Flashback to 1981: Yash Chopra’s ‘Silsila’ hit screens, starring Bollywood’s power couple in turmoil—Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha—alongside Jaya Bachchan and Sanjeev Kumar. Written by Sagar Sarhadi, the film delved into extramarital love and redemption, but its release sparked divided opinions. Marking Sarhadi’s death anniversary, let’s revisit a revealing behind-the-scenes nugget.
In an old interview, Sarhadi shared how poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar, after a screening, didn’t mince words: ‘Sagar sahab, mazaa nahi aaya’ (No fun). Sarhadi, ever the professional, replied, ‘If it fell short, I’ve got no excuses—I’ve given it all.’ This exchange captured the film’s rocky start.
Audiences initially missed the subtlety of Sarhadi’s realistic dialogue and emotional authenticity. No prior film had so boldly mirrored real-life relationship dilemmas. The rumored Bachchan-Rekha affair fueled curiosity, leading to reappraisals. Soon, ‘Silsila’ evolved from sleeper hit to cult favorite.
Crafting the screenplay was grueling. Sarhadi revised scenes endlessly under Chopra’s guidance, battling self-doubt. He viewed filmmaking as a survival tactic, preferring theater. Yet, the soundtrack—’Rang Barse’ raining romance, ‘Dekha Ek Khwab’ dreaming big—immortalized it.
Sarhadi’s mixed feelings persisted; fan adoration warmed him, but he lamented time diverted from literary pursuits. ‘Silsila’ endures as a testament to perseverance, where one critic’s ‘no fun’ faded against generations of acclaim.