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Rohini Hattangady: Younger than her onscreen sons!
4 Nov
Summary
- Actress played mothers to actors older than her.
- She won BAFTA for playing Kasturba Gandhi.
- Industry cast her as mothers after Gandhi role.
Veteran actress Rohini Hattangady recently shared her experiences playing maternal roles for actors who were older than her. She appeared as Amitabh Bachchan's mother in films like 'Agneepath' and 'Shahenshah', and also portrayed Dharmendra's mother in 'Humse Na Takrana'. Hattangady, who was often younger than her onscreen sons, found comfort in her roles, emphasizing the importance of embodying the character regardless of co-stars' ages.
She recalled a humorous incident during the filming of 'Humse Na Takrana' in Ooty. Her makeup artist informed her that Dharmendra had requested she wear more makeup because she appeared too young. This experience highlighted the challenges of being cast in roles that required her to appear significantly older.
Hattangady's portrayal of Kasturba Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's 1982 film 'Gandhi' earned her international acclaim, including a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. This performance showcased her ability to portray the character at various life stages.
Despite her versatility, the success of 'Gandhi' led to Hattangady being frequently cast in motherly roles within Hindi cinema. She also noted that filmmaker James Ivory was surprised to learn she was the one who played the older Kasturba, as he was seeking an actress who appeared naturally older for his film 'Heat and Dust'.
