Actor Sanjeev Kumar has a troubled and complicated legacy in Bollywood. He was revered for his acting ability, despite having a difficult relationship with a lot of people in the industry, including actor Dilip Kumar. In a recent interview, Sanjeev’s niece Jigna and author Hanif Zaveri recalled how the supposed rift between Sanjeev and Dilip started. Jigna also spoke about the time when Sanjeev Kumar demanded for more money than Amitabh Bachchan, who was the biggest star of the era.
While talking to Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel, Jigna spoke about the supposed rift between Dilip and Sanjeev and shared that it apparently started when they worked together in HS Rawail’s 1968 film Sunghursh. “He (Sanjeev) was in the film for hardly 10 minutes, and he had a basic death scene in it. The lead actor was Dilip Kumar, and he (Sanjeev) was so intense in that scene that Dilip saab started refusing projects with him. He would find ways to avoid working with him, because he thought he would fade in front of him.” She recalled that the two ultimately worked together in Vidhaata in 1982 where they “proved to be equals” and for Jigna, Sanjeev Kumar “took the limelight.”
Jigna also spoke about Yash Chopra’s Trishul, where Sanjeev Kumar played the role of Amitabh Bachchan’s father. It was said that Dilip Kumar was offered this role but he did not take it up. “It’s true that Dilip Sahab was first considered for Trishul, but I am sure he said no because of logistical issues and not because there was a rift between them,” said Jigna. Hanif also recalled an anecdote from Trishul’s screening, which hints that the relationship between Dilip and Sanjeev wasn’t all that bad. “Sanjeev went to the trial screening of Trishul, and he hated it. He came out of the screening and told Dilipsahab, ‘Yeh bakwaas picture hai, kahi nahi chalegi (This is a very bad film, and no one will see it.) Dilip Sahab told him, ‘Pagle, yeh picture boht chalne wali hai (A lot of people are going to watch this film.)”
The interviewer then brought up thr rumour that Sanjeev was allegedly paid more money than Amitabh for Trishul, which, Jigna confirmed, was the truth. “Vikram Bhatt told me this story. His father and my uncle were having a drink in London when he got the call for Trishul. He was told about the role, and he quoted his price. Bhatt told him that there is no way he would get paid more than Amitabh Bachchan. My uncle said, ‘Unhe bhi Amitabh ka baap chahiye, aur industry mein mujhse bada baap nahi hai. (They need a father for Amitabh, and there’s no one bigger than me.)‘” She added that Amitabh was paid Rs 9 lakh for the film, while her uncle received Rs 12 lakh.
Directed by Yash Chopra, Trishul was a blockbuster, and its cast included Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Shashi Kapoor, Rakhee Gulzar, Hema Malini and Waheeda Rehman.
