Karisma Kapoor, a prominent figure in the Indian film industry and currently serving as a judge on the popular dancing reality show ‘India’s Best Dancer Season 4’, recently shed light on the extensive changes that Bollywood has witnessed over the past 40 to 50 years. Known for her iconic roles in films like ‘Andaz Apna Apna’, ‘Coolie No.1’, and ‘Raja Hindustani’, Karisma took a walk down memory lane, reminiscing about the days when actors didn’t have the luxury of vanity vans.
Reflecting on her early days in cinema, Karisma recollected the stark contrast between then and now. Speaking about advancements in filmmaking, she revealed an anecdote from the set of ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, a film directed by the legendary Yash Chopra. “The first film in which I got to work on a monitor was ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’. It was during the ‘Dance of Envy’ shot. Yash ji (Yash Chopra) got it, and Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra were also on the sets,” Karisma recalled vividly. “Aur hum toh paagal ho gaye the (we went mad looking at the monitor). We thought, ‘Really? We could see what we have done in a shot’.” This experience marked a significant milestone in her career, providing actors with real-time feedback on their performances, something taken for granted today.
Karisma, who debuted in the industry at the tender age of 16 with ‘Prem Qaidi’ alongside Harish Kumar, also touched upon another revolutionary change in Bollywood – the introduction of sync-sound technology. She narrated her experience working on ‘Zubeidaa’, a Shyam Benegal-directed film that was her first venture into the world of sync-sound. “I saw another milestone. The first film with sync-sound was ‘Zubeidaa’ directed by Shyam Benegal. It was the first movie where we put on lapel mics for ‘real life sound’,” she said.
The implementation of sync-sound was transformative for Hindi cinema. Prior to this advancement, dialogues were mostly dubbed post-production in studios, a method that often lacked the depth and realism of live audio recording. Sync-sound allowed dialogues to be recorded on set, making scenes more immersive and authentic in delivering the narrative. This shift not only enhanced the auditory experience but also brought a new layer of dynamism to performances, as actors could now react to the natural acoustics of their environment.
.
However, the journey was not always luxurious. Karisma nostalgically pointed out the stark absence of modern comforts such as vanity vans during her early years in the industry. “The number of vans that are parked outside the sets of this show… We didn’t have anything like this. We used to go behind a tree and change our outfits for a scene, sometimes we went to the loo… So yeah, our industry has seen major changes in the last 40-50 years,” she added with a smile. Her recollections underscore the significant improvements in working conditions for actors, evolving from makeshift arrangements to the sophisticated, well-equipped vanity vans seen today.
Karisma’s insights reveal how technological innovations have redefined the filmmaking process, from the rudimentary days of on-the-fly wardrobe changes behind trees to the advanced, seamless workflows involving real-time monitoring and sync-sound. Yet, it’s not just the tools and technology that have evolved; the industry’s approach to production, actor comfort, and professionalism has seen a paradigm shift as well.
Serving as a judge on ‘India’s Best Dancer Season 4’ alongside Terence Lewis and Geeta Kapoor, Karisma remains an influential figure in the industry, continuing to inspire both her contemporaries and the new generation of artists with her vast experience and enduring passion for cinema.
This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete, or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
Through her reflections, Karisma Kapoor offers valuable insights into the shifts that Bollywood has seen over decades, shedding light on an industry that is continuously evolving. Her narratives not only highlight the progress made but also remind us of the industry’s humble beginnings and the relentless drive for innovation and improvement.
