Hrishikesh Mukherjee was a film editor before he became a full-fledged director. He worked as an editor with a renowned and famous producer and director Bimal Roy. He edited all his award winning films.
While working with him in “Devdas,” it was Dilip Kumar that noticed his potential and ability for him to be a good Director and he asked Hrishikesh to try his hand on direction. He lacked confidence and refused saying he was happy in his profession as an editor. Dilip Kumar put pressure on him and literally forced him. Eventually, he agreed on a condition that Dilip Kumar would have to act in his maiden directional “Musafir”. To give him that confidence, Dilip Kumar agreed and played the role of a violinist suffering from cancer.
The movie was completed in the scheduled short time and also won a certificate of merit from the Government of India. Since then, Hrishikesh never looked back and directed many successful movies, won awards and made his name as one of the top directors of India.
His following 2nd and 3rd ventures, “Anari” and “Asli Naqli” with Raj Kapoor and Dev Anand respectively, proved to be blockusters.
Within a short span, he directed notable films both with serious dramas and light comedies, like “Namak Haram”, “Anand”, “Mili”, “Bawerchi” , “Guddi”, “Abhiman”, “Khubsurat”, “Chupke Chupke”, “Golmaal” and many more. Besides directing he continued editing, not only for his own films but also films from other banners. Dilip Kumar starers “Yahudi”, “Madhumati” and “Gunga Jumna” were edited by him.
During the casting of “Musafir” actress Usha Kiran, who knew Hrishikesh Mukherjee personally, approached him with a request to cast her opposite Dilip Kumar. Request was granted and a contract was signed. Shooting progressed although Usha Kiran became unexpectedly pregnant. Hrishikesh didn’t want to stop or delay the shooting and, professionally, with the help of the camera man shot all scenes of Usha Kiran while managing to conceal her pregnancy.
He was the only Director who have made both Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh work together; in “Anand” and “Namak Haram”
I remember reading an interesting article he wrote in Filmfare in mid seventies where he compared Dilip Kumar and Rajesh Khanna. The latter had taken the industry by storm and younger viewers were madly in love with him and he was branded a Super Star.
The perfect article on comparison ended with something like this:
“Today, Rajesh Khanna is the prince of the industry but Dilip Kumar is occupying the throne of the King. It is not always that princes become kings. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s predictions proved to be correct!
During his later stage, his severe arthritis could not stop him from working and he continued to direct while sitting on his director’s chair.
He passed away at the mature age of 84 on 27th August 2006.
