New Delhi, Sept 02: After Sanjay Leela Bhansali`s take
on Sharat Chandra`s classic novel `Devdas`, two more
filmmakers, Anurag Basu and Sudhir Mishra have announced their
cinematic take on the classic.
But yesteryear superstar Vaijayantimala Bali, who played
Chandramukhi in Bimal Roy`s `Devdas` opposite Dilip Kumar,
doesn`t approve of film remakes.
"I don`t like remakes" is Vaijayantimala`s short-and-straight
forward reply when asked to comment on various `Devdas`
remakes.
She was in the capital to release her autobiography
`Bonding...The memoir`, where she has shared many interesting
incidents of her life.
The actress, however, is quite happy that another popular
film `Naya Daur` was released in colour print. "I liked it
very much," she said adding, "It`s a good initiative as it
attracts younger generation and adds more audience to the
film."
Success with films like `Madhumati`, `Aasha`, `Devdas`,
`Sangam`, `Nagin`,`Naya Daur`, notwithstanding `Bharatnayam`
remains her first love, Vaijayantimala says.
The actress, who won three Filmfare awards (`Sadhna`,
`Ganga Jamuna`, and `Sangam`) in the best actress category, is
apparently the only actor to have once refused the Filmfare Award.
She had refused to accept the Filmfare Award of Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Devdas (1955). And she has no
regrets at all.
"My declining (of the honour) was not an act of
arrogance," she says in her book. She adds, "I refused the
award as I thought I was as much a lead heroine as Suchitra
Sen who played Paro. And even now, I am convinced I took the
right decision."
In the book she shares, how she was linked to many of her
co-stars especially Dilip Kumar, while the rumours had no
substance in them. "I soon realised that all these (rumours)
were creation of people`s mind. But you have to manage your
own mind," she mentions in her book.
The actress shunned films completely after her marriage
as she wanted and believed in "sacredness of a married life."
The actress now reveals that she is quite satisfied with her filmy career as it gave her
"respect" beyond all other things. Post marriage she even
dabbled in golf, after being persuaded by her husband, and
went to win a women golf championship.
From her experience as politician and Member of
Parliament, she says in her book, "politicians make better
actors, because they act all the time. While actors reserve
their talent for the camera."
Bureau Report
