REVEALED: More than 40 years before Shah Rukh Khan created history with Pathaan, Yash Chopra had planned Pathan; was shelved due to the Afghan-Russia conflict 40 : Bollywood News

In 2023, Shah Rukh Khan made a surprising comeback with Pathaan, which proved to be a blockbuster on the field workplace. It was produced by Yash Raj Movies, the corporate based by Yash Chopra. Apparently, almost 40 years earlier than Pathaan’s launch, Yash Chopra was additionally going to make a movie known as Pathan. Director-producer Umesh Mehra opened up on this facet whereas talking to Kiran Juneja on DD Urdu’s chat present Guftgoo.

REVEALED: More than 40 years before Shah Rukh Khan created history with Pathaan, Yash Chopra had planned Pathan; was shelved due to the Afghan-Russia conflict

REVEALED: Greater than 40 years earlier than Shah Rukh Khan created historical past with Pathaan, Yash Chopra had deliberate Pathan; was shelved because of the Afghan-Russia battle

Umesh Mehra mentioned, “We received a proposal to display screen Russian movies in our theatres. Russian movies usually didn’t work in India. However my father, F C Mehra, determined to display screen them, and that helped us type a bond with the Russians. They then invited all of us to the Tashkent Movie Pageant. Raj Kapoor used to attend it continuously as he was very well-known there.”

He added, “This was a time when my father was planning 2-3 co-productions with Russians. One movie was Pathan; I nonetheless have its script. That title rights now relaxation with Yash Raj Movies. Apparently, it was Yash Chopra who was going to make Pathan! It was going to be made with an enormous star solid. The opposite movie we have been planning was Mirza Ghalib. It was written by Gulzar and he was additionally going to be its director.”

Umesh Mehra continued, “This was the time when a battle broke out between Afghanistan and Russia. Therefore, Pathan was shelved. Mirza Ghalib additionally didn’t materialize because it was a poetry-driven movie and you may’t make such a film in two languages. The Russian model wouldn’t have the identical influence; the impact would have been misplaced in translation.”

Umesh Mehra then mentioned, “From Tashkent, we flew to London to satisfy our household. We had a layover in Moscow, the place we mentioned the co-production plan that had fallen by. The Russian staff requested us if we had every other tales. Immediately, my father mentioned, ‘How about we make a movie on Alibaba and the Forty Thieves?’ Everybody favored the thought. My dad was then requested, ‘However who’ll direct it?’ With none hesitation, he pointed at me and replied, ‘He’ll direct!’ That’s how such a giant, bold movie landed in my lap.”

Alibaba Aur 40 Chor was launched in 1980 and starred Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman and others.

Additionally Learn: Umesh Mehra recalls HEARTBREAKING incident that still HAUNTS him: “A youngster saw Dilip Kumar in Qila and told his father, ‘Papa, yeh toh Shah Rukh Khan ki COPY kar raha hai’”