In the early 1970s, 80s, and 90s of Bollywood, enacting bold scenes on-screen didn’t always go well with the audience. The hesitation to perform certain scenes often made actors and actresses uncomfortable. However, did you know there was a movie by India’s very first superstar, the late legendary actor Rajesh Khanna, which left the audience stunned—even before reaching them, the film made jaws drop at the censor board?
The film shook everyone because of its storyline, and the explicit scenes created a massive uproar among fans. Interestingly, the film also had a special connection with former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.
Yes, you read that right! Rajesh Khanna did the movie at a time when his career was witnessing a downfall. It brought him the much-needed limelight once again. If you are wondering which movie we are talking about, it is called Red Rose.
Released in 1980, the movie was a remake of the Tamil film Sigappu Rojakkal. The original version featured Kamal Haasan and Sridevi in the lead roles.
Coming back to Rajesh Khanna’s film, the female lead opposite him was Poonam Dhillon. Fans have always loved Kaka as a romantic actor. However, to their surprise, the movie featured Khanna as a serial killer, which did not sit well with the audience. On the other hand, a picture of Poonam, wherein she is in a bathtub wearing minimal clothing, was used for promotional posters. This made the actress extremely upset.
It was a huge risk for Rajesh Khanna, as in the movie his character was far from the sane and romantic man he was known for. Instead, he played a rich but mentally unstable businessman named Anand, who would first trap girls in love and then brutally murder them.
Censorship
The plot of the movie was considered extremely bold by the censor board. Hence, the board took a tough call and gave the film an ‘A certificate’. But after watching the film, the board remarked, “How can a superstar do such a dirty thing? This is not fit for public viewing.”
Upon facing this censorship fiasco, the makers were left with only one option: to approach the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. After a lot of struggle, they finally received a green signal for the release.
Special Connection with Jawaharlal Nehru
Did you know the movie had a connection with former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru? Yes, throughout the movie, Rajesh Khanna kept a red rose in his pocket, a symbol associated with Jawaharlal Nehru. This similarity did not go down well with the censor board either. After a long battle and delay, the movie was finally released on the big screens. Sadly, it did not perform well and was considered a flop.
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