As the Rekha starrer Umrao Jaan turns 44 -- it was released on January 2, 1981 -- Subhash K Jha digs up some fun facts on the film.
When Director Muzaffar Ali was planning his dream project, he had a certain personality in mind: Someone with the adaa and nazaakat of a poetess and with a seductive stance of a tawaif.
One day, he saw Rekha's pictures in a magazine. That did it. When I asked him what he saw in those pictures that made up his mind, he said, "It was those eyes."
Rekha did not give Muzaffar Ali an easy time during the shooting. She would disappear for hours on end, apparently to meet a certain superstar she was involved with.
In an interview, Rekha said she 'sleepwalked' through Umrao Jaan: 'I don't remember a single shot or moment. I was thoroughly disinterested in what I was doing.'
But what about the stunning dances? 'That's no big deal. I danced well even in Sheshnaag. How many people remember that film?'
Rekha won the National Award for Best Actress for her 'sleepwalking' over Jennifer Kapoor in 36 Chowringhee Lane.
Khayyam's music played a huge hand in Umrao Jaan's success. Yet, he wasn't the first composer Muzaffar Ali approached. Jaidev was the original composer and even composed some songs. But Jaidev's insistence on singer Madhurima aborted his participation. Muzaffar then went to Naushad but they didn't get along. Finally, Khayyam got the job.
Umrao Jaan released in 1981 in the same year as Amitabh Bachchan biggies like Naseeb, Laawaris, Kaalia and Yaarana.