Rakesh Pandey was as good as gone long before today when a small snippet announced his death. Pandey started big, really big, as Basu Chatterjee’s leading man in 1969’s underrated classic Sara Akaash.
In a conversation I had with Rakesh Pandey, he said, “I couldn’t have hoped for a better start. Basu Chatterjee and I both began with Sara Akaash. He became a big name. I didn’t. The film got me huge acclaim. Have you seen it? Not too many have. I played Samar, a man forced into an arranged marriage who refuses to speak to his wife. After Sara Akaash I became the mascot of the New Wave movement. The offers wouldn’t stop. I was spoilt for choices. Sadly a lot of the films I signed after Sara Akaash were either shelved or released sporadically. No one saw any of my films.”
---Advertisement---
Rakesh had rued that as many as ten of his films never got release. “Among them was a film I really think fondly of, Basu Bhattacharya’s Sangat where I played this city boy, a musician who learns our shastriya music from a girl in the village. Salil Choudhary’s songs in the film, Balma mora aanchra, Kanha bole na and Dekhte dekhte ek dhuan cha gaya were priceless.
---Advertisement---
Also Read: Aamir Khan Breaks Silence On Depression & Alcohol Struggles After First Divorce: ‘I Was Mourning…’
Sadly no one heard these classics or saw the film. Then I am proud of Dil Ki Raahein, great songs composed by Madan Mohan and a beautiful role for me as a man drowning his depression in drinks, something like Bachchan Saab in Mili.”
When Rakesh’s career as a leading man failed he switched to supporting roles. “I had to keep my kitchen going. Producers stopped coming with lead roles, so I switched to smaller parts. If you remember I was Rajesh Khanna’s brother-in-law in Amar Prem.”
Rakesh was not bitter about his abbreviated success. “Apna apna naseeb hai. Other actors who started with me like Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna and Naseeruddin Shah raced ahead. I am happy with what I got. I worked with some of the best talent in Indian cinema. In 1979 I played the lead in Bhojpuri film Balam Pardesiya which became the biggest hit in that language. Unfortunately my successes were not recognized. By the way, how did you get my number? I am not in touch with anyone in the film industry.”