FilmIndia (Jan-Nov 1942)

September 1942 FILMINDIA take "Picturegoers" and "Photoplays" to lectures instead of school books, and once when caught by a professor who asked him where hi? school books were he replied, "These are my study books. I'm going to be an actor." There was something almost pathetic about Mr. Shukul's love for his spoiled son. He built great hopes cn him and wanted him to be an I.C.S. Officer or a barrister. He was prepared to send Rama to England to study law, but when his son proved to be such a fine sportsman he went all the way to Nagpur and fixed up a job for Rama as an Asstt. Director of Physical Culture in the Central Provinces. Picture his astonishment when Rama coolly turned down the offer saying he was going to be a him actor. The stalwart young man came to Bombay to become an actor knowing that everyone at home had given him up fcr lost. This made him more determined to make good He had a wide face with strange slanting eyes and curly black hair. What he lacked in good looks he made up for in cheek. RAMA GETS GOING His only friend in Bombay was Fazal Chinoy, son of Sir Rahimtcola Chinoy. Sir Rahimtoola, however, was loath to help him for fear of going against the wishes of Mi. Shukul Snr. After sufficient coaxing cn Rama's part, Sir Rahimtoola wangled an interview for Rama with Sir Richard Temple who was then Managing Director of Bombay Talkies. Sir Richard said to Rama "I want young and educated boys l'ke you. I'll introduce you to Mr. Himansu Rai". Rama was duly taken to Rai. He signed a contract cn Sept. 15ih. 1938 and made his first picture "Bhabhi" which was a tremendous success. Shukul's performance waconsidered the best in the film and Rai said to him "If you listen lo me my boy, I'll make you the greatest actor in India". At this, our spoiled brat was so bucked that if he'd had a tail he'd have wagged it. Rama worked fcr two Years with Bombay Talkies and made three? more pictures: "Nav Jivan", "Dur ga" and "Azad". "Bhabhi" and "Durga" were great successes and in "Durga", people say his performance even eclipsed Devika Rani's. He was just making his fifth film "Narayani" with Devika when Himansu Rai, the genius of Bombay Talkies, died. His death came as a great shock to Rama who had been very attached to Mr. Rai As n matter of fact. Rama was cordially disliked by everyone at Bombay Talkies because he was a favourite of Mr. Rai's. The spoiled darling Mr. D. R. D. Wadia, Bar-at-law, one of Bombay's leading businessmen and industrialists has now launched film production under the name of "D. R. D. Productions". His first picture w:ll be "The Gong of Shiva" a social story written by the celebrated interna'.ional writer, Mr. Dewan Sharar. Mr. Wadia, himself, is a well known amateur photogrcphcr. couldn't stay long at the Bombav Talkies Next he joined Ranjit and mad? four pictures for them. They were: "Mehman", "Tyag", "Dukh-Sukh" and "Farivad". He has just finished "Fariyad" and has as his co-stars Shamim and Ishwarlal. RAMA TALKS TALL Now the pampered little boy from .Tubbulpcre is free-lancing and has a comfortable income of Rs. 2500/ a month — so he says. But let me tell you more personal things about the bumptious boy. His life is ruled by four things: his desire to be a great actor, his love of good food and good clothes and his desire to find a wife of whom he can be proud. When I tell ycu that he is 5 ft. 9i" tall only and weighs 164 lbs. ycu will believe that he does at least get the good food. He dresses soberly but in good taste. His clothes fit well and he always looks as though he has washed behind his ears. New about his desire to find a suitable wife. First of all let me say that he does not want to marry while he is an actor. But when his hairline begins to recede and his waist line to protrude, he will give up acting, take to direction and production, and find himself a soulmate. His wife must above all things be faithful to him. If she has a beautiful heart, then he doesn't mind if she has a hare-lip or fallen arches. At the moment he feels he is ripe to fall in love. He hears birds singing when thci" aren't any and smells roses when there are none there. He definitely feels he is about to meet someone and fall in love but she must remember he won't marry her until that hairline begins to recede. But don't imagine he's soft. On the contrary, he has proved how tough he is by shooting 3 tigers during his college days and by driving his "Renault" and his "Vaux'nall" at a terrific speed. He is so used to driving fast that his hair doesn't get mussed unless he is speeding at 80 miles an hour. He has only two fears. One is Baburao Patel and the other is that people may not realise that he is the best actor in the film industry! He does lot actually state this last fact but you get that impression. He is his own publicity man. Who else do you suppose told me all the flattering parts in this story but the spoiled brat himself? There is no moral to this tale. The spoiled brat still has a pampered ego even though he's made good. 53