When Jeetendra Lost A Fortune Producing This 1982 Rishi Kapoor And Rekha-starrer
Police were deployed outside theatres on the day of the film’s release.
The idea of becoming a filmmaker was rooted in Jeetendra’s career from the early days when he was a big admirer of director HS Rawail.
Veteran actor Jeetendra, widely known as “Jumping Jack” in Bollywood, enjoyed a successful acting career in the past. One of his notable films, Caravan, released in 1971, achieved remarkable ticket sales, surpassing even the iconic Sholay. However, at a certain point in his life, he made the unfortunate decision to venture into filmmaking which ultimately proved to be a regrettable choice.
The idea of becoming a filmmaker was rooted in Jeetendra’s career from the early days when he was a big admirer of director HS Rawail. His determination to collaborate with Rawail in a film solidified after watching the movie Mere Mehboob. As Jeetendra’s career flourished, he contemplated entering film production. During this phase, when he had earned the reputation of being a hit machine in Bollywood, he made the decision to become a filmmaker and established a production banner alongside his brother.
When Jeetendra faced challenges in his filmmaking aspirations, he established his production banner, Tirupati Films. His brother Prasanna Kapoor successfully produced many films under this banner. However, Jeetendra’s decision to invest heavily in a project reminiscent of Mere Mehboob proved to be a major misstep in his career. He even collaborated with Rawail on this endeavour and the film was titled Deedar-e-Yaar (1982). It was a love story featuring Jeetendra, Rishi Kapoor, Rekha and Ashok Kumar in pivotal roles.
As Jeetendra embarked on the production of Deedar-e-Yaar, he held high hopes for the film’s success, driven by his own star power and confidence. Substantial efforts were made, including police arrangements outside theatres, not just in one city but in several others as well. However, on the film’s release day, the anticipated crowds failed to turn up, leaving empty theatres except for the presence of policemen. This heartbreaking outcome shattered Jeetendra’s dreams and Deedar-e-Yaar turned out to be a flop and he lost a fortune as a producer.
It’s worth noting that during the 80s and 90s, Jeetendra had a devoted fan following for his films. Yet, he disowned this particular production despite his initial optimism. The substantial financial investment in the film ultimately went to waste. Devastated by the experience, the actor made a solemn vow never to venture into filmmaking again.
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