: