Hrithik upstages Saif Na Tum Jaano Na Hum has Khan on a low

Subhash K Jha

Sunny Deol still hasn't forgiven director Yash Chopra for allegedly undercutting his role in favour of Shah Rukh Khan in the blockbuster Darr. Deol claims Chopra narrated his role more than was actually filmed. He also claims the climax was geared to 'villain' Khan's favour.

During the filming of Raj Khosla's love triangle Prem Kahani, Rajesh Khanna (as a freedom fighter during the British rule who chooses his country over his love Mumtaz), would first check screen rival Shashi Kapoor's dialogues when he arrived on the sets.

Dilip Kumar refused to work in Raj Kapoor's love triangle Sangam, unless a third person directed the film. Kapoor then signed Rajendra Kumar to play Vyjayanthimala's other suitor.

In Nasir Husain's Caravan, leading lady Asha Parekh was over-shadowed by Aruna Irani. Yet, Irani is said to have accused Asha Parekh of getting her lines and scenes cut.

In the most recent triangular tussle Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Hrithik Roshan has left Saif Ali Khan feeling a bit inadequate. Those connected with the film are tight-lipped, but stories about Khan's professional insecurities are making the rounds.

Reportedly, while playing the philandering Akshay in Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Khan insisted on his name appearing before Roshan's in the credits. He also wanted a song for himself when there was no scope for one. That explains the completely incongruous folk song (Le ke pyar ki chunariya) in a transparent kurta.

The kurta has a story too --- evidently Khan wanted to display his physique. In a sequence in Na Tum Jaano Na Hum, Roshan and Khan, as best friends, enter the latter's house where his parents and prospective in-laws are waiting. While Roshan is buttoned to his neck, Khan enters the scene wearing a tracksuit.

At the end of the film, Khan reportedly demanded a higher billing than Roshan on grounds of seniority. He was turned down; Khan then chose to dissociate himself from the publicity and promotion of the film.

Insecurities have cropped up earlier, too. After Smita Patil shot for Mahesh Bhatt's Arth with Shabana Azmi, she couldn't quite come to terms with her costar walking away with the credit. Bhatt then went on record, stating that the two actress' roles were shot exactly the way they were conceived.

During Yash Chopra's Daag, Raakhee outshone both Rajesh Khanna and Sharmila Tagore in spite of their obvious camaraderie.

Such were Salman Khan's misgivings during the making of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam that he escorted the director to friend Sooraj Barjatya to convince Bhansali that he, Khan, should 'get' Aishwarya Rai instead of Ajay Devgan. Bhansali stuck to his guns. Devgan got Rai. A piqued Khan walked out of the premiere show midway.

After Bimal Roy's adaptation of Saratchandra Chatterjee's Devdas was released, Vyjayanthimala refused to accept the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress arguing that her character Chandramukhi was as important as Suchitra Sen's Parvati.

A similar situation awaits the neo Devdas due to release in June. Bhansali admits that both Madhuri Dixit and Aishwarya Rai are stunning as Chandramukhi and Paro. And though he says neither 'get' Devdas, one actress is bound to score over the other.