'He didn't want to do many Hindi films'

Waheeda Rahman

I first worked with Sivaji Ganesan in the film Rakhee, which was produced by him. This was in the early Sixties. It was actually a Tamil film, remade in Hindi.

I still remember the first shot. I was to tie a rakhee to Ashokji (Kumar). Since that film, I have been tying a rakhee to Sivaji.

We worked in another film, Dharti in the late '60s. The film starred Rajendra Kumar and me, and Sivaji had a guest appearance. That was the only time I worked with him as an artiste. In fact, I think that's the only Hindi film that he did.

He was very dedicated and serious. But he didn't want to do many Hindi films. He used to say that he must have a command over the language. Otherwise, it is very difficult to emote.

When I bought a house in Madras, Sivaji came for the housewarming. I know his family very well -- his wife Kamalaji and son Prabhu, who is now a successful actor in the South. Whenever I go to Madras, I try to visit them.

I met his son in Kodaikanal in 1991. He asked me why I hadn't come to Madras to visit them. "Father thinks you're his sister." That's the relationship that we shared.

I was really shocked to hear about Sivaji's death. He was one of the finest actors India had, even though he acted mostly in Tamil films. He was such a simple and unassuming person, even though he was such a star. His death is a great loss.

As told to Ronjita Das

Also Read:
A Tribute to the Legend Sivaji Ganesan