When Mithun touched Rupali's mother's feet

Soon-to-be mom Rupali Ganguly’s 65-year-old mother, Rajni, danced her way to the mega auditions of Dance India Dance Super Moms, which will soon air on Zee TV.
Though she performed on Jhoom barabar jhoom in front of grand master Mithun Chakraborty, the makers didn’t take her to the final 16 keeping in mind her old age and how the rigours of a reality show could take a toll on her health.
“Rajni ji danced to Jawaani janeman, Aare pritam pyare and Hothon pe aisi baat. It was a visual treat to see someone dance like her at her age,” said the source, adding that she also mouthed Vidya Balan’s now famous dialogue “entertainment, entertainment, entertainment,” on stage.
“Marzi recognized her since he and my brother Vijay had worked for Shiamak Davar earlier together. But no one else on the sets knew that she was my mother. She wanted to go there on her own. We had hired a choreographer for her,” said a heavily-pregnant Rupali, who has just left Parvarrish to take care of her health.
Apparently, Rupali’s brother Vijay made the edit and conceptualized her act, while his wife Dimple, helped her with the steps.
Interestingly, Mithun is an old family friend of the Gangulys. He has worked in films produced by Rupali’s father Anil Ganguly. Rupali’s first ever shot in front of camera for a film, Angara, was also with Mithun. “He came to the stage and touched her feet after he saw me and realized she was my mother. He didn’t have to do that. He also spoke about the movies he made with dad and times when my mom would cook for him. He said, ‘bhabhi ke saamne to mai aankh utha ke dekh bhi nahi sakta, judge karna to door ki baat hai.’
The kind of respect she got was unprecedented. He saw me and asked me when I had got married and why I hadn’t invited her. Then he went on record to say that ‘had this girl been serious about her career, she would have been one of the top most actresses’ today.’ Even his saying that was enough,” said Rupali, adding Mithun and her father used to call her duffer.