In a chat with Siddharth Kannan, Sujata discussed her experience of being replaced in films, both for stated and unstated reasons. One particular instance she mentioned was being unceremoniously removed from ‘Jai Shiv Shankar‘, a project spearheaded by the legendary Rajesh Khanna.The film was directed by S.A. Chandrasekhar, who is the father of Thalapathy Vijay.
The movie featured a stellar cast including Rajesh Khanna, Dimple Kapadia, Jeetendra, Poonam Dhillon, Chunky Panday, and Sangeeta Bijlani. Despite the star-studded lineup, the film was never completed. Sujata revealed that she had originally been cast in Dimple Kapadia’s role, though it was unclear if it was a formal agreement or just verbal. She later discovered that Dimple had replaced her, and the decision was influenced by Rajesh Khanna and Dimple’s daughters, who hoped the film would bring their estranged parents together. “I was told that the daughters of the now-estranged couple wanted to reunite their parents,” she added.
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The ‘Gunaah’ actress further expressed her disappointment over the missed opportunity to work with Rajesh Khanna, whom she had long admired. During a flight encounter with Khanna, Sujata inquired about her replacement in ‘Jai Shiv Shankar’. Khanna’s vague response of “Hmmm…” left her with little clarity. She had been a fan since school and even mimicked his style. Sujata noted that by the late 80s and 90s, Khanna appeared to be a changed man, displaying signs of deep personal struggles despite his past success. She reflected on the extremes of his life, marked by both monumental achievements and profound despair.
In any case, ‘Jai Shiv Shankar’ was intended to be supported solely by Rajesh Khanna, featuring a different lineup of stars such as Vinod Khanna, Jackie Shroff, and Mithun Chakraborty. However, due to production delays, the film underwent a significant cast change, ultimately leading Khanna to take on the lead role himself.
