It could have been one of the biggest collaborations in Hindi cinema. Raj Kapoor wanted Rajesh Khanna for Satyam Shivam Sundaram. Talks had happened. An announcement date was fixed. Everything seemed ready.And then, it all collapsed.Years later, Anita Advani revealed what she claims went wrong behind the scenes.Speaking to Vickey Lalwani, Anita said, “Satyam Shivam Sundaram didn’t happen because Raj Kapoor’s sons didn’t want to cast him. They protested, saying there were already multiple heroes in the family, so why bring in an outsider? There was tension around it.”What followed was even more dramatic.“It was Rajesh Khanna’s birthday. He had hosted a grand party where Raj Kapoor was supposed to officially announce the film. The party was meant to go on late into the night, but Raj ji arrived around 5 pm. He said, ‘I am very sorry, but main haar gaya (I lost). I won’t be able to make this film with you.’ And then he left.”Just like that, the film ended before it began.
Life comes full circle
Years later, destiny brought the families together again. Rishi Kapoor approached Rajesh Khanna for his directorial debut, Aa Ab Laut Chalen.“Rajesh Khanna initially didn’t want to do the film,” Anita revealed. “But Krishna Kapoor came home and told him, ‘Raj Kapoor had once wished to make a film with you but couldn’t. I think you should take this up.’ That’s when he agreed.”On the first day of the shoot, Rajesh Khanna couldn’t ignore the irony.“He told me, ‘I was thinking how life comes full circle. Years ago, I was supposed to do a film with them that never happened. And now here we are — Rishi Kapoor himself is directing me.’”
A regret admitted later
Years later, Rishi Kapoor addressed the episode in his autobiography, Khullam Khulla: Rishi Kapoor Uncensored. He admitted he had been among those who objected to Rajesh Khanna’s casting — something he later regretted.Meanwhile, Satyam Shivam Sundaram was eventually made with Shashi Kapoor and Zeenat Aman and went on to become a commercial success.But the version with Rajesh Khanna remains one of Bollywood’s biggest ‘what if’ stories.
