Vikram on working with Sridevi in 'Julie': She was very cute - Exclusive

Vikram Makandar captivated the audience with his performance as the leading man in 'Julie', which released in 1975. Decades later, the veteran actor reminisces fond memories of working on the film, shooting intimate scenes with Lakshmi and working with Sridevi among other things. Excerpts:

Share your experience of working on Julie
When we were working for Julie, we did not know that it was going to be such a big hit. I did the film because the producer was very big, B. Nagi Redi. I said, “We have to work with the big producers. We want to get recognized.” So, I did the film. We were shooting continuously and completed the film in one or two schedules. The director K. Sethumadhavan was superb. Raju (music director Rajesh Roshan) had only done Kunwara Baap before Julie. The music of the film became super-hit. We shot half of the film in Kerala and in a place called Shornur. It was like a picnic. When I saw young Sridevi, I knew that she would become a big star.

How did people react to the bold romance?At that time, it was supposed to be a very bold film. Now, today, if you see that, it looks like, to me, it looks like a mythological film. Because that time, having said that, bold romantic scenes in bedroom and all that. So that people thought what kind of a film it would be. To do that type of scene, you need a very good chemistry with your heroine. Otherwise, you can't do it.

Was Lakshmi reluctant to do those scenes?She's a very professional artist. Whatever demand was there, she could do it. I've worked with Lakshmi, Shabana Azmi, and Smita Patil. I feel Smita Patil was the most cooperative and down-to-earth person. I did a lot of films with her. Lakshmi was also cooperative and so was Shabana. All three were very dynamic artists.

What was the message in Julie?The Anglo-Indians wanted to go abroad saying India was not their country. They would never encourage inter-religious marriages. So, that was an important aspect of the film. Jalal Agha and Rita Bhaduri did small but impressive roles. Om Prakash was good. Nadira was excellent.

Share your experience of working with Sridevi?She was very cute. She had very little to do. But as a younger sister of the heroine, she did very well. But I feel the surprise package for me was Rajesh Roshan. His music was such a thing. Nobody imagined that it would go to such a height. I think Rajesh's music was, I think, bigger than his own home production. Priti Sagar was another thing – My Heart Is Beating song. The song was written by Harindranath Chattopadhyay. It was the person who did the casting. Actually, I must give him credit. He picked up the right people. The songs was written by Harindrana Chattopadhyay. The singer was not the routine one, but Priti Sagar.

How do you look at your journey now?I've become a producer. I produced my own film, Sitam. I was the first person to make a film on football. My own production. Jagjit Singh and Chitra Singh wes my music directors, and Gulzar Saab was the lyrics writer. So I made that picture. My first production, now I'm into web series. I'm also into film distribution. I'm more into production work, distribution work.

As an actor, how did you look at your journey? Was it satisfying or you thought you didn't get the opportunity you should have got?I was very choosy. When your film is hit, you get a lot of roles. I was only worried that I must get a good role. That was my main concern. I just don't do the film. Sometimes people do, chalo kar lete hain. I'm not like that. See, when I did Swami with Shabana, the role was very good. I did it. For me, a role is very important. The subject is very important. And the director is very important. And the producer also is very important because he will be able to complete the film.

I'm very happy because whatever money we got, we saved our money, and we lived a comfortable life. I had my own flat in Bandra. I had everything of my own. Whatever I wanted in life, I got. God has given me whatever I need. I'm happy. When I wanted to do a film of my taste, I did Sitam with Smita Patil. Now, I'm making a film on the Fire Brigade. The person who works for the fire brigade. On their life and their journey and the story and how sincerely they work. See, people who are there on the border, jawans are fighting. But when there is fire at home, who fights for us? Firefighters. So, I've been working on that subject for a very long time. I'll be directing that film and producing also for a web series. I'm the main lead in that. I'm a retired firefighter. I go according to my age and my character and all that. And I'm directing myself.