Latest news with #Dharmatma
India.com
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
'I will not become....: director started abusing Zeenat Aman after she said no to..., the director was..., film was...
One of Bollywood's most iconic and trailblazing actresses of the 1970s and '80s, Zeenat Aman redefined glamour and boldness on-screen at a time when few dared to break the mould. The diva is known for her unconventional roles and striking screen presence. She became a trendsetter with films like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, and Qurbani. In a recent candid conversation with Shemaroo Lifestyle, the actress shared a poignant moment from her early days in Bollywood. The actress, a reigning icon of the '70s with blockbusters like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Dharmveer, shared that she once turned down a role in Feroz Khan's Dharmatma and paid for it with an unexpected verbal backlash. 'Feroz Khan had offered me a second lead role in Dharmatma, which I declined. He got furious and later called me, hurling abuses. I was shocked. We didn't speak for a long time after that,' she revealed. Did the two ever reconcile? According to the reports, despite the sour exchange, fate had other plans. Years later, Feroz Khan returned with another offer, this time with a lead role. The film? The cult classic Qurbani. 'He called again and said, 'This time it's the lead role, Zeenat.' He was making Qurbani, and I said yes,' she recalled. The decision proved game-changing. Qurbani went on to become a massive hit, and Zeenat's role was hailed as one of her most iconic. Their professional dynamic warmed up post-release. 'After Qurbani, he started calling me chhoti begum,' she added with a smile. Was there a personal connection as well? Interestingly, yes. Zeenat Aman was briefly married to Feroz Khan's brother, actor Sanjay Khan. Their relationship, however, was short-lived and ended on a bitter note. Although her personal and professional journeys often intersected, Zeenat emerged as one of Bollywood's most enduring names. From slammed phones to silver screen success, Zeenat Aman's journey with Feroz Khan proves that sometimes, the biggest hits begin with the loudest 'no.'
Time of India
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When Zeenat Aman said Feroz Khan abused her on phone when he was upset with her once, he later offered her 'Qurbaani'
Zeenat Aman , who entered the film industry in 1970, quickly rose to fame and became one of the highest-paid actresses of her era. Known for breaking the mold with films like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, and Dharam Veer, she not only became a leading lady but also redefined the image of the Bollywood heroine with her bold fashion and screen presence. At the peak of her career, Zeenat once turned down a secondary role in Feroz Khan 's Dharmatma (1975), a decision that led to a major fallout between the two. Recalling the incident in an old interview with Shemaroo Lifestyle, she shared, 'Feroz Khan had offered me a secondary role in Dharmatma. I refused the offer. Feroz was mad at me for this. Baad mein phone pe unhone mujhe kuch ulat sulat keh diya (Later, he even abused me over a phone call). This made me upset. We didn't talk for a very long time.' Despite the rift, Feroz Khan eventually reached out to her again when he began working on Qurbani (1980). Zeenat said, 'But, when he was making Qurbani, he called me again. He said, 'This time, it is not a secondary role, Zeenat Aman.'' In a 2024 Instagram post, Zeenat reflected further on her rocky start with Feroz. 'Feroz and I had a rocky start. It was the 70s, my star was on the rise, and he called me on the telephone to offer me a role in his upcoming production. It was a secondary part, and so I politely refused the offer. Feroz was incensed and let out a stream of expletives while I held the receiver away from my ear!' She added, 'Many months later, he called again. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo This time he started his pitch by saying – 'it's the lead role so don't reject it'. And that's how I joined the cast of Qurbani.' Zeenat also shared a memory that highlighted Feroz's strict sense of discipline on set. 'I often discuss set etiquette in my captions, so I'd be amiss to neglect Feroz's influence on me in this regard. I was quite a diligent worker, but on one occasion my youth got the better of me. Though we had an early call time the next day, I agreed to go out to a party. It was a fantastic night of dance and drink, and unsurprisingly I landed up one hour late to set. Feroz was glowering behind his camera, and before I could offer him my meagre excuse, he cut me down to size. 'Begum, you're late and you're going to pay for the delay.' No argument, no scolding, but you can be sure that he docked my pay to pay the crew for that one hour delay,' she recalled. Qurbani went on to become one of Bollywood's biggest blockbusters, much like Dharmatma. It also gained attention for being one of the most expensive productions of its time, with a budget of ₹1.55 crore. Originally, the film was set to star Amitabh Bachchan, but due to scheduling issues, the role eventually went to Vinod Khanna.
Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Zeenat Aman recalls how Feroz Khan abused her on phone after she refused Dharmatma: ‘Bahut ulta-sulta suna diya, I didn't speak to him for a long time'
After making her debut in 1970, Zeenat Aman went on to become the highest paid actress of her time. With films like Hare Rama Hare Krishna, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and Dharam Veer, she had become the style icon and regarded as someone who changed the way industry looked at heroines. Being among the leading stars, Zeenat Aman once refused to take up a secondary role in Feroz Khan's 1975 film Dharmatma. This caused tension between the two with Feroz even abusing her over the phone. In an old interview with Shemaroo Lifestyle, Zeenat Aman recalled bagging the lead role in Qurbani (1980) after having a fight with its director over Dharmatma. She shared, 'Feroz Khan had offered me a secondary role in Dharmatma. I refused the offer. Feroz was mad at me for this. Baad mein phone pe unhone mujhe kuch ulat sulat keh diya (Later, he even abused me over a phone call). This made me upset. We didn't talk for a very long time.' However, the fight didn't stop Feroz Khan from approaching her for his another project, Qurbani. She shared, 'But, when he was making Qurbani, he called me again. He said, 'This time, it is not a secondary role, Zeenat Aman.'' In the same interview, Zeenat Aman shared that it was after Qurbani that he started to address her as Choti Begum. Zeenat Aman was briefly married to Feroz Khan's brother Sanjay Khan, who allegedly physically assaulted her. This resulted in divorce within a year of their marriage. Previously, recalling her experience shooting Qurbani, Zeenat Aman had shared how Feroz once docked her payment for arriving late on set. In an Instagram post in 2024, Zeenat shared, 'Feroz and I had a rocky start. It was the 70s, my star was on the rise, and he called me on the telephone to offer me a role in his upcoming production. It was a secondary part, and so I politely refused the offer. Feroz was incensed and let out a stream of expletives while I held the receiver away from my ear!' She added, 'Many months later, he called again. This time he started his pitch by saying – 'it's the lead role so don't reject it'. And that's how I joined the cast of Qurbani.' ALSO READ | Angad Bedi took seven years to digest Neha Dhupia's habit of telling guests to leave their house at specific time: 'We would love to have you from 8 to 11' 'I often discuss set etiquette in my captions, so I'd be amiss to neglect Feroz's influence on me in this regard. I was quite a diligent worker, but on one occasion my youth got the better of me. Though we had an early call time the next day, I agreed to go out to a party. It was a fantastic night of dance and drink, and unsurprisingly I landed up one hour late to set. Feroz was glowering behind his camera, and before I could offer him my meagre excuse, he cut me down to size. 'Begum, you're late and you're going to pay for the delay.' No argument, no scolding, but you can be sure that he docked my pay to pay the crew for that one hour delay,' shared the actress. Qurbani, just like Dharmatma, became one of the biggest hits of Bollywood. It also made headlines for being one of the most expensive films with a budget of Rs 1.55 crore. Qurbani was supposed to star Amitabh Bachchan, but due to scheduling conflicts, the role went to actor Vinod Khanna.
