Veteran filmmaker Samir Ganguly recently opened up about Shammi Kapoor’s attitude after the box office success of Junglee (1961). He revealed that the actor became “egotistical” and demanded eight times his fee for the next project, which led to his replacement. According to Ganguly, Subodh Mukerji had written a film, Bluff Master, based on a story by Mr. Kalelkar, keeping Shammi Kapoor in mind. “He had completely filled the character of Shammi Kapoor. And I was more friendly with Shammi Kapoor, so he said, go and talk to him. But after Junglee, Shammi Kapoor was completely egotistical. The first thing he told me was that I won’t work unless they pay me eight times,” Ganguly shared in a chat with Shemaroo’s life. The filmmaker said that Subodh Mukerji was also egotistical and didn’t take kindly to the demand. “He said, ‘Shammi Kapoor Ki Aisi Taisi’ and signed Biswajeet. Biswajeet was coming at that time. He made April fool of them.”
In April silly with biswajeet and Saira Banu
Recalling the creation of April Fool’s Day, Ganguly said, “We did it really well. We had swimmers from Germany, the Lady Nadlers, so we had synchronized swimming to music, underwater shots. We worked really hard. But the second shot didn’t work. Saiira Banu and Biswajet, the couple didn’t like it.”
The impact of the jungle
Junglee (1961), directed by Subodh Mukerji, was a turning point for Shammi Kapoor. Starring his debut opposite, Saira Banu, the film established him as the best romantic and dance star of the 1960s. His iconic “Yahoo!” became a cultural catchphrase, while the film’s energetic style and Shankar-Jaikishan soundtrack cemented his popularity.
