Mumbai, June 7, 2026
Veteran actress Zeenat Aman once revealed during her appearance on “The Kapil Sharma Show” how she ended up getting the role of Rupa for the 1978 release “Satyam Shivam Sundaram“.
Host Kapil Sharma asked her “When you were cast in the film ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’ in which the face of your character is always covered, how did the makers get the idea to cast such a beautiful and glamorous girl for this role?”
Sharing the incident, Zeenat revealed that she was working on another movie with Raj Kapoor, the director of “Satyam Shivam Sundaram”, named “Waqeel Babu”.
She said that he was planning “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” at the time and would keep talking about his heroine, Rupa, making her very inspired towards the character.
Zeenat admitted that, as an actor, she wished to be directed by Raj Kapoor.
In an attempt to get the role, Zeenat reached the RK Studio, dressed as she thought Raj Kapoor would have visualised his leading lady Rupa.
Pleasantly surprised to see Zeenat in this avatar, Raj Kapoor called his wife Krishna Kapoor, and asked her to come to the studio.
Krishna Kapoor came and gave Zeenat some gold ginnies.
The veteran actress added that Raj Kapoor told her, “You are my Rupa.”
Zeenat further disclosed that Raj Kapoor even made a reel with her, which he had previously shot with Nargis Dutt on “Jago Mohan Pyare”, and only after seeing that reel, the distributors agreed to buy the picture.
Made under the direction of Raj Kapoor and written by Jainendra Jain, “Satyam Shivam Sundaram” also starred Shashi Kapoor as the lead.
The drama shares the tale of Roopa (Played by Zeenat Aman), half of whose face has been disfigured after a fire accident. Rajeev (played by Shashi Kapoor), a handsome engineer who is overseeing a dam project in the village, falls in love with Rupa and marries her before learning about her massive scar.(Agency)
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