Veteran actress Farida Jalal has made a name for herself in the Hindi entertainment industry with her versatile performances and down-to-earth personality. From television serials to Bollywood movies, she has played many characters over five decades. Recently seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, where she essayed the role of Qudsia Begum, she opened up about working with the late filmmaker Yash Johar and how she was deeply hurt when he and his son Aditya Chopra didn’t cast in their movies after liking her work in DDLJ.
During an interview with India Today, Jalal shared how she played a pivotal part in YRF’s iconic movie Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995). She expressed how despite the film’s overwhelming success, YRF studios didn’t work with her in their subsequent projects. Recalling how she received a call to play a small part in Dil Toh Pagal Hai (1997), quoted by Bollywood Shaadis, she said, “After 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge', I got a call from Yash Ji for 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai'. Before that, I thought they had no role for me after DDLJ, otherwise why won’t I be repeated?”
The 75-year-old actress revealed that the late filmmaker had called her after DDLJ and told her that he had an opportunity for her. He called her and told her that he had a role for her, however, his son Adi felt that she wouldn’t take it up. While she agreed to work in the Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, and Karisma Kapoor starrer, she didn’t receive any roles from them after. She recalled the veteran filmmaker’s words by stating, “He told me ‘don’t say no ever to me or Adi’. He empathetically said ‘yeh silsila chalta rahein’. I loved that line. I was so happy when he said that. After that, I was waiting for this ‘silsila’ to continue.”
The Aradhana actress went on to share that she moved on and started taking up rules that were offered to her, even TV shows. Explaining that this was the way for the industry, she said, “This happens in this industry. It hurts when you cast someone else in my place. I didn’t even think twice to play any role after that. I did a show on TV where Yash Ji sent a message. I sent him a box of chocolate after that and wrote to him that he told me these words about ‘silsila chalte rahe’ and I am still waiting because he put those words in my head. Even after that, when there is no response, I am hurt. I am deeply hurt that people do shift loyalties but to the extent that you don’t remember me ever. It hurts.”
Talking about her work in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, Farida Jalal essayed the role of Qudsia Begum, Tajdar Baloch’s (played by Taha Shah Badussha) grandmother. The makers of the web series recently announced that the Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial has been renewed for a second season.
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