Rakesh Kumar was not a media-made success -story.Out of the nine films that Rakesh Kumar directed, five featured Amitabh Bachchan and they were all hits.
Rakesh first worked with Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer, which Prakash Mehra produced and directed. Rakesh was an assistant on Zanjeer, full of ideas. This was when he discussed Khoon Pasina, his first direcrtorial which featured Mr B and Rekha in the lead.
The film released in 1977,with Kalyanji-Anandji’s hit songs(Khoon pasine ki jo milegi to khayenge, Tu mera ho gaya, Raja dil maange chavvani uchaal ke) boosting ticket sales.
Two years later Rakesh directed Amitabh and Rekha again in Mr Natwarlal which was an even bigger hit than Khoon Pasina.To the film and composer Rajesh Roshan go the credit for making Mr Bachchan sing in his own voice for the first time . The song Mere paas aao mere doston was a chartbuster as was Lataji’s Pradesia yeh sach hai piya with Kishore Kumar.
Do Aur Do Paanch in 1980 was less successful than Khoon Pasina and Mr Natwarlal . But it is in retrospect one of the Mr Bachchan’s most beloved films among kids. Mr B and Shashi Kapoor played conmen disguised as teachers in a school to kidnap a kid for a ransom. The film has the unique distinction of featuring comic superstar Mehmood’s voice(along with Lataji , Kishore Kumar and his son Amit Kumar in the song Prem se humko jeene do) although he doesn’t not feature in the cast.
Rakesh Kumar’s Yaarana in 1980 is recalled to this day for Rajesh Roshan’s hit songs Tere jaisa yaar kahan, Chhu ka mere mann ko and Sara zamana haseenon ka diwana. In Saara zamana Mr Bachchan made history when he danced at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose stadium in Kolkata with live bulbs on his jacket. The film starred Amjad Khan alongside Mr Bachchan as inseparable friends.
In addition, Mr Bachchan did a guest appearance in Rakesh Kumar’s Kaun Jeeeta Kaun Haara in 1987.
The lovely Rati Agnihotri whom Rakesh Kumar directed twice in Johnny I Love You(1982) and Dil Tujhko Diya(1987) remembers Rakesh Kumar fondly: “Rakeshji was always relaxed on the sets. It was a breeze working with him. There was never any stress.He was always smiling. Shooting with him was always enjoyable as the atmosphere on location was happy and easygoing. My deepest condolences to his family.”
