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Throwback to April 1989, MOVIE magazine, this scathing feature on the drama behind the scenes of Khuda Gawah - long before the first shot was canned. Farha [Naaz, actress and Tabu's sister!] was always a fiery actress who made no bones about the industry or its people. She gave the saltiest interviews and snapped back at anyone who stepped on her toes. This fiery exchange is... on par with her past explosive interviews.
No other Devis or Sridevi were harmed in this feature!
FARHA DECLARES WAR ON MUKUL!
A Bachchan starrer. And Farha has thrown it up! To avenge Mukul Anand. Is Mukul straight? Is Farha on a self-destructive trip? Who’s deceiving whom?
Farha has always been an outspoken girl. One who acts on impulse and does not brood over her actions later. So I was extremely surprised when I met her, recently and she told me that she was planning a showdown with Mukul Anand.
Her reasons were personal. What had sparked off her anger was Mukul’s statement, which she repeated angrily. "Mukul had the guts to say, he does not need me but that I need him. Balls I need anybody,” she erupted. Farha felt, Mukul was being ungrateful. Considering she had consented to work for Mukul’s film Ek Hindustani in her bad days. (It’s another story that the film did not go beyond the 'muhurat' stage). "He should have remembered at least that occasion,” she scoffed highly offended.
And now in his good time, Mukul was paying more than enough attention to his other heroine of Khuda Gawah and giving Farha the cold shoulder. But Farha has never been one to take things lying down. To get her back she had worked out a definite strategy. "I will play hard to get and won't give him proper dates. Just about the time the film reaches midway, I'll walk out. This is the only way I can teach that creep a lesson. It’s that the day he will also realise that he needs Farha for his film, I want him to grovel on his knees.” The beautiful actress revealed her plan to me excitedly, running her fingers through her locks.
The problem between them started form the time the muhurat cards of Khuda Gawah were printed. "I was given the lowest billing. My name was the last among the stars, as if I do not have any standing of my own in the industry,” she explained furiously. Hurt to the core, she continued, "That's the reason why I did not attend the muhurat though I was very much in town, I have never felt more humiliated in my entire life."
But couldn't she solve the matter amicably with the man, openly accusing Mukul? I argued. "Manoj is a friend and that’s why I was doing the film. I know that bloody Mukul must have convinced him to put my name last,” she remarked knowingly.
Though Farha could not pinpoint the exact reason for this misdemeanor on Mukul's part, she guessed it must be her refusal to play upto him. "Just because he is directing Amitabh in three films, everybody goes Mukulji. Mukulji and will nod their heads in agreement to everything he says. They are all hypocrites, but I am muphat [outspoken] and can't become a dummy to please him.” She was indignant.
Farha refused to acquiesce to the fact that losing out on a Bachchan starrer would be detrimental to her career. "I don’t need an Amitabh starrer to make it big. After all, I can only
Mukul: "No actor can alter the script, if the director is confident of his work. And I gave her my word."
Farha: "I want Mukul to grovel on his knees."
She agreed that her role in Khuda Gawah was important, but feared it could become inconsequential by the time the film was complete. Mukul could play dirty with her, in the light of his sudden dismissal of Shaheen. Sridevi wanted to do Shaheen’s role too. Sridevi is now doing a double role in the film. Later, it could have washed off my role also and would have been a glorified extra. I know that he is capable of doing it."
Nothing could dissuade her, I felt. But it seems later better sense prevailed and Farha who is actually quite soft-hearted despite her strong fiery words, staged a walk-out, even before she had shot for a day, making things easier for Mukul. Though reportedly, she had her showdown with Mukul and I don't know what exactly she told him.
When contacted, Farha was, outstation, shooting. Boyfriend Vindoo negated the news vehemently. According to him there was no showdown. An amicable parting with Manoj Desai, the producer. "Farha explained her problems..."
Movie • April 1989
POSTSCRIPT: Well, Shilpa Shirodkar ended up playing the other part, Sridevi had the double role - from the onset. Farha married Vindu Dara Singh in 1996 and divorced him 2002/2003. She went on to marry actor Sumeet Saigal and rarely works on film. And tragically, the talented Mukul Anand died on September 7, 1997, at the young age of 45.
