Raj Kapoor’s first choice for for Ram Teri Ganga Maili was not Mandakini but this young actress was his preferred choice.
Veteran actress and politician Khushbu Sundar recently revealed an intriguing piece of Bollywood history — she was originally chosen to play the iconic role of Ganga in Raj Kapoor’s legendary film Ram Teri Ganga Maili (1985). In an exciting confession, Khushbu shared that she even participated in a photo shoot for the film. However, at just 14 years old, she was considered too young to take on such a mature character. Ultimately, the role went to Mandakini, who went on to immortalize the character of Ganga, making it one of the most memorable performances in Indian cinema. Read on to find more details.
Khushbu reveals shocking details about starring with Raj Kapoor
During a conversation with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel Khushbu revealed, “Raj Kapoor wanted to launch me in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. We also did a photo shoot for the same. After looking at those photos, Raj Kapoor had said, ‘She is my Ganga.’ The plan was to finish the Gangotri schedule first, but it was snowing at the time, so they decided to shoot in Kolkata first, where they would show the brothel scene. In this segment of the film, the character is already a mother to a baby (sic).”
She further added, “But I was not even fully 14 years old at the time, so Raj ji said, ‘She is herself a kid, and a baby in her hand won’t look good.’ He couldn’t push the film either, and because of this, I couldn’t star in the film (sic).”
About Ram Teri Ganga Maili
Ram Teri Ganga Maili, directed and co-written by the legendary Raj Kapoor, starred Rajiv Kapoor and Mandakini in the lead roles. The film’s music, composed by Ravindra Jain, became an unforgettable highlight, adding to its cinematic appeal. Notably, this film marked Raj Kapoor’s final directorial venture and went on to become a massive box-office success. However, the movie also generated significant controversy due to its bold content, including Mandakini’s provocative scenes of breastfeeding and bathing in a sheer saree, which stirred debates across the nation. Despite the controversy, the film remains a milestone in Indian cinema.
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