FILM · 1981 · INDIA
Kudrat
21 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (21)
- #001
Producer Chetan Anand appeared twice in Kudrat, in the opening scenes at the Simla railway station. Anand was unable to attend the film's premiere because he was angry with the producer.
- #002
After watching Kudrat, actor Mukri's daughter Naseem Mukri asked Priya Rajvansh why the characters she played in every Chetan Anand film died unnaturally. Rajvansh joked that she would also die unnaturally in real life. As it turned out, she was found murdered in Chetan Anand's bungalow in 2000. Chetan Anand's sons Ketan and Vivek Anand and two accomplices were convicted of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Chetan Anand, who was in a long-term relationship with Priya Rajvansh, had apparently left most of his property to her, and the motive behind her murder was said to be a dispute over this inheritance.
- #003
This was the second film in which Rajesh Khanna and Hema Malini played 'reincarnated' lovers. Mehbooba, released in 1976, was the first.
- #004
The film began in April 1979 and was repeatedly delayed for various reasons. Actor egos, Priya Rajvansh working on a caliber, appointments spiraling out of control. By December 1980 the film was half ready. That was when Chetan Anand did something unexpected. He prepared a contract and asked B. S. Khanna to sign it. Khanna felt helpless at this point. If he did not sign the contract, the film would remain unfinished. The first clause was that the film would be presented as a Chetan Anand film. The second clause was that Chetan Anand would have the final say on everything. Until the film went to the censor board. Chetan then added a provision that his fees would be paid in full and in advance. Khanna stated that he acted under pressure. Khanna sought advice from the Producers' Association (IMPPA) and signed the agreement.
- #005
Kalpana Iyer said: "On the first day of shooting for Lootmaar, on the sets where I signed Chetan Anand's Kudrat (1981) song, the song was Chhodo Sanam, with Vinod Khanna and Hema Malini. Vinod Khanna was a complete gentleman, a pleasure to work with. And Chetan Anand was such a wonderful, old-style director that he was so detailed that he took a personal interest in my costume, because he wanted it to look a certain way. Because of the heavy crystals on it, it weighed 20 kilos."
- #006
The lyrics of the song "Tune Kaisa Jaadu Kiya" in Himalay Putra resembled the song "Tune O Rangile Kaisa Jadu Kiya" in Kudrat. The song "Nazre Mila Ke Tune Kya Kiya" from Hum Hain Khal Nayak also had the same sound.
- #007
There was a cover version of "Humen Tumse Pyar Kitna" by Johnny Zee, also known as Taz, of Stereo Nation, on the New Dawn album. This was in 1995.
- #008
Producer B. S. Khanna produced only two films directed by Gogi Anand, Doosri Sita in 1974, and in 1977 Kudrat, directed by Gogi Anand's cousin Chetan Anand, was released. After Doosri Sita, Shammi Kapoor was to direct a film for producer B. S. Khanna, but at that time Shammi Kapoor's Bundlebaz & Manoranjan had been released, and then Kudrat was started. Producer B. S. Khanna died in an accident in 1982.
- #009
After completing Janeman, Navketan's 25th Silver Jubilee year film, producer Chetan Anand began working on Kudrat.
- #010
Over 40 years, from 1946 to 1986, from Neecha Nagar to Hathon Ki Lakeeren, Chetan Anand made films. He worked with Rauf Ahmed, Prithivraj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Vijay Anand, Bajraj Sahni, Kamini Kaushal, Zohra Seghal, Uma Anand, Kalpana Kartik, Pran, Dharmendra, Indrani Mukherji, Raaj Kumar, Navin Nishal, Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Khana, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Jackie Shroff, and Rajesh Khanna and Priya Rajvansh.
- #011
Producer B. S. Khanna and director Chetan Anand had a major dispute during the film. Khanna stated that Chetan was a very expensive director. Chetan had recorded a song with Chandrashekhar's voice, then re-recorded it with Muhammed Rafi's voice. This not only went against commercial practices but also cost Khanna over 1 lakh rupees.
- #012
Producer B. S. Khanna and Chetan Anand started with Priya Rajvansh. Chetan told Khanna that Hema was the female lead. Priya Rajvansh had a small vamp role to play. Khanna told Chetan no, she was not playing Priya in the film. However, Chetan convinced Khanna to let her appear in the film because the role was small. But problems began. Khanna thought Priya was a terrible actress. She would dub 2 lines a day. This caused the film to be delayed. Chetan then began to increase her role. Chetan told producer Khanna that in his next film he wanted Priya to play the role of Anarkali. However, he needed to show his distributors that Priya was still commercially viable. Khanna told Chetan that he had no problem with him casting Priya as Anarkali. But he should not have to pay for it.
- #013
B. S. Khanna and Chetan Anand's problems went further. Chetan cast Priya Rajvansh as Raaj Kumar's daughter. The role should have gone to someone younger. Chetan had Priya address Raaj Kumar as "papa" in every sentence. Producer Khanna felt the audience would laugh at this, since they knew Priya had been acting since 1964.
- #014
When the film was released it was titled "Pyaas". Actress Daljeet Kaur was under contract with producer B. S. Khanna and was to appear in the film. She was later removed from the film.
- #015
Producer Chetan Anand worked for the first time with music composer R. D. Burman. He had worked with his father S. D. Burman on some films. Chetan Anand even worked for the first time with lyricists Majrooh Sultanpuri and Qateel Shifai.
- #016
This was the only time producer Chetan Anand worked with Vinod Khanna.
- #017
Vinod Khanna's son Akshay played the lead in the 1998 film of the same name.
- #018
Both versions of the song Humein Tumse Pyar Kitna - female were nominated for Filmfare Awards. Parveen Sultana won the award, while Kishore Kumar did not.
- #019
Dukh Sukh Ki Har Ik Mala was Chandrashekhar Gadgil's first Indian film song. R. D. Burman had to spend several days persuading director Chetan Anand to give the young singer a chance before he approved. Unfortunately for Gadgil, Chetan Anand later changed his mind and asked Burman to record the song with Muhammed Rafi's voice instead. Burman then called Rafi to record the song. After singing the song's three antaras, Rafi overheard someone in the studio mention how the song had previously been recorded by another singer. He asked Burman and, when he learned what had happened, refused to sing the song's fourth antara because he did not want to jeopardize a young singer's career. Because Burman insisted on including only Gadgil's version in the film's soundtrack, Rafi's version of the song was used only in the film. There were several differences between the two versions of the song; they were arranged somewhat differently, Gadgil's version had four antaras and Rafi's version had three antaras, and one of the antaras in Rafi's version was completely different.
- #020
Priya Rajvansh stated that she wrote the story herself but refused to take any credit.
- #021
Producer Chetan Anand always directed his home productions. Kudrat was his first and last outside production and his last major album. After Kudrat, Chetan Anand was to make a film titled Salim-Anarkali, but it was shelved. His last film was Hathoon Ki Lakeren, which could not be released properly. In the 1990s he made a film and two songs were recorded by music composer Adesh Srivastav, but the film was shelved.
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