Dimple Kapadia has been one of the more popular actresses in mainstream Hindi cinema. After her debut aged 16 in 1973, she has remained a quality performer. Her versatility saw her become part of films of different genres. While starring in several successful and acclaimed films, she has also been part of a number of hit songs. Today, Kapadia began a new chapter in her life as she turned 60. On her special day, we revisit some popular numbers picturized on her.
'Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Bandh Ho' – Bobby (1973)
Bobby was the film in which Dimple Kapadia made her debut and co-star Rishi Kapoor made his own debut as a leading man. The film was a huge hit and the newcomers became stars overnight. The film's music, by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, with whom Raj Kapoor was working for the first time, was among the reasons why the film clicked. Of the film's songs, 'Hum Tum Ek Kamre Mein Bandh Ho’ remains a classic. Twenty years later, the song, ‘Hum Tum Picture Dekh Rahe Ho’, from Rang (1993) turned out to be very similar.
'Saagar Jaisi Aankhonwali' – Saagar (1985)
After her successful debut with Bobby, Dimple Kapadia stayed away from the arclights for more than a decade, getting married to reigning heartthrob Rajesh Khanna and bearing him two daughters. Eventually, however, things soured and they separated, with young Twinkle and Rinke living with their mother. Kapadia then made a comeback to films in 1984. The next year, she had two big hits in Ramesh Sippy’s Saagar and Rahul Rawail's Arjun. Saagar was a musical blockbuster, with ‘Saagar Jaisi Aakhonwali’, practically an ode to Kapadia's gorgeous looks, becoming the rage. Kapadia doesn't utter a word in the song but manages to impress all the same through her expressions.
'Dil Hoom Hoom Kare' – Rudaali (1993)
Dimple Kapadia's versatility as an actress came to the fore when she played the titular role in Kalpana Lajmi’s Rudaali. She proved that despite playing a good number of typical Hindi film heroine characters, she had the skill to get into the skin of a serious role in an off-beat film. Rudaali also boasted of impressive music by legendary Assamese singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika. One of them was ‘Dil Hoom Hoom Kare,’ which was a haunting score sung by the impeccable Lata Mangeshkar.
'Tera Saath Hai Kitna Pyara' – Janbaaz (1986)
Feroz Khan was known for making multi-starrers in the 1980s. One of his more successful films was Janbaaz, which, along from Khan himself, starred Anil Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia and Sridevi. One of its more popular songs was ‘Tera Saath Hai Kitna Pyara’, which was picturized on Kapadia and Kapoor. It had Kishore Kumar’s magic all over and some decent support from Sapna Mukherjee as well.
'Tera Naam Liya' – Ram Lakhan (1989)
Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan was another hit multi-starrer that Kapadia acted in. It co-starred Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff and Madhuri Dixit. Kapadia didn’t have a meaty role in the film. But she was part of the song ‘Tera Naam Liya’, which was one of the highlights of the film. Along with the romance between her character and Ram (Shroff), it also had dollops of comedy in the form of the antics of Lakhan (Kapoor).
'Saagar Kinare' – Saagar (1985)
Saagar became a hit not just because of the storyline, the performances and Dimple Kapadia's extended swimsuit scene but also because of Rahul Dev Burman’s chartbuster music. The quality of songs is such that it is not possible to choose just one from the soundtrack. ‘Saagar Kinare’ was another much-loved track from the film by the hit pair of Kishore Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar. Along with the song, the chorus track, ‘La la la la la’, is also iconic for the romantic mood it triggers. Saagar was a rare movie that had two title songs.
'Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezar' – Aitbaar (1985)
Director Mukul Anand’s Aitbaar was the first time Dimple Kapadia ventured into a film that could be considered slightly off-beat. The film, a brooding mystery, had a slow and mesmerizing ghazal, ‘Kisi Nazar Ko Tera Intezar Aaj Bhi Hai’. Bhupinder poured his heart out in this one. Asha Bhosle, too, showed her class. This was yet another evergreen song picturized on Kapadia.
'Yara Sili Sili' – Lekin... (1991)
‘Yara Sili Sili’ is one song that refuses to leave your mind for a long time after you listen to it. Lata Mangeshkar’s voice just takes you into a trance. Gulzar’s words and Bhupen Hazarika’s music, too, are responsible for the magical feeling. Dimple Kapadia had to underplay herself in the song and she did that exceedingly well. Directed by Gulzar, Lekin... was based on Rabindranath Tagore’s story, Kshudhit Pashaan.
'Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai' – Bobby (1973)
The celebrated duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal produced a number of impressive tracks in Bobby. ‘Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai’ was another youthful number picturized on Dimple Kapadia and Rishi Kapoor. The song also featured the Lucknowi tehzeeb (culture) of 'Pehle Aap' and inspired the title of actor Tusshar Kapoor’s debut, Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai (2001). Directed by Satish Kaushik, that film also had a song which went ‘Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai’.
'Jab Jab Teri Soorat Dekhoon' – Janbaaz (1986)
‘Jab Jab Teri Soorat Dekhoon’ is another impressive track from Janbaaz picturized on Dimple Kapadia and Anil Kapoor. Along with Kalyanji-Anandji’s music, the poetic lines by Indivar are also noticeable. The song showed some sizzling chemistry between Kapadia and Kapoor. The bold sequences between them were quite the shocker for a mainstream Hindi film in those days.