Javed Akhtar on a scene in Seeta Aur Geeta that he won’t write today: I accept the crime

Veteran screenwriter-lyricist Javed Akhtar has revealed that throughout his illustrious 40-year career, he has no regrets about any film or song he has written, except for a scene in the 1972 classic Seeta Aur Geeta. In a recent interview Mojo Story, Today, Akhtar explained why he would not have written the scene involving Dharmendra and Hema Malini if ​​given the chance.

“I have never written a movie that I thought I shouldn’t have written. I haven’t written an entire song that I said I shouldn’t have done. But there is one scene,” shared Akhtar.

Referring to the scene in question, he explained: “In Seeta Aur Geeta, Geeta (Hema Malini) is a very strong and aggressive girl. Later, she is replaced by Seeta (also played by Hema Malini). Dharmendra comes to their house and starts eating. And he says: ‘Mausi, kya khana banaya hai aapne!’ Wo bolti hai, ‘Ye maine nahi banaya hai, ye toh Geeta ne banaya hai’ (Auntie, what wonderful food you have cooked! ‘I didn’t make it, Geeta did,’ she says).”

Akhtar explained how Dharmendra’s character reacts to this: “So he looks at Geeta with a new respect. He is his business partner. He goes on stage with her in the streets. He had no respect for her until then. But he respected her when she cooked well.”

Reflecting on this scene decades later, Akhtar admitted: “I would not have written this scene today. I wrote that scene; I admit my crime. But I won’t write this scene today.”

Interestingly, filmmaker Ramesh Sippy, who directed Seeta Aur Geeta, had earlier revealed that Akhtar and Salim Khan were together. I was initially hesitant to cast Hema Malini starring.

Sippy had considered Mumtaz for the role, but scheduling conflicts led to Hema stepping in, resulting in one of her most iconic performances.