Filmmaker Kidar Sharma worked with the biggest names in Hindi cinema, including Raj Kapoor, Madhubala, Geeta Bali, Mala Sinha, and more. In an old interview, the director talked about how once Geeta Bali was ready to work for minimal fees after her downfall. The filmmaker also shared that the greatest showman of Hindi movies didn’t want to work with Geeta Bali, as he felt she was not of his standard. Here’s what happened.
When Kidar Sharma revealed he signed Geeta Bali for Rs 6000
In an old interview with Prasar Bharti, Kidar recalled that he was “distraught” when Geeta turned her back to him after becoming a star. However, one day, the actress, along with her mother, came to him asking for work. He said, “All her films were flopping, and nobody was willing to hire her even for Rs 6,000.”Recalled Geeta accepting her mistake and saying that she had learned her lesson, he shared, “They said, ‘Bade pitt ke aayein hai, aap humko apney sharan mein le lo’ (We’ve lost everything; please take us back under your wings).”The director expressed that he initially wanted to “kick them out”; however, he felt sorry for them. And since they generously admitted that they were wrong, he had let it go.The director stated that he roped her in for the film ‘Bawre Nain’. He revealed that he went to Raj Kapoor, as Geeta Bali couldn’t sell the film alone.
When Raj Kapoor said, ‘Mere standard ki toh ladki lo,’ after learning Geeta Bali has been cast opposite him
In the same interview, Sharma continued that he told Raj Kapoor that he would not be able to pay him what others were. To which, the actor said that he would do it anyway. As per the filmmaker, Kapoor then asked who the female lead of the movie was.On replying, “Geeta Bali,” he said that Kapoor was stunned and recalled him saying, “Sir, kya baat karte ho, kam se kam mere standard ki toh ladki lo (what are you saying, sir; at least get someone of my standard).”The filmmaker requested the actor to give the actress a chance for just one day and then make the decision. He shared that Raj Kapoor agreed on one condition that Geeta Bali would not be saying a single dialogue.Sharma recalled, “Raj ki chhutti kar di uss ladki ne (he was mindblown with her performance).” The director stated that the actor eventually agreed to work with her.For the unversed, Geeta later married Raj Kapoor’s brother, Shammi Kapoor. However, she passed away at just 34 due to smallpox.
