It was the year 1964 when Raj Kapoor delivered the highest-grossing film of the year. A love triangle that was cherished for years and is still considered a classic – Sangam. The film starred Vyjayanthimala and Rajendra Kumar in the lead roles, along with the showman himself.
Sangam was written by Inder Raj Anand, and while everyone was enjoying the success party, Raj Kapoor and Inder were engrossed in a heated argument. Before anyone could realize the cause of this heated discussion, all they could witness was a tight slap!
Inder Raj Anand’s son Tinnu Anand, in one of his interviews with Rediff, confirmed this showdown and said, “My father also saw lots of ups and downs. He was the most popular writer in the film industry. He was writing about 18 films. A fight broke out between them on the night of Sangam’s release, and my father slapped Raj Kapoor.”
However, what happened next was unimaginable and heartbreaking. The actor further narrated, “In retaliation, Raj Kapoor and all the people connected with Sangam – Rajendra Kumar, Vyjayanthimala, Shankar-Jaikishen, Hasrat Jaipuri, Shailendra – and their friends boycotted my father. In one night, my father lost 18 films. And then, he had a heart attack. It was a very tough time. He had this glorious future with those 18 films, and suddenly, all of that went away.”
For the unversed, Inder Raj Anand was one of the most prominent writers in the industry. He was an integral part of Raj Kapoor since Aag, which was released in 1948. He also wrote Char Dil Char Rahein, Chhalia, and Anari, all starring Raj Kapoor in the lead.
However, after the massive showdown, things might have eased out between the writer and Raj Kapoor since they worked together in Sapnon Ka Saudagar. His last screenplay was for Shahenshah, released after the writer died in 1987. Before his death, his last work was Mard, which was released in 1985.
0 Comments