When the shooting was stopped, B.R. Chopra took Madhubala to the dock: Prince watched his film to understand India, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter
On April 22, 1914, exactly 112 years ago, a son, Baldev, was born to Vilayati Raj Chopra, who worked in a government job in PWD in Punjab, undivided India. Baldev Raj Chopra was the second in a family of 6 brothers and sisters. For Baldev, who topped in studies, his father had thought since childhood that he would make him a government officer. Time passed and preparations were started. While pursuing a master’s degree in English at Lahore Government College, Pakistan, his Indian Civil Service form was filled. The father was hopeful that his son would pass the exam, but just before the exam dates, Baldev’s health deteriorated to such an extent that all the preparation went astray. Gave the exam and when the results came, he had failed. Baldev cried a lot. Father explained, let’s go to London for a few days, there is another date after 6 months, then give the paper. The crying child gave only one answer – I will never do a government job again. The dream of a government job was shattered, but who knew that the same boy would one day create history in Hindi cinema. That boy who failed was Baldev Raj Chopra, whom the country knows as B.R. Chopra. Whose films were praised even by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. BR Chopra, who entered Hindi cinema amid the riots of partition of India and Pakistan, made many superhit films like Hamraj, Naya Daur, Sadhna, Nikaah, Kanoon. The stories that were ahead of time and the suspense and stories of the characters kept the audience captivated and then in 1988, when he made the TV show Mahabharata, he created history by taking God and mythological stories to every home. Before the show started, people would take off their slippers and sit on the ground with folded hands, while some would perform the aarti on TV. That show, which still holds a world record. In the journey of this success, BR Chopra’s stubbornness and self-respect also remained in the news. Sometimes Madhubala, who created disturbance in the shooting, was put in the dock, and sometimes a star like Govinda was thrown out of the office. B.R. Today is Chopra’s 112th birth anniversary, read on this special occasion, some selected stories related to his coming into films and creating history – Kissa-1, used to write for the newspaper, made a film on the advice of friends, then suffered a loss. During his college days, B.R. Chopra started writing for Calcutta’s Variety newspaper. His first article was on films. Challenging the artists making films in an article, he wrote, make something good, write a story, tell the society what is going on in the society, what are the problems. Sent the article to Calcutta, but it was not published. The next 3 articles were also not published. The third week he received a parcel containing a copy of Variety newspaper, which contained his three previous articles. It was also accompanied by an apology from the editor. The process of writing started. In 1944, B.R. Chopra started writing for the Cine Herald magazine of the New Star Film Production Company. When the tension due to the freedom struggle started increasing, to escape, BR Chopra started living in his ancestral house in Jalandhar. 150 more people were staying there. One day some of his father’s friends suggested him to invest money in Hindi cinema films. 5 more friends joined. Everyone made the film Karvat, which flopped miserably. B.R. Chopra’s entire earnings were gone. Story-2: After the loss, he again applied to work in the newspaper. After the loss in the film production, B.R. Chopra decided that now he will work in the newspaper. His uncle Durga Das was the editor of Hindustan Times at that time. Wrote a letter and got the reply, come to Bombay, but do not come defeated. B.R.Chopra was wondering what to do, he went to have tea in a Parisian café. While we were drinking tea, a voice came – Hey Chopra Saheb, what are you doing? He said in a tired voice – I am drinking tea. That person again said – What are you doing? On this, B.R. Chopra said angrily – What can I do, I have no money, no talent, no experience. Where can I do something? On this the person said- Do one thing, do something. At least take the story. That person was I.S.Johar. Well-known actor and comedian of that era. On that story, BR Chopra started making the film Chandni Chowk in Lahore. As soon as the shooting had started, riots broke out due to partition and the shooting had to be stopped. He settled in Bombay, where on the advice of friends, he started filmmaking again. After two failures, his 1951 film Afsana was successful as a director. Ashok Kumar played a double role in this film. It is said that this film brought the trend of double role. This film was earlier offered to Dilip Kumar, but he refused saying that he would not fit in the role of a judge. Further B.R.Chopra made many hit films like Humraj, Kanoon. Story-3, Sanjeev Kumar gained weight by promising to lose weight in the song with cold water. In the year 1978, B.R. Chopra made the film Pati Patni Aur Woh, in which Sanjeev Kumar was in the lead role. For the film’s song ‘Thande-Thande Paani Mein’, Sanjeev Kumar had to take bath sitting with the child shirtless. Sanjeev Kumar’s stomach was quite visible while sitting without clothes. After the shooting started, he said to BR Chopra, look, I am very tired, why don’t we shoot this song at the end. By then I will lose weight. B.R.Chopra agreed to his insistence. Sanjeev Kumar started dieting from the very next day. The next day, he had only salad and soup to eat on the set. He had food and said to B.R. Chopra – Chopra, now I will sleep for a while. After some time, Chopra Saheb’s lunch arrived. As soon as it was opened, it contained fish curry and rice. As soon as the fragrance came, Sanjeev Kumar stood up and said – Today I give up dieting. He did the same every day. He would first eat salad and then the delicious food coming from others’ homes. A month later, when it was time to shoot that song, Sanjeev Kumar’s weight had increased more than before. He was forced to shoot with his stomach only. This song was a big hit at that time, which is heard even today. Story-4, After watching the film, the widow girl’s father changed his mind and got her married for the second time. One day, BR Chopra was sitting in his office when a man came and fell at his feet. When BR Chopra asked the reason, he said, I am the headmaster of a