Amol Palekar was born into a middle-class family in Mumbai. He studied fine arts at the Sir J. J. School of Arts and had initially started his career as a painter, showcasing his skills in one-man exhibitions and many group shows. However, he switched to theatre, which later led him to the big screen.
Veteran actor, Amol Palekar has worked with some of the most well-known veteran filmmakers of Indian cinema. The actor has worked with cinematic gems like Shyam Benegal, Hrishikesh Mukherjee, and Basu Chatterjee. However, in a recent interview, Amol recalled an incident that took place during a shoot of Bhumika with Shyam Benegal. He revealed that Shyam had asked him to slap his co-actor, Smita Patil.
Amol shared that the director had asked him to do so without the actress' knowledge during a scene. He revealed that Shyam was adamant about the scene being shot without Smita's knowledge. The actor added that the incident has stayed with him to this day and highlights the importance of consent and communication. Recalling the incident, he shared:
"Shyam Benegal told me that I have to slap her without telling her. So I said, 'No, I can’t do that.' I refused to do anything that was not rehearsed. Your co-actor should know what you are going to do. Doing anything without their knowledge, in my opinion, is wrong, and hence, I don’t do it. 'How do I raise my hand on a woman?' I was shattered. I have never done it in my life, and I’d never ever do it."
Amol Palekar shared that despite his reservations, Shyam Benegal eventually convinced him to go through with the scene. He revealed that although he had agreed to do the scene, it left a permanent impression on him and his co-star, Smita Patil. He revealed that the moment he slapped Smita, she was horrified. He recalled
"The shot started, and Smita started acting, so, at one point, I held her hand and slapped her. The way Smita’s expression changed, she couldn’t believe that I had just slapped her; she was aghast. She felt humiliated and angry, yet the camera kept rolling. It didn’t cut. The camera captured all her expressions. Not just the camera, even I was just staring at her, I forgot everything else, I didn’t know how to react. Looking at her facial expressions, I was feeling very uneasy."
The incident played an important role in Amol Palekar and Smita Patil's relationship, as it eventually brought them closer together. Amol revealed that once the shot was complete, both of them broke down in tears. He was quoted saying:
Continue reading below
"Shyam then said, 'cut'. I first went to Smita, hugged her, and profusely apologised to her. I said, 'I am very sorry, Smita,' and both of us broke down, we were crying a lot. This is what had happened to us during Bhumika."
What are your thoughts on Amol Palekar's revelation?
Read More: Dilip Kumar's Wife, Saira Banu Diagnosed With Pneumonia And Two Clots In Calves: Report
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement
