Parveen Babi gave 66 retakes for a single shot in Kranti, shoot went on till 2 in the morning; Manoj Kumar’s brother recalls exacting nature | Bollywood News

Actor-filmmaker Manoj Kumar‘s recent passing was a huge loss to Indian cinema, and it has been a time of deep mourning for his fans. Many industry insiders have been sharing anecdotes from the life and times of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner, and joining this l is the legendary actor’s brother, producer Manish Goswami. In an interview to Vickey Lalwani, Manish opened up about the perfection that his brother was. “He never compromised for anything. Even if a scene required 30 or 40 or even 50 retakes, he would go for it,” said Manish, who narrated an anecdote about the making of Kranti, which stands testament to Manoj’s dogged persence.
ALSO READ: Manoj Kumar (1938-2025): ‘Sang emotions of patriotic young Indians’
“It was for Kranti, and we were shooting in the erstwhile Jodhpur palace. There was a shot where Parveen Babi had to raise her hand on the wall and say ‘Kranti Zindabad.’ But for some reason, she just couldn’t deliver what he wanted. We went for 66 retakes, and the shot was given the go ahead at 2 am,” said Manish, who also pointed out that despite the innumerable retakes, there was never a moment when the filmmaker lost his temper. “He was always calm, but had immense conviction. He never lost his temper.”
Story continues below this ad

Describing the vibe of the sets of a Manoj Kumar film, Manish said that if his brother tied a handkerchief on his forehead, it meant that he was under pressure. “When he had the handkerchief on his forehead, it meant no one from the unit should ask him about packup. Of course, on most days, everything went to plan, but on days it didn’t, he was clear about finishing the shoot no matter what,” said Manish, who also pointed out that his brother was a stickler for punctuality, but had a way of handling these things.
ALSO READ: Angry Jaya Bachchan gets netizens’ support as she rebukes elderly fans for asking for photos at Manoj Kumar’s prayer meet. Watch
“If you are coming to a 9 am shift on time, he would leave you because the time agreement was adhered. But if you come at 12 pm for a 9 am shift, you would be asked to leave only when he thought it right,” said Manish, who said that everyone came onboard the project knowing the working style of Manoj Kumar. “Who would say no to Manoj saab, the man who had made Upkar, Roti Kapda aur Makaan, and Kranti?”