small village, my daughter got married 8 months ago. Unfortunately, her husband died after just 3 months. I brought him home. We did not leave the house. We thought the world had ended. Even eating and drinking had almost stopped. One day another headmaster of my school came and said, let me take you to the cinema. I told him- My daughter is a widow, I have stopped watching cinema. He said, how long will you remain hidden, you will come out someday. While narrating the story further, the headmaster said to B.R. Chopra – Sir, I went to see the picture, the picture was, Hamraj. There was a song in it, neither live with your face hidden nor live with your head bowed. Even if times of sorrow come, live with a smile. After coming home, I told my daughter, look, life is about moving, not stopping. The person further said, Chopra Saheb, that is why I am at your feet today. I saw the film, I got my daughter married for the second time. Today he is very happy. I am also very happy. That’s why I have come to thank you. Story-5, When the shooting stopped, a case was filed against Madhubala. Madhubala and Dilip Kumar were in a relationship in the 50s. Both had sealed their relationship by attending the premiere of the film Insaniyat (1955) together. However, there were also reports then that Madhubala’s father was very against this relationship. Actually, in 1956, news came that both of them could get married, Dilip Kumar had put a condition that Madhubala would not work in films after marriage. Madhubala’s father Attaullah Khan was against this marriage due to fear of stopping income after marriage. Many restrictions were imposed on Madhubala and she was asked to be kept separately from Dilip Kumar. At the same time, BR Chopra signed Madhubala with Dilip Kumar in the film Naya Daur by giving a signing amount of Rs 32 thousand. The film was shot for 15 days in Mumbai, after which further shooting was to take place in Bhopal. When this matter reached Madhubala’s father, he flatly refused to send the actress. He felt that Dilip Kumar had pressurized him to shoot in Bhopal when restrictions increased in Mumbai, so that he could be close to Madhubala. Under the pressure of her father, Madhubala also had to agree. But this made the film’s director and producer BR Chopra very angry. When Madhubala did not attend the shooting, BR Chopra filed a complaint against her in the Magistrate Court of Girgaon, Mumbai. Alleging fraud and breaking the contract, he demanded return of Rs 32 thousand. At that time BR Chopra was the editor of Variety Magazine. He also wrote a two-page article on this controversy in Variety magazine. He also put a red bite mark in a big picture of Madhubala and wrote that now Vyjayanthimala will be the heroine in her place. This news was widely publicized by the media and Madhubala was defamed. When the hearing started, Madhubala was made to stand in the dock. Dilip Kumar was called as a witness. Madhubala, who was in a relationship with him, was hopeful that Dilip Kumar would support him, but on the contrary he said in front of everyone that Madhubala did not come to Bhopal for the shooting due to fear of her father. The actress broke down after hearing the testimony against her. The case continued for 4 months, but BR Chopra later withdrew the case. But after this controversy, Madhubala was also removed from films like Sohni Mahewal and Savera. This film was a huge hit. After the controversy ended, Madhubala wanted Dilip Kumar to apologize to her father, but he refused to apologize and also ended the relationship. Story 6: When Prince Philip came to India, he saw B.R. Chopra’s film, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter. B.R. Chopra was a filmmaker of that era, who used to convey social issues to the public through films. Be it law, Hamraj, Nikah or new era. The film Naya Daur was released in 1957. Only a few days had passed since the release of the film, one day a letter came to BR Chopra’s office from the Prime Minister’s office. All the people in the office were nervous. BR Chopra also got scared that I had not made anything on which the government would have objection. When the letter was opened, it was sent by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. It was written in it, Dear Chopra. Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip (husband of Queen Elizabeth) was in India. A film was to be shown to them to understand village life. Someone said to show a new era. I thought I would show him the film for 15 minutes. But when the film started, it was so good that I could not leave the place without watching the entire film. Story – 7, Govinda was chased away from the office after rejecting Mahabharata, abused his mother. Govinda’s mother Nirmala Devi was a singer of Patiala Gharana and father Arun Ahuja was also a filmmaker. Initially, Govinda used to deliver his dance CDs to the producers’ offices. Finally in 1986 he got his first film Love 86. Goofy Pental, close to Govinda’s family, was at that time casting the show Mahabharata being made under the direction of BR Chopra. One day Govinda reached the house of Goofy Pental’s wife in connection with some work. B.R.Chopra was also there. He looked at Govinda and said, we have selected you for the role of Abhimanyu. But then Govinda’s mother had asked him to work in films only. Govinda said- Sir, I will not do it. My mother has refused. On this B.R. Chopra asked- Who is your mother? Got the answer – She is a Sadhvi. She wears saffron clothes, I do whatever she says. The film line is secondary. When Govinda refused, BR Chopra said – Your mother is mad. Govinda got irritated at this. He said, his first film was Sharda, he has done 9 films, you are also senior. Daddy is also your senior. I’m struggling, whatever she says, that’s what happens. Govinda’s mother got angry after hearing all this. He said, go, act in front of him and say, I have eaten your thoughts. This is what Govinda did. He went to his office and said – I have eaten your thoughts. B.R.Chopra got irritated. He immediately told his guards, take him out, he is crazy. Govinda then said, see, you are throwing Govinda out. Won 4 National Awards, was also honored with Padma Bhushan. B.R. Chopra has received 4 National Awards for the films Kanoon, Dharamputra, Gumrah and Humraj. Apart from this, he has also been honored with Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1998. In the year 2001, BR Chopra was awarded Padma Bhushan. Apart from these, he also has 2 Filmfare Awards.
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