Naseeruddin Shah and Smita Patil, two of the biggest names in parallel cinema, also auditioned for the role of Gandhi and Kasturba in the 1982 biopic, which went on to win eight trophies at the Oscars.
“Actually, three pairs auditioned for the parts, me and Ben, Bhakti Barve and John Hurt, Smita and Naseeruddin. We all were in London. Later, Roshan Seth was there to do the screen test for Nehru’s role.”
The actress says she does not feel that she was typecast as that’s the nature of the industry where people are wary of taking risks.
“Initially after ‘Gandhi’, I thought when people will know that I am young, they will give me suitable roles but that was naive of me. You get typecast, nobody escapes it, be it Amrish Puri, Amjad Khan or Amitabh Bachchan. People don’t want to take risk when money is involved.”
Rohini, however, is happy that she got to play a negative role in “Chalbaaz” and “Hero Hiralal”, besides doing landmark films like “Gandhi” and “Saaransh”.
She also continues to be involved with theatre and has acted in critically acclaimed plays like “Aparajita”.
“Theatre gives me a lot of happiness. I have been busy with a Gujarati play though I am Marathi. As actors we should not give importance to languages. I have worked in many South Indian films and I feel, it enriches you as a person.”
When asked what is on her wish-list, Rohini says she would love to work in films by Ashutosh Gowariker and Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
From Agencies, Feature image courtesy newmedia
