Raj Kapoor and Ashok Kaul's friendship started as a coincidence, which became the foundation of a long-lasting relationship between them. Ashok Kaul had served in the Indian Army and later became a close friend of filmmaker Raj Kapoor.
During a conversation with Frontpage Insights, Ashok Kaul told interesting stories about their meeting and friendship. Read some key excerpts from the conversation:
How did your friendship begin and how many difficulties did you face during that time? Our friendship started with 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili'. Shooting at a remote location like Gangotri was very difficult. One day Raj Sahib said to me, Ashok, we have to go to Gangotri. I said, Sir, it will be difficult to go there. The road is not good, there are no bridges and we have to climb very high. As the film is about Ganga, it was researched in depth. His health was not good, he was having trouble breathing, but he went. This was an example of his love for films.
You said that R.K. The studio was very close to his heart. How was the atmosphere and feel family oriented? Raj Sahib never considered RK's studio as his only; He considered them like his family. All the technicians there were members of the same family. Everyone sat together at lunch time, there was no discrimination. During the shooting in the studio, everyone was served the same meal and sat with Raj Sahib.
What happened to Laxman Thomre on the sets? There was a lightman on the set named Laxman Thomare, who was the head lightman on the set. While we were setting up the sets and the Ganga song 'Ram Teri Ganga Maili' was being shot, Laxman Thomare was quietly telling one of the workers there that there should be a crane in the shot. Raj Sahib was standing far away. He called Lakshmana and asked what is the matter Lakshmana? Laxman said, 'Nothing sir, put up the crane.' This was Raj Kapoor's humanity, where there was no such thing as ego.
How Raj Sahib used to work on the sets. How was his connection with each unit member? Even then, Raj Saheb used to know everyone on the set by name. Also knew the names of every unit member and spot boys. It was a different kind of connection. Raj Sahib was a very emotional person.
When you were in the studio, did you go to any special places, like restaurants? Yes, when I was in the studio, we often went to one of Shetty's restaurants, where Simi Garewal was later interviewed. There we had coffee and dosa like normal people. Raj Kapoor never considered himself big, his style was always very simple. Whether on the sets or in a restaurant, he always behaved like a common man. Even in parties he did not pretend to be big.
How did you meet? You were in the army and Raj Kapoor in the film industry. My meeting with Raj Kapoor Ji was a coincidence. At that time I was in the army and my posting was at headquarters in Rampur (Uri sector). All the officers had gone to the front and I was the only officer in the headquarters. There was a knock on the door and the soldier said that he wanted to meet Raj Kapoor ji. I didn't understand who Raj Kapoor ji was.
When there was a knock on the door and Raj Kapoor Ji came in, he asked me if I could go to where the Jhelum River flows into Pakistan. I said yes. It was a sensitive area, but I had to take permission and asked to send an officer with them. When we reached the command post, there was a Pakistani post.
Pakistani soldiers were waving their hands saying we want to watch your films. Raj Kapoor ji said, ok, one day I will come over the broken bridge. Today that entire bridge has become Aman Setu. Raj Kapoor ji's prediction came true.
At that time I wrote a fictional story that had a sense of patriotism and sacrifice for the country. I summarized the story. He said that I will make a film. I said, Sir, the idea is to be sent to the Ministry of Defence, I cannot publish it. But he kept in touch with me.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
