At 14, Khushbu Sundar was cast in Ram Teri Ganga Maili, before Raj Kapoor felt she was too young for the part. Khushbu Sundar began her career as a child artist in Hindi films in the 80s, before finding fame as a lead star in Tamil and Telugu films in the 90s.
But it almost went very differently. The actor-turned-politician recently revealed that she had been cast by the late Raj Kapoor in Ram Teri Ganga Maili, only to be eventually replaced by Mandakini.
Khushbu on Ram Teri Ganga Maili
Speaking with Vickey Lalwani on his YouTube channel, Khushbu revealed, “Raj Kapoor wanted to launch me in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. We also did a photo shoot for the same. After looking at those photos, Raj Kapoor had said, ‘She is my Ganga.
The plan was to finish the Gangotri schedule first, but it was snowing at the time, so they decided to shoot in Kolkata first, where they would show the brothel scene. In this segment of the film, the character is already a mother to a baby.”
Ram Teri Ganga Maili was shot in 1984 and released the following year. It launched Raj Kapoor’s youngest son Rajiv Kapoor and Mandakini. The latter came on board after Raj Kapoor had second thoughts about Khushbu. The actor revealed.
“I was not even fully 14 years old at the time, so Raj ji said, ‘She is herself a kid, and a baby in her hand won’t look good.’ He couldn’t push the film either, and because of this, I couldn’t star in the film.”
Khushbu’s film career and recent work
Ram Teri Ganga Maili was eventually released in August 1985 and went on to be a big hit. It was the last film directed by Raj Kapoor before his death a few years later. Khushbu made her debut as a lead star in Meri Jung, also in 1985.
She made her Telugu film debut in Kaliyuga Pandavulu (1986). Soon after, she moved her base to Chennai, appearing in many Tamil and Telugu hits over the next decade. After a 13-year hiatus, she returned to films with Rajinikanth-starrer Annaatthe in 2021. She was last seen in Vanvas, her first Hindi film in over 30 years.
During the iconic launch of the 1985 film Ram Teri Ganga Maili, legendary actor-director Raj Kapoor made an unexpected move that raised eyebrows in the industry. The event, which was supposed to feature Khushbu Sundar in a key role, saw Raj Kapoor stepping in to fill her place. This decision reportedly came after an incident, with Kapoor making the statement, “She is herself a kid and…” referring to Sundar’s youth at the time.
The film, directed by Raj Kapoor, was already creating a buzz for its bold themes and controversial scenes. As the launch event was underway, Khushbu Sundar, who was initially cast in a prominent role, was absent, and Kapoor took it upon himself to take her place.
engaging with the media and attendees. While he didn’t provide further details on why Sundar wasn’t present, his remark, “She is herself a kid,” hinted at concerns about her readiness to handle the responsibility of such a high-profile film launch.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, Raj Kapoor’s charisma and decades of experience in the industry made him a fitting replacement. His leadership and vision for the film were clear, and his involvement in the event was a testament to his passion for cinema and his dedication to ensuring the success of his projects.
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