‘Rafta Rafta’ brings back a flood of memories for Dharmendra
Roshmila Bhattacharya (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 28, 2018) 

“Rafta Rafta Dekho Aankh Meri Ladi Hai”, this Kishorte Kumar classic from Arjun Hingorani’s 1973 film, Kahani Kismat Ki, returns 45 years later as a remixed medley, for Yamla Pagla Deewana Phir Se. It brings back a flood of memories for Dharmendra, the link between the two songs.

“This time it’s a tribute to my first and fast friend, Arjun Hingorani,” informs the veteran actor, recalling how after he won the first Filmfare talent hunt contest, Arjun would escort me in Mumbai, telling Dharmendra he wanted to cast him in his film when they were together. “I had already been signed by Bimal da (filmmaker Bimal Roy) for Bandini but he took his time and the film released only in 1963. Three years before that, Arjun was ready with Dil Bhi Tera Hum Bhi Tere and I began my journey with it. After that, we were always there for each other and continued making films together.”

Kahani Kismat Ki was the late filmmaker’s fourth assignment and Dharmemdra who was already a star by then, recalls how arriving at Mumbai’s Flora Fountain. Looking at the crowd gathered there, he had an attack of nerves and announced that he wouldn’t be able to dance. “They eventually put Rekha and me on a crane and though a little shy initially, I eventualy became besharam and shook a leg to the catchy song with Rekha on the crane as the fans cheered below,” he says.

His YPD Phir Se directror, Navaniat Singh, was not even born when the original releases, but when there was talk of recreating a chartbuster, he immediately picked “Rafta Rafta”. “It’s the anthem for every generation,” he says, admitting that even though Remo D’Souza choreographed it, since no one can teach Dharmendra to dance, his steps were his own. Rekha returned as well, and they were joined on the dance floor by good friend Shatrughan Singh and his daughter Sonakshi. Dharmendra’s two sons, Sunny and Bobby, alnd as did Salman Khan. “This time there was no crane. We shot at Mehboob Studio over three days and it was like a festival,” he smiles, as Navaniat adds that the final antara which brings all the actors into one frame will remain with him forever.

Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 13, 2018)

Bobby Deol is all set to recreate an iconic moment from Ramesh Sippy’s 1975 curry western, Sholay, in which papa Dharmendra drunkenly totters to the top of a tower from where he addresses the whole village, threatening to jump off if Basanti’s mausi doesn’t agree to the match. That ‘suicide’ scene will be seen thrice in the upcoming comedy, Yamla Pagla Deewaa Phir Se (YPDPS), which features Dharmendra, Bobby and elder brother Sunny.

Director Navaniat Singh is however quick to clarify that it’s not a cut-paste job, the scene was incorporated into the story because Bobby’s character in YPDPS while meek and mild during the day, gets drunk every night and pours his heart out to not just his brother, played by Sunny, but the entire mohalla. His grouse is against one particular character but he takes their fight up to the terrace of his Amritsar home and makes it public, much in the way that his father did back in the 1975 film.

“The flavour of the scene is the same, but the situations are very different,” clarifies Singh, who is making his Bollywood debut with the film, adding, “Dharamji was present when Bobby sir was in action and he was enjoying himself as much as everyone else.”

The earlier instalments were directed by Samir Karnik and Sangeeth Sivan respectively and interestingly in Part 1 too, Bobby had enacted a version of the same scene, admitting that he was really nervous when Sameer insisted on it. The crowd present at the studio made him all the more jittery, but he had pulled it off.

Part 3 is produced by Sunny Deol, Kamayani Punia Sharma, Aarushi Malhotra and Jayantilal Gada and Navaniat brought his own vibe, making the characters more real. “The story is not connected to the first two instalments,” he says in conclusion.

Avinash Lohana (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 16, 2017)

After Samir Karnik’s 2011 action-comedy Yamla Pagla Deewana and the its 2013 Sangeeth Sivan-directed followup, Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby Deol are set to come together for the third instalment of the franchise.

Mirror has learnt that the film marks the Bollywood directorial debut of Punjabi filmmaker Navaniat Singh.

Shooting kicks off in August. “Dheeraj Rattan, who has earlier written films like Jatt & Juliet 2 and Romeo Ranjha, has spent a lot of time on this script, which is an emotional tug-of-war peppered with humour. It won’t be a continuation of the earlier parts but a completely new story with Dharmendra, Sunny and Bobby as new characters,” informs a source close to the development.

The film will be shot in Punjab, Mumbai and Gujarat, which serves as a significant part of the narrative and the recce is currently underway.

Sunny is currently busy filming Pal Pal Dil Ke Paas in Manali which will launch son Karan.