India.com
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
India's first film to be shot in Afghanistan, Rajesh Khanna was offered lead role, later he was rejected by director due to…, movie is…, lead actor was…
The Hollywood classic cult film, The Godfather, has inspired many Bollywood films, including the 1975 film Dharmatma, which was released 50 years ago on April 30, 1975. The lead role and direction were handled by the renowned actor-director Late Feroz Khan. The film had a star-studded cast, along with the Dream Girl of Bollywood, Hema Malini. But did you know that it was first offered to legendary superstar Rajesh Khanna? When Rajesh Khanna Was Removed From Dharmatma According to reports, Rajesh Khanna was in discussions with Feroz Khan regarding the casting for the film. However, despite their talks, the casting did not materialize for some undisclosed reason. Although speculations have been made that Feroz wanted to cast Rajesh Khanna due to his superstar status, believing that his presence would contribute to the film's success. Ultimately, Feroz decided to proceed without Rajesh Khanna, as he felt that if the film succeeded, all the credit would go to Khanna. By taking on the lead role himself, Feroz aimed to target his role along with his superstar stature. When Hema Malini Shared About Incident With Feroz Khan During her appearance on the music show Indian Idol 15, Hema Malini recounted her experience of working with superstar Feroz Khan. The actress recalled that while filming the iconic track Kya Khoob Lagti Ho, Badi Sundar Dikhti Ho song for the film Dharmatma, Feroz Khan got annoyed and kicked something in anger, which he later realised was her makeup box. She said, 'It was during the shoot of the song 'Kya Khoob Lagti Ho, Badi Sundar Dikhti Ho.' Feroz Khan was a very passionate filmmaker, and during blast scene at the end of the song, people were laughing in the background. This made him angry, and in his frustration, he kicked something without realizing what it was. Later, he discovered that it was my makeup box.' Due to the chaos, the filming was delayed for almost half a day. She jokingly added, 'There was pin-drop silence for two days afterward because everyone was scared. He apologized as soon as he realized it was mine.' More about Dharmatma Dharmatma was the first Indian movie filmed in Afghanistan. It became a superhit and marked Feroz Khan's first successful venture as both a director and producer. The cast included notable actors such as Hema Malini, Rekha, Farida Jalal, Ranjeet, and Danny Denzongpa. The action-thriller flick, which was made on Rs 1.5 crore budget, earned Rs 5 crore and became one of the biggest blockbusters of that year.
India.com
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Meet Bollywood's dreaded villain who was linked with Parveen Babi, beats Vijay Mallya in…, rejected Sholay because of…, his name is…
In rich tapestry of Bollywood's storytelling, certain veteran actor carved his niche not as a hero, but as face audiences loved to fear. With a voice that could freeze a scene and eyes that conveyed menace with ease, he brought villains to life like no other. His portrayals weren't just acts, they were layered performances that left lasting impressions. Apart from a cinematic voyage, this actor also ventured into the world of brewing and surpassed Vijay Mallya. Bollywood's Dreadest Villain… Here we are talking about actor Danny Denzongpa , who is best known for playing iconic negative shades in Bollywood. When we think of Danny Denzongpa, we are immediately reminded of a larger-than-life figure with a deep voice. Characters like Katiya, Kancha Cheena, Shankar Singhania, Bhaktawar and Khuda Baksh have become legendary due to Danny's distinctive persona and remarkable acting skills. Meanwhile, the actor also got an opportunity to feature in cult-classic Sholay in the role of Gabbar Singh , but due to a clash with shoot schedule of his film Dharmatma , he declined the big opportunity. In addition to his acting career, Danny Denzongpa is a prosperous businessman and capable entrepreneur, owning India's third-largest beer brand, Yuksom Breweries. He launched Yuksom Breweries in 1987 in South Sikkim. In 2005, he founded Denzong Breweries in Odisha and four years later, he acquired Rhino Agencies in Assam. They produce brands like Dansberg and He-Man 9000 . Yuksom Breweries is reported to contribute ₹100 crore annually to the economy of the northeastern region and provides jobs for 250 individuals there. Danny & The King Of Good Times Business tycoon Vijay Mallya had plans to venture into the North-East. To achieve this, United Breweries sought to acquire Rhino, a newly established brewery in Assam that had only been operational for two months. To safeguard its market presence in the area, Danny's company, Yuksom, stopped these intentions by purchasing Rhino instead. This move allowed Danny to not only strengthen his foothold in the market but also to obstruct Vijay Mallya's advances to acquire space in the North-East. Danny and His Relationship With Parveen Babi During the 1970s, Danny and Parveen Babi shared a short romantic relationship. Their time together was characterized by a deep respect and understanding for one another. Later, the two broke up, but continued to maintain a friendly relationship. Danny frequently expresses warm and respectful thoughts about Parveen, particularly regarding her later challenges with mental health. In terms of work front, Danny Denzongpa was last featured in Sooraj Barjatya's adventure-drama Uunchai alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Anupam Kher, Boman Irani, Parineeti Chopra, Neena Gupta, Sarika and Sheen Das.
