The 1973 cult classic Bobby, directed by Raj Kapoor, remains one of Bollywood’s most iconic love stories. The film not only introduced Rishi Kapoor as a lead actor but also gifted Indian cinema one of its finest stars. But apart from the storyline, what truly grabbed attention was Rishi Kapoor’s daring nude scene – a bold move for that era. From one of his co-stars was Aruna Irani who played a supporting role and delivered the evergreen dance number Ae Phansa and for the first time in a candid chat she opened up about this particular Rishi Kapoor’s scene that made headlines back then.
In a recent interview with Lehren Retro, Aruna shared how uncomfortable she initially felt while shooting that scene. Months after Bobby, during the shoot of another film directed by Ravi Malhotra, Rishi Kapoor playfully brought up the memory. Recalling the conversation between them, he asked her, “Nanga toh mujhe hona tha, aap kyu object kar rahi thi?” (I was the one who had to go naked, why were you objecting?). Aruna laughed out loud while recalling this fun moment.
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Aruna further revealed that she had requested Raj Kapoor to let her avoid the scene. But Raj ji firmly assured her, saying, “Aap udar dekho na, don’t see wrong things, see right things.” (You just look that way; don’t focus on the wrong things, focus on the right things). This convinced her to finally go ahead with the shoot. And even today, Aruna admires Rishi Kapoor’s courage to pull off such a scene back in the conservative 70s. She acknowledged that not many would have taken that risk back then.
Interestingly, not only Rishi Kapoor’s daring approach but Aruna Irani also moved many by wearing a bold bottle-green glittery gown with a deep neck (both front and back), making quite a bold style statement for that time.
Bobby tells the story of Raja (Rishi Kapoor), a wealthy Hindu boy, and Bobby (Dimple Kapadia), a Catholic girl from a modest background, who fight to stay together despite their families’ opposition. The film was released on September 28, 1973, and continues to hold a special place in Bollywood history.
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