Renowned Bollywood actress Karisma Kapoor, who currently serves as a judge on the dance reality show ‘India’s Best Dancer Season 4’, has recently shared her observations and reminiscences about the profound changes the Indian film industry has undergone over the last 40 to 50 years.
Karisma Kapoor, famous for her roles in iconic films such as ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Coolie No.1’, and ‘Raja Hindustani’, delved into her early experiences in Bollywood, revealing a stark contrast between the industry’s past and present. One key aspect of this transformation is the introduction of vanity vans—a luxury that was unheard of in her early days as an actress.
Taking a trip down memory lane, Karisma recalled the days when actors did not have access to the glamorous and private changing vans that are now ubiquitous on film sets. “In those early days, we didn’t have vanity vans. We often had to change our outfits behind trees, and sometimes even had to use the outdoors as bathrooms,” she recalled, highlighting the pressures and inconveniences faced by actors of that era.
Karisma’s career, which began in 1991 at the mere age of 16 with the film ‘Prem Qaidi’ alongside Harish Kumar, saw her witness several industry milestones. One such significant moment was during the filming of the movie ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’. She recounted experiencing the novelty of a film monitor on set, thanks to the legendary director Yash Chopra. “The first film in which I got to work with a monitor was ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’. It was during the dance of envy shot. Yash ji (Yash Chopra) got it, and Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra were also on the sets… ‘Aur hum toh paagal ho gaye the’ (we went mad looking at the monitor). We thought, ‘Really? We could see what we have done in a shot’,” she reminisced.
Another landmark progression in her career was participating in the first sync-sound film, ‘Zubeidaa’, directed by Shyam Benegal. This innovation represented a significant technological advancement in Hindi cinema, transitioning from studio dubbing of characters to recording dialogues live on set, thus enhancing the realism and depth of cinematic storytelling. “I saw another milestone.
. The first film with sync-sound was ‘Zubeidaa’ directed by Shyam Benegal. It was the first movie where we put on lapel mics for ‘real life sound’,” she highlighted, emphasizing the importance of this shift for the industry.
In today’s Bollywood, the transformation is marked by the conveniences and technological advancements that have become standard on film sets. Modern actors enjoy state-of-the-art makeup rooms, advanced filming equipment, and an array of conveniences that were non-existent decades ago. The contrast with the past, where actors like Karisma would rely on makeshift changing areas and endure considerable discomfort, underscores the industry’s evolution.
As a judge on ‘India’s Best Dancer Season 4’, Karisma is continuously reminded of how far the industry has come. Reflecting on the contemporary scene, she noted, “The number of vans that are parked outside the sets of this show… We didn’t have anything like this. We used to go behind a tree and change our outfits for a scene, sometimes we went to the loo… So yeah, our industry has seen major changes in the last 40-50 years.”
Karisma Kapoor stands alongside Terence Lewis and Geeta Kapoor in judging the dance reality show, contributing her extensive experience and knowledge of the film industry to current and aspiring performers. Her reflections offer a nostalgic yet insightful look at Bollywood’s journey from lesser-known practices to embracing modernity and technological progress.
This story, sourced from third-party syndicated feeds, sheds light on the evolution of Bollywood, a transformation echoed by many who have been part of its illustrious journey. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for the dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, and data of the text. The management of mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) content at its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
