Yash Chopra is known for getting the prestigious trio – Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha for the 1981 classic ‘Classic’ together.continuationSomehow, the film did not manage to perform well at the box office at that time. But then, over the years, it has become a creed. In a conversation, the late film-producer revealed Big B’s response to the casting that was in his mind. Not for those, of which, initially Smita Patil and Parveen Babi were cast for the film.
Casting coup
It was nothing short of a casting coup that Chopra pulled with ‘Silsila’. The film-producer once revealed these details in a conversation with Shah Rukh Khan, “I had signed both Smita Patil and Parveen Babi, and both were done to start shooting. Smita had to play the role played by Jaya Bachchan and Parveen, who went to meet Rekh. I went to talk about the film.”
He said, “This was Amitji who asked me if I am happy … the material with Casting (Smita Patil, Parveen Babi and Amitabh Bachchan) and what I think this is an ideal casting. I told him that I wanted to cast him, Jaiji, and Rekha.
Chopra warned both Jaya Bachchan and Rekha, ‘There should be no mess.’
Screen space not shared since ‘Silsila’
Many reports suggest that Jaya Bachchan said yes to the film because after the end Amitabh Bachchan’s character opt for his wife to live with his wife. After ‘Silsila’, Rekha and Bachchan never shared screen space together.
