One of the greatest films in Indian cinema, Umrao Jaan (1981), is gearing up for a re-release this Friday, June 27. The makers and distributors, PVR Inox Pictures, are planning a grand event and have invited the who’s who of Bollywood for its premiere.
The special industry screening will be hosted by Muzaffar Ali and Rekha at PVR Maison, Jio World Drive, BKC, Mumbai, on Thursday, June 26. The red carpet event promises to be a star-studded affair, with expected attendees including Aamir Khan, Alia Bhatt, Janhvi Kapoor, Khushi Kapoor, Ayushmann Khurrana, Kriti Sanon, Dimple Kapadia, Helen, Shabana Azmi, Anil Kapoor, Rakesh Roshan, A R Rahman, Suniel Shetty, Richa Chadha, Ali Fazal, Tabu, Jackie Shroff, Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, Boney Kapoor, Vijay Varma, Vedang Raina, and many more.
Interestingly, just a week before, on June 19, Rekha attended the premiere of Sitaare Zameen Par, hosted by Aamir Khan. The two greeted each other warmly, and their interactions garnered significant attention on social media. The tables will turn on June 26 as Aamir walks the red carpet to meet the evening’s eternal host.
Notably, Priyanka Chopra Jonas was also invited to the premiere but shared in an Instagram story that she would not be able to attend, expressing her regret.
In a recent interview with Bombay Times, Muzaffar Ali discussed the casting of Rekha, stating, “When I chose Rekha, I recognized a resilience in her eyes that could convey both falling and rising. She can be broken but not defeated. I saw a sense of total surrender in her. For this film, she embraced something organic within her that allowed her to become what she might not have been otherwise. If she had been reluctant, she wouldn’t have reached where she did.”
When asked who he might cast if he were to remake Umrao Jaan today, he remarked, “It’s not easy to find someone like Rekha. There were layers of preparation for this role. You must also be the right age. Kareena Kapoor has something special, and Alia Bhatt has a certain magic, but I can’t say until I open the book.”
