ABP Network Ideas Of India 2023: Veteran actor, film director and producer Asha Parekh, and renowned yesteryear actor Zeenat Aman shared their thoughts on working in the entertainment industry, their contemporaries, and also the “insecurities” faced by fellow actors, during the second edition of ABP Network Ideas of India. The actors were part of a discussion on ‘Life At The Movies: Revisiting The Magic’.
During the session, Asha Parekh revealed how actors used to be a little intimidated or frightened by her presence on film sets, and maintained a safe distance from her. She also revealed the reason why she rejected Nasir Hussain’s blockbuster family drama ‘Yaadon Ki Baarat’, that pushed Zeenat Aman’s career as a successful heroine and gave her the iconic song, ‘Chura Liya Hai Tumne’, for the audience to remember her by.
Why Were Actors ‘Afraid’ Of Asha Parekh?
“Meri shakal hi aisi thi k sab mujhse darr jate the (My face was such that everyone used to get scared),” said Asha Parekh, answering the question mentioned above. She added: “My co-stars used to get frightened, they would not come and talk to me. I still remember I was shooting with Jeetendra for ‘Caravan’. He would shoot his parts and then go out. We used to have little conversations during the scenes that were shot together.”
Both Asha Parekh and Zeenat Aman then talked about the “dos and dont’s” they exercised while picking a role. While the ‘Kaanta Laga’ actress said she was choosy about the costumes that she would have to wear for a certain role and would point blank reject a role if she was ever asked to wear a bikini or any such revealing outfit, Zeenat called herself as a director’s actor who was willing to mould herself as per the demands of her character.
The actors also shed light on the fact that co-stars often tend to feel insecure in the presence of senior actors. Asha Parekh cited the example of superstar Rajesh Khanna when they were shooting for ‘Baharon Ke Sapne’, while Zeenat Aman said Raj Babbar and Deepak Parashar, who were relatively new in the industry then, used to be a little scared of her while shooting for ‘Insaaf Ka Tarazu’.
Contemporaries They Admire The Most
Zeenat Aman expressed her admiration for her contemporary and close friend Hema Malini. Popularly known as the ‘Dream Girl’ of Bollywood, Hema Malini is often praised for her exemplary dancing skills, and the ‘Don’ actress also admires her for the same.
“Jab bhi wo stage par aatin thin lagta tha ek queen chali aa rhi hai (Whenever she used to come on the stage, she looked like a queen),” Asha Parekh talked in awe about ‘Sangam’ actor Vyjayanthimala. Narrating an incident when Vyjayanthimala was shooting for ‘Amrapali’ and she was shooting for ‘Teesri Manzil’ with Shammi Kapoor, Asha Parekh recalled: “Shammi Kapoor mujhe set pe pakadke le gaye. Round set tha. Neeche Vaijayanthimala ji dance kar rahin thin aur ham upar se dekh rahe the. Jab touch-up ke lie mirror aaya to unhone dekha ki hm dono vahan baithe hain. Unhone told me forcefully, ‘Asha, what are you doing there? Niche (Shammi Kapoor took me to the set. It was a round set. Vyjayanthimala was dancing down below, and we were watching her from the top. When someone brought a mirror for makeup touch-up, she saw us as shouted from there: Asha, what are you doing there? Come down).”
The actresses also talked about what they used to do in-between filming shots. While Zeenat Aman said she is a voracious reader and would always be found reading books on the sets, Asha Parekh narrated an incident that bears testimony to her jovial and carefree nature.
Take On Marriage
During a discussion on why it’s difficult for accomplished actresses to have a successful married life, Asha Parekh said with a chuckle: “I am happy that I am not married.”
Zeenat Aman, who married actor and filmmaker Mazhar Khan during the prime of her career in 1985, said: “According to me, artistes make a lot of effort to strike a balance between their personal and professional life and make their marriage work. Everyone’s journey is different (Each actor’s journey is different from the other). I believe it’s better not to be married than having a bad marriage.”
Asha Parekh, who is a former member of the Censor Board Of Film Certification, was also asked a question on the recent controversy around Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone’s ‘Pathaan’. She said: “If people will decide what to censor and what not to then what is the use of a censor board. The industry is going through a bad phase and if films will not work then the industry will eventually die down. I feel sad when people begin boycott calls every now and then. This should not happen.”
Ideas Of India Is Back
ABP Network Ideas Of India Summit is back for its second edition. On February 24 and 25, eminent personalities from all walks of life will share their thoughts on pertinent topics and issues, ranging from climate catastrophe to India’s position as a new global power player.
This year’s speakers will share their thoughts on what constitutes ‘Naya India’, and how our country, now the fifth-largest economy, can position itself as a developed nation by 2047, marking 100 years of independence.
This year, the ABP Network Ideas Of India summit — co-presented by Dabur Vedic Tea and co-powered by Dr Ortho, Gallant Advance, and Rajesh Masala (driven by Maruti Suzuki and with tech partner Panasonic) — will see notable speakers such as Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Minister Of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, lyricist and poet Javed Akhtar, musical artists Bickram Ghosh and Shubha Mudgal, authors Amitav Ghosh and Devdutt Pattanaik, actresses Sara Ali Khan, Yami Gautam, Asha Parekh and Zeenat Aman, actors Ayushmann Khurrana and Manoj Vajpayee, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna, sports stars Jwala Gupta and Vinesh Phogat, and many more.