‘Sharmila Tagore wanted to wear a two-piece swimsuit, Shammi Kapoor suggested his entry in a hellicopter despite having vertigo,’ recalls Shakti Samanta’s son |

Filmmaker Shakti Samanta is known for memorable movies like ‘An Evening in Paris’, ‘Aaradhna’, ‘Amar Prem’ among many others. His collaboration with Sharmila Tagore has remained iconic over the years. In a recent interview, Shakti Samanta’s son has now opened up on the memories during the shoot of ‘An Evening In Paris’ starring Tagore and Shammi Kapoor. The film is considered an eternal favourite and remains in the hearts of many. It also is remembered for the song ‘Aasman Se Aaya Farishta’. Tagore’s swimsuit moment from the film has been the most talked about and many considered that as a bold move on her part. When asked if she was apprehensive about wearing it, Shakti Samantha’s son Ashim Samanta, said in an interview with Radio Nasha Official, “In fact, she wanted to wear a bikini. It was my dad who suggested a one-piece. But she was absolutely cool. She was a modern girl and knew that she had a fabulous figure.”He also revealed that Shammi Kapoor had suggested his entry in a hellicopter but he later got scared as he has vertigo. He added, “The suggestion to come in a helicopter was Shammi uncle’s. He told my father, ‘What if I come swinging from a helicopter? How will that look?’ My father replied, ‘It will look amazing!’ Later, Shammi uncle told me, ‘I actually told Shakti that I could come in a helicopter, but then I thought, why did I even say this? I have a problem with heights, I get vertigo. But then I thought where would Shakti find a helicopter in Beirut?’ So, he went to sleep. The next day, my father woke him up and told him that a helicopter had been arranged.”Ashim further added, “Shammi uncle told me, ‘Hearing this, I freaked out. But I am Shammi Kapoor. I’m not a man who succumbs to fear!’ So, he went to the hotel bar. It was closed. He approached the manager and said, ‘Open the bar.’ The manager, surprised, asked, ‘At 10 in the morning?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ The bar was opened, and he had two pegs of brandy. Then he said, ‘Where is the helicopter? Let’s go, Shakti!’”Earlier, Shakti Samanta himself had spoken about Sharmila Tagore on an episode of Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, saying he recognised her potential very early in her career, while also adding, “She was very talented, but stubborn, and would fight a lot.” Revisiting the same shoot for ‘Aasman Se Aaya Farishta’, he recalled, “We were shooting that song in which she had to swim. She said she would wear a two-piece (bikini). I said, ‘If you wear that, the film won’t get a censor certificate!’ She said, ‘Otherwise I won’t do it.’ I said, ‘Please do it!’ Then, in anger, she said, ‘Okay, get it done.’ So, I got the new costume, and then she did the shot. After watching the film, she told me, ‘This looks good only.’”