In a throwback podcast with Lehren, veteran actress Aruna Irani poured her heart out while unveiling about how her entire career in cinema has been. From entering Bollywood as a child artist to leading screens through her notable characters and suddenly facing breakdown in career after untrue rumours spread like a wave of her marrying outstanding comedian Mehmood Ali. Later on, signing dance numbers in films like Andhala Marto Dola and Bobby in 1973 paved her way to shine onscreen all over again. Further, in an emotional conclusion, she opened up on how her father was immensely proud to witness her stunning success.
Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00People used to make fun of me that I got married to Mahmood Jais.
00:04I used to feel that people have forgotten me.
00:07I am not in the industry.
00:09If I have made a mistake, then I have made that mistake.
00:13My producers haven't done it.
00:15If I had to clarify at that time, then I should have done it.
00:18It is not their mistake.
00:20My father always used to feel that if I had a son instead of my elder daughter,
00:25then I would have died in peace that my elder son will take care of my family.
00:41I started my career when I was 9 years old.
00:44They had collected 500 kids.
00:47Mr. Dilip wanted some child artists for Azra ji and Vyjayanti ji's childhood.
00:53They selected Baby Naaz for Vyjayanti ji.
00:57Then they called all kids.
00:59Some 500 kids were called.
01:01They saw everyone.
01:03They saw me too.
01:05Then he went back like that.
01:07Hey girl, please come here.
01:09And he called me.
01:11Yes uncle.
01:13He said, what is your name?
01:15I said Aruna.
01:17Then he asked me 2-3 questions.
01:20He gave me a look.
01:22Premji bhai, who is a producer now,
01:24he was a very good producer.
01:26He used to work in his production at that time.
01:28He asked me to take the address of this kid.
01:31He finally took the address of 4-5 kids.
01:34I never thought that he will select me among these 500 kids.
01:38But it happened.
01:40That's how my career started.
01:42Then I came in as a child artist.
01:44Sometimes I did a small role here and there.
01:46I did a small role of childhood.
01:48Then there was a time when I was neither a child nor a youth.
01:51At that time, no work was given to me.
01:53Because I was in middle age.
01:55I had to sit at home for 4-5 years.
01:58In those 4-5 years, I started doing stage.
02:01My father had a theatrical company.
02:03So I started doing stage plays and all that commercial plays.
02:07So that was actually my institute where I learned.
02:10I learned things like how to perform.
02:14How to express the fear of the heart in front of so many people.
02:19That was sort of my institute.
02:21And I learned a lot from stage.
02:23In those days, my bread and butter was also the same.
02:26Then one day, my brother-in-law Mistry came to see our play.
02:29He said, who is this girl who is doing the comedy role?
02:34I said, she is Aruna Irani.
02:36So call her.
02:38So he called her.
02:40He said, Aruna, would you like to work in a film?
02:44And I could not believe my ears that I am hearing so.
02:48And he said, yes.
02:49And there is such a comedy role.
02:51It is opposite to Marutiji.
02:52Comedian Marutiji, who passed away.
02:55It is opposite to him.
02:56So I was very thrilled.
02:58That's how I again re-entered at that age of my life.
03:01Doing small roles, big roles.
03:03There are two scenes here and there is one scene there.
03:05Doing like this, I kept going in life.
03:08Then I started working with Mehmuchi.
03:11So I got set in a comedy role with him.
03:13Everybody said no.
03:15Mumtaz had got married.
03:17No, Mumtaz had become a heroine in those days.
03:20So she was no more doing comedy roles.
03:22Shobha Koteji had got married.
03:24But there was no girl in the cast opposite him.
03:27So he wanted to try a new girl.
03:29Then they called me.
03:31Everyone backed me up and took me.
03:33Aruna, don't be afraid.
03:34Naturally, I was a fan of Mehmuchi.
03:36And I was very scared of him.
03:37Working in front of such a big star.
03:39Is it a joke?
03:40Everyone was ready.
03:41No, don't be afraid.
03:42No, don't be afraid.
03:43Everyone was ready.
03:44Very good.
03:45Very nice.
03:46Excellent.
03:47After the shot, my friends gestured like this.
03:50They really gave me a good boost.
03:52And I could stand at least in front of him.
03:57Do something.
03:58Then he was also a very helpful person.
04:01Then he helped me.
04:02How to react.
04:03What are the timings of a comedy.
04:05He helped me.
04:06So that's how I was doing comedy roles.
04:08Then there was a film called Bombay to Goa.
04:10In which Amit Ji was there.
04:12So Amit Ji also used to do character roles in those days.
04:16He used to do the role of the second hero.
04:17He was also in Anand.
04:18And he was doing a villain role in Parvana.
04:21So these people were thinking.
04:22That we should cast new hero and heroine stars.
04:24So everybody thought.
04:26Let's take Amit Ji.
04:27We took Amit Ji.
04:29Who is the girl?
04:30So they were thinking.
04:31What to do?
04:32Then they asked me.
04:34Me?
04:35What did the blind ask for me?
04:36Two eyes?
04:37Okay.
04:38I jumped.
04:39And that's how we did that film.
04:41And that's how we came in the line.
04:43And this is how I entered.
04:46I got Karwa also.
04:48Before Bombay to Goa.
04:50I got Karwa.
04:51There was a role in Karwa.
04:53I was very good at dancing.
04:54I mean.
04:55I didn't know how to dance.
04:56Suresh master was the dance master.
04:58And he said.
04:59He recommended my name to Nasir sir.
05:02Nasir sir called me to the office.
05:04Yes, she looks good.
05:06She has a good figure.
