When Tarachand Barjatya Made Zarina Wahab Quit Non-Veg Food For Gopal Krishna: 'It Was Difficult...'
Tarachand Barjatya, the founder of Rajshree Films, was known for his principled approach to filmmaking, avoiding violence or obscenity. For the 1979 mythological film Gopal Krishna, he asked Zarina Wahab, who played Radha, to quit non-vegetarian food during filming.
Tarachand Barjatya, the visionary founder of Rajshree Films and grandfather of renowned filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, firmly believed that cinema could thrive without resorting to obscenity or violence. After years of working as a distributor, he established the production house and proved his philosophy by producing the 1962 hit film Aarti. His productions became synonymous with stories rooted in family values, leaving an indelible mark on Indian cinema.
In 1979, Tarachand Barjatya produced the mythological film Gopal Krishna, featuring Zarina Wahab and Sachin Pilgaonkar. True to his ideals, he set strict rules for his actors, including a unique requirement: abstaining from non-vegetarian food during the shooting of mythological films. Zarina Wahab, who played Radha in the movie, recently shared her experience of being cast and the conditions Tarachand placed before her.
related stories
Recalling the events during an interview with Lehren Retro, Zarina said, “One night, I received a call. The person asked me to come to a particular film set the next day if I was free. I went. As soon as I reached there, I was given a certain outfit and was asked to check if it fit."
Zarina had been brought in as a replacement for another actor who had been removed from the project due to their unprofessional behavior. She revealed, “They were replacing a heroine in the film after having shot 11 reels of film. I don’t want to disclose who she was. My hairdresser at that time informed me about her."
After her first day on set, Zarina was called into Tarachand Barjatya’s office, where he outlined his expectations for her role. She recalled, “After pack-up, Tarachand Barjatya, who we fondly addressed as Sethji, called me to his office. He told me, ‘Look, you are playing Radha in this film, Gopal Krishna, so please quit eating meat until we finish shooting the film.’ I agreed to it. I didn’t ever eat meat until the film released."
Although it was challenging at first, Zarina adjusted to the new lifestyle and even developed a preference for vegetarian food. “Now, I prefer vegetarian over non-vegetarian food unless I am in Hyderabad. I love biryani there," she added with a smile.
Tarachand Barjatya’s uncompromising values not only shaped the ethos of Rajshree Films but also influenced the lives of those who worked with him. His dedication to creating meaningful and morally uplifting cinema remains a testament to his legacy in Indian filmmaking.
- Location :
- First Published: