Zeenat Aman remembers her Shalimar director Krishna Shah

The man who gave Indian cinema the super cinema Shalimar, Krishna Shah, passed away at the age of 75 in LA. In a chat with Tellychakkar.com spoke to Zeenat Aman who remembered the director, Zeenat was a part of Shalimar. Let’s see what Zeenat had to say: “I met Krishna Shah for the last time about 8-9 months ago at his home in Juhu where he had a get-together for close friends. He was his usual friendly effusive self, looking after all his guests personally, making sure everyone was comfortable. Krishna Shah was a very warm and hospitable man. I had great fun shooting Shalimarwith him. My God that was 35 years ago. It seems like yesterday. It was the first Indian film made simultaneously in Hindi and English and with international stars of the caliber of Rex Harrison and Gina Lolobrigida. Of course Gina later backed out, and we had Sylvia Miles instead. In fact the film created a whole lot news and speculation even before we began shooting. I remember we were in Bangalore for the shooting in two languages English and Hindi. Dharamji (her co-star Dharmendra) and I were burning the midnight oil. When we were not shooting he was with his English tutor brushing up his English dialogues and I was with my Hindi tutor improving my Hindi. O.P Ralhan who had actually introduced me to the Indian cinema in Hulchal was also part of the cast. It was quite crazy, actually. Because on one end there the formidable Rex Harrison and on the other end there was our own formidable stalwarts like Dharamji and Ralhan Saab. So it was quite a cultural mix. Rex Harrison was thoroughly professional and I loved the way he acclimatized himself to the totally alien mood of Shalimar. I will never forget something he told me. He said, ‘Beautiful and intelligent women tend to suffer a lot.’ “He advised me to find the right companion for myself. Rex Harrison’s words have stayed with me forever. So has the experience of shooting Shalimar. Krishna Shah made sure all of us were comfortable. He loved cinema. I remember once when we met he spent considerable time speaking of my cameo role in Bhopal Express. He would always be excited about the next film that he was doing, and then the one after that...He would discuss the movies he wanted me to be in. Now of course he must be discussing his plans elsewhere. Shalimar might not have worked at the boxoffice. But the songs by R D Burman play on to this day. Aaina wohi rehta hai, Hum bewafaa hargiz na they, One two cha cha cha....”