My biggest regret is turning down Satyajit Ray: Asha Parekh

Actor, director and producer Asha Parekh was conferred the Bimal Roy Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award on Tuesday. Yogesh Pawar spoke to the legend about this honour, how it completes a circle since Roy discovered her 66 years ago, her films, her dancing, her songs, and yes, her regret too.

Your reaction to the Bimal Roy Memorial and Film Society honour.

This is a great honour. Its not for nothing I called Bimal Roy my 'mai-baap' in my acceptance speech. He found me and gave my life a direction I never even knew existed. I often wonder what life would've been if destiny hadn't made our paths cross.

Life has come full circle...

My mother was very keen I learn dance and I learnt so many forms. I began with Kathak and was doing a lot of stage shows when BimalDa saw me. He then called for me and asked me if I'd act in films. I had no idea about anything but I just said yes.

Your first film was Maa (1952)...

Yes... I was barely 10 and I just vaguely remember the first day of the shoot. It was a marriage scene. I had to look out of a window and run towards the camera and say a line.

You did several films as a child but then took a break

I did 6-7 films as a child. But it was taking a toll on my studies. So I went back to being a full-time student at JB Petit here in Mumbai.

And then you came back to act as a heroine in Dil Deke Dekho?

I was trying my hand at films and did Aasha with (Vyjayanthimala and Kishore Kumar) but my first solo lead was Dil Deke Dekho opposite Shammi Kapoor. He was very encouraging. I'd call him 'Shammi chachu.' He taught me to lip sync to lyrics and veteran SulochanaTai (Latkar) taught me how to weep with glycerine and mouth emotional dialogue. I was barely 16 and I'm grateful to this day for their guidance.

A succession of box office hits followed..

Yes, Nasir Hussain then cast me in Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1961), Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963), Teesri Manzil (1966), Bahaaron Ke Sapne (1967), Pyaar Ka Mausam (1969) and Caravan (1971) which all became big hits. Their songs are still huge favourites, decades later.

You were called pretty and glamorous.

Yes. Critics even said she can't act for nuts as I did only breezy roles. It all changed with Raj Khosla's Do Badan (1966). Everybody began raving about my emoting. I did Chirag two years later but it didn't do too well despite Madan Mohan songs like Teri Ankhon Ke Siwa, Chhayi Barkha Bahaar  which still play on the radio. I guess audiences weren't ready to see me as vision-impaired. I also did Khosla 's Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki  much later.

Your first Filmfare award came with a Shakti Samanta film.

I did Samanta's Pagla Kahin Ka (1970) and then followed this with Kati Patang (1971), which gave me my first Filmfare award. I was over the moon at being noticed opposite a big superstar like Rajesh Khanna. Some of those RD Burman songs are my favourites.

You have some of the most iconic classical, folk and western dance numbers of all time.

I enjoyed classical dance. I learnt Kathak and later Bharatanatyam from senior gurus like Tirugokarnam Subbiah Kadirvelu Pillai (who also taught Vyjayanthimala). In fact, I never gave up doing dance shows despite films and even started my own dance school. When we invited Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra I was so taken with Odissi's lyricality I asked him to teach me two elaborate items. This training helped me dance classical and folk well in front of the camera.

And what about western?

In the beginning, I had a huge problem because I'd never danced in the Western style. Herman Benjamin had to teach me to jive for Dil Deke Dekho. Over a period I became comfortable in shaking my leg to Western beats. You can tell from Aaja Aaja Mein Hoon Pyaar Tera.

Who was the toughest choreographer?

Gopikrishna. He'd not only think up the most difficult steps but was a stickler for perfection. My feet would bruise practising but he wouldn't relent.

Though you were making movies during the famous Lata-Asha rivalry, your songs feature both.

What can I say? I feel blessed and lucky that some of the film industry's most magical and iconic songs where legendary composers and singers have collaborated have been filmed on me. I've always respected LataJi for being LataJi, and with Asha Bhosale I enjoy a really special camaraderie.

Even while at the top of your game in Hindi you did films in other languages?

Yes, I did three Gujarati films (of which Akhand Saubhagywati was a runaway hit) and Punjabi films (co-starring Dharmendra and even Dara Singh). I also did a Kannada film!

Kannada? How? Why?

(Laughs) Exactly! How and why? I too keep wondering. It was all Shammi ( actress Nargis Rabadi)'s fault who brought it up. I immediately said no as I can't speak/understand Kannada. She told me they'd paradub and I could only say 1-2-3-4. Only when I reached Mysore for the shoot opposite Kumar Bangarappa (late Karnataka CM S Bangarappa's son) the director said: 'Amma aapko lines bolna padega,' did I realise what I'd gotten into. It was crazy.

Around then several leading ladies were also big names. Was there a rivalry?

On the contrary. I think pressures brought on by traditional media, the larger-than-life social media presence and other factors contribute to creating rivalries, enlarging them and keeping them going. We never had that. Especially me. Despite shooting from 9 am to 6 pm, I unfailingly had dance shows at 7 pm. Also, there was a lot more grace and dignity. Some friendships I formed then have endured and become life long associations.

Why did you give up acting?

Unlike now there was a shelf-life assigned to actresses. How long could I play mother and bhabhi roles?

You then moved to TV

I made serials like Jyoti, Palaash Ke Phool, the dance based Baaje Payal  the comedy Daal Mein Kaala and the popular Kora Kagaz and Kangan.

But you also gave that up

Because everything started becoming so regressive.

You've been attached to welfare and philanthropic efforts...

Actors get a platform because of audiences. So as artistes we have a responsibility to give back and I do my bit.

Many of your peers and juniors have taken to politics.

There've been feelers down the years but I've always declined. When I see what's happening in politics I don't regret my decision.

Its more than two and half decades since you were conferred the Padma Shri. Do you regret being passed over for higher civilian awards?

This is for the government to answer. I'm now in space where government awards don't mean a thing. When rank juniors with little to show as contribution are given awards you feel you're better off without them.

Are you open to the idea of acting now?

I think I now want to relax. But who knows how I'll react if something excites me and is my worth?

Any regrets?

Some films did not work out. So there is that. But my biggest regret is turning down Satyajit Ray. When he approached me he wanted to start shooting immediately in Darjeeling. But I'd committed dates to shoot Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai . I still wonder what it would've been to work with Ray and be part of the still nascent parallel cinema movement.

Asha Parekh's hit iconic songs:

O mere sona re...

Kya jaanu sajan

Aaja piya tohe pyaar doon

Sayonara

Achcha toh hum chalte hain

Suno sajana papihe ne

Kitna pyaara vaada hai

Ankhon se joh utri hai dil mein

Jaayiye aap kahan jayenge

Parde mein rehne do parda na uthao

Raat ka sama jhoome chandrama

Mujhe tum mil gaye humdum

Tere Karan Mere Saajan

Aya Sawan Jhoom Ke