05:07She can speak dialogues.
05:09Because she works in drama.
05:10She can speak good lines.
05:12Does she dance?
05:14Suresh sir said.
05:15She dances very well.
05:16Don't worry.
05:17I am there with you.
05:18Why are you scared?
05:19Give her rehearsal.
05:20She will be excellent.
05:21That's how I came in Karwa.
05:23Both the films were released with me.
05:25And I came into limelight.
05:27After these two films.
05:29But there were some wrong rumours.
05:31Which like a stupid.
05:33And never cleared.
05:34That people made a rumour.
05:36That I got married to him.
05:38So people backed out.
05:40That if I got married.
05:41Then naturally.
05:42I won't work.
05:43So whatever I did.
05:45It was all ruined.
05:47Then I again had to start my career.
05:50I did one Marathi film.
05:52People stopped coming to me.
05:53Not a single producer.
05:55And I also didn't have that guts.
05:57I appreciate that.
05:58Today's girls have so much guts.
06:00That if there is any wrong rumour.
06:02They walk up to you and tell you.
06:04They talk to you.
06:05Or they call you up and tell you.
06:07See.
06:08If someone tells you.
06:09That I got married.
06:10Then it's nothing like that.
06:11They call people.
06:12And give an interview.
06:13And clarify it.
06:14We didn't have that intelligence.
06:16In those days.
06:17That we call the press.
06:19And clarify them.
06:20And talk to them.
06:21Or call a producer.
06:23And tell him.
06:24That it's nothing like that.
06:26I am working.
06:27I am still working.
06:28All that is cunning in us.
06:31I didn't have that.
06:32I didn't understand.
06:33You can call it.
06:34After that.
06:35After so many years.
06:36A producer came to me.
06:38Who was that?
06:39After 3 years.
06:40Dada Kond.
06:41Dada Kond.
06:42He called me.
06:43That there is a Lavani in my film.
06:45Will you do it?
06:47It's been 3 years.
06:49I haven't seen the studio.
06:51I haven't seen anything.
06:52It felt like.
06:53People have forgotten me.
06:55I am not in the industry.
06:57So now.
06:58I felt like coming back.
07:16There was a song.
07:18I did that song.
07:19I did Lavani.
07:23Aruna Irani.
07:24Is she working?
07:25Aruna Irani.
07:26Is she working?
07:28After 3 years.
07:29Raj Kapoor called me.
07:30Raj Kapoor.
07:31He offered me that role.
07:33In Bobby.
07:34I was.
07:35All floored.
07:36I felt like.
07:37I am seeing a dream.
07:39When I came in Raj Kapoor's film.
07:41Raj Kapoor's film.
07:42Has a lot of publicity.
07:44You see.
07:45His papers.
07:46News flash.
07:48So when.
07:49He took me in the film.
07:51He announced everywhere.
07:53She is doing the film.
07:54Photographers should come on set.
07:56People should come.
07:58Other producers should know.
08:00Raj Kapoor has signed Aruna Irani.
08:27They haven't taught me anything.
08:29As such.
08:30They have given me so much of love.
08:32If.
08:33I have made a mistake.
08:35I have made that mistake.
08:36My producers haven't done that.
08:38If I had to clarify.
08:40I should have done it.
08:41It is not their mistake.
08:43I can't blame them.
08:45Why they didn't take me after that.
08:47Or why they didn't come to clarify.
08:49I should have gone.
08:50I should have gone.
08:52Why should I blame them.
08:54And after that.
08:55When I was in the industry.
08:56Everybody was for me.
08:57Everybody called me.
08:58Everybody gave me work.
09:00And I was once again in the rotation.
09:02They are very loving people.
09:04They are very helpful.
09:05Looking at their love.
09:06I feel that.
09:07If someone is born again.
09:09In the industry.
09:10In this world.
09:11Really.
09:12Then I would like to come in the industry.
09:14No matter how educated I am.
09:15I came in the industry.
09:16Because I am an uneducated woman.
09:18So naturally.
09:19I couldn't work anywhere.
09:21Couldn't work anywhere.
09:23And my father always used to feel.
09:25That my elder daughter.
09:27If I had a son.
09:29Then maybe my family.
09:31I am dying.
09:32My age is over.
09:34So at least.
09:35I would have died peacefully.
09:37That my elder son will take care of the family.
09:39So this one thing always hurt me.
09:41That why.
09:42Why can't the girl take care.
09:44Why can't the girl do this.
09:45Why do you have this wrong notion.
09:47That only the son can do this for the family.
09:49Daughter can't do anything.
09:50So I wanted to prove myself.
09:52Always.
09:53So.
09:54My dreams.
09:56And I felt the best thing.
09:58When my father died.
09:59Just before a week.
10:00He was sitting in the balcony.
10:02And that time I had just.
10:04Took a new.
10:05Fiat.
10:06Which was you know.
10:07It was a second hand Fiat.
10:08Just 9000 rupees.
10:10I used to get it at that time.
10:11I bought that car just then.
10:13My father used to stand in the gallery.
10:15And see.
10:16He was very happy.
10:17He used to say.
10:18My daughter's car.
10:19My daughter's car.
10:20If somebody would pass by.
10:21And stand and lean on it.
10:22Send somebody.
10:23Go.
10:24Go.
10:25Look at him.
10:26He is standing on our car.
10:27Tell him to move.
10:28Tell him this will happen.
10:29Tell him that will happen.
10:30And before dying.
10:31He said one thing.
10:32I am so happy.
10:33I don't feel regretted.
10:35My daughter can take care of my children.
10:38I am dying peacefully.
10:40That was more than enough for me.