Veteran actor Ranjeet, known for his iconic villainous roles in Bollywood, recently shared an interesting anecdote about working with the legendary Rekha during the production of his film Kaarnama. According to Ranjeet, Rekha's professional decisions at the time were influenced by her personal equation with Amitabh Bachchan.
Ranjeet, who also produced and directed Kaarnama, revealed that he cast Rekha in the film because of their long-standing friendship and because she perfectly fit the role. He emphasized that he always paid his actors fairly, even when they were close friends. He recounted an instance where he paid Rekha her full asking price, even though he later discovered she was being paid less for another film.
However, things took an unexpected turn when Rekha made a specific request regarding the film's shooting schedule. Ranjeet had planned the first schedule of Kaarnama with evening shifts. Rekha, however, requested that the schedule be changed to morning shifts, as she wanted to spend her evenings with Amitabh Bachchan.
Ranjeet found himself in a difficult position. He was unwilling to alter the shooting schedule to accommodate Rekha's personal desires. As a result, Rekha decided to leave the film. She even returned her signing amount, demonstrating her commitment to her decision.
Ranjeet explained that he had to delay the film due to Rekha's departure. Dharmendra, who was also cast in the film, became busy with other projects. Dharmendra then suggested Anita Raaj in place of Rekha. Ultimately, Ranjeet completed Kaarnama with Farah, Kimi Katkar, and Vinod Khanna. The film was released in 1990 and achieved average business at the box office.
Ranjeet also shared that Rekha had other demands during that time. She was reportedly not on good terms with Amitabh Bachchan initially, although they later rekindled their friendship. She also preferred to stay in Mumbai and was unwilling to shoot at a farm outside the city, which conflicted with Ranjeet's plans. Additionally, Rekha had reservations about working with a particular choreographer, which led to a replacement.
Ranjeet emphasized that he parted ways with Rekha amicably. He realized that her demands were becoming excessive and that he might end up in a situation where he, like other producers, would be waiting outside her house for a meeting. To avoid further complications, he politely asked her to return the signing amount, and they mutually agreed to end their professional association.
The rumored relationship between Rekha and Amitabh Bachchan has been a topic of speculation for decades. While Rekha has often expressed her admiration and love for Amitabh publicly, he has always maintained a stoic silence on the matter. Despite the numerous stories and rumors, the true nature of their relationship remains a mystery.