Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 30: Veteran actor Raza Murad shared a fascinating anecdote from the making of the 1973 classic ‘Namak Haraam’, revealing how legendary director Hrishikesh Mukherjee locked Amitabh Bachchan and Rajesh Khanna inside a room to ensure discipline during filming.
Disciplinary Action on the Set
Murad, who rose to prominence with ‘Namak Haraam’, recounted that during the filming of the song “Sooni Re Sejaria”, Mukherjee was frustrated with the actors frequently leaving the set to attend phone calls, causing costly delays.
“A mujra was being picturised with Jayashree T and Habiba Rehman. The studio was far from the director’s office, and when Rajesh Khanna (nicknamed Pintu) was called, he had gone to attend a phone call. Soon after, Amitabh Bachchan was also found busy on a call,” Murad said.
Angered by the interruptions, Mukherjee scolded both actors, pointing out the financial loss their delays caused to the producer—₹4,000 per minute.
“Now, till the song is completed, no one will leave the set,” the filmmaker declared, ordering the watchman to lock the doors from the inside. The actors remained inside till 12:30 AM when the shoot finally wrapped up.
Raaj Kumar’s Controversial Past
Murad also shared an intense and lesser-known story about actor Raaj Kumar. He recounted an incident where Raaj Kumar, then a police sub-inspector, got into a violent altercation at Juhu Beach.
“Someone passed a bad comment about a lady with Raaj Kumar. He got so angry that he beat the man so badly that he died,” Murad revealed.
A murder case was filed against Raaj Kumar, leading to a long legal battle. Murad’s father, a close friend of the actor, attended court hearings to support him. Ultimately, Raaj Kumar was acquitted.
The Larger-than-Life Persona of Raaj Kumar
Murad fondly described Raaj Kumar as a towering figure, both physically and in personality.
“When I first saw him, I felt like I was looking at the Qutub Minar. But he was so humble—he bent his neck down so I could put a garland around him,” Murad reminisced.
Raaj Kumar, a Kashmiri Pandit and former police officer, gained fame after his role in ‘Mother India’ (1957). His deep, deliberate dialogue delivery became his trademark, earning him a devoted fanbase.
“People loved his style. He was ‘Jani’ for everyone,” Murad said, referring to the actor’s famous catchphrase.
Despite his serious persona, Raaj Kumar was known for his unconventional lifestyle and generosity, making him one of Bollywood’s most enigmatic figures.
Raza Murad, known for his roles in ‘Ram Teri Ganga Maili’, ‘Khud-daar’, ‘Ram Lakhan’, ‘Tridev’, ‘Pyar Ka Mandir’, ‘Aankhen’, ‘Mohra’, and ‘Gupt’, continues to share Bollywood’s untold stories from the golden era.