Veteran actor Rohini Hattangady has often played a mother to top stars even though she was younger than them in real life. In a recent chat, she recalled a funny moment from the sets of ‘Humse Na Takrana’, when Dharmendra reportedly felt she looked too young to play his mother and asked for more make-up.
Rohini Hattangady on playing mother to superstars
Rohini Hattangady played Amitabh Bachchan’s mother in ‘Agneepath’ and ‘Shahenshah’. She also appeared as Dharmendra’s mother in ‘Humse Na Takrana’. Talking about taking up such roles, she told India Today, “It never affected me because when I do a role, it’s a role for me. You are doing a character. Main sochti nahi hoon ki yeh bada hai, yeh chhota hai (I was never bothered if the part is that of an elder or younger woman). I’ll always act according to my character.”
Rohini Hattangady’s funny first meeting with Dharmendra in Ooty
Rohini Hattangady said Amitabh Bachchan was comfortable with her casting, but her first meeting with Dharmendra was a little amusing. During the shoot in Ooty, she went to greet him on the first day. Soon after she sat down, her makeup artist came to her with an unexpected request.She recalled, “My make-up man came and started working extensively on me. I asked him what he was doing and why we were still not done. He sheepishly informed me that I was told to put on more make-up because Dharam ji was saying that I was looking young. I wondered how much make-up I would need and how much white hair we would need. And what am I supposed to do because I am young?” she recalled, laughing.
About ‘Humse Na Takrana’
The 1990 action drama was directed by Deepak Bahry. It starred Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Anita Raj and Amrish Puri in lead roles. Rohini, who was born in 1951, was only 39 at the time, while Dharmendra was 55.
Do you think age should matter when casting for a character’s role?
3k+ users shared opinion today
5k+ users already voted today
3k+ users shared opinion today
Rohini Hattangady’s career
Rohini is best known for playing Kasturba Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s ‘Gandhi’ (1982). The role won her the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, making her the first Indian actor to receive this honour in the category. She also bagged the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for ‘Party’ (1984).Over the years, she has been part of many well-received films, including ‘Arth’, ‘Agneepath’, ‘ChaalBaaz’, ‘Pukar’ and ‘Munna Bhai MBBS’.
Latest project
Rohini was recently seen in the Netflix film ‘Meethe Mein Kya Hai’, directed by Radhika Bansal. The story follows a young widower whose grief eases during a happy Diwali reunion until his sister’s sudden marriage creates chaos at home. The cast also includes Ritwik Bhowmik, Ayesha Raza, Gaurav Sharma, Tarana Raja, Abhay Kaul and Shivika Rishi.
