In a recent conversation, actress Karisma Kapoor, a judge on the popular dancing reality show ‘India’s Best Dancer Season 4,’ shared her reflections on the monumental changes that have taken place in the Bollywood film industry over the past 40 to 50 years. Known for her iconic roles in movies such as ‘Andaz Apna Apna,’ ‘Coolie No.1,’ and ‘Raja Hindustani,’ Kapoor took a nostalgic trip back to her early days in the film industry, revealing how starkly different the working conditions were compared to today.
Karisma Kapoor started her illustrious acting career at the tender age of 16 with the 1991 release ‘Prem Qaidi,’ where she starred opposite debutant Harish Kumar. She reminisced about a time when actors did not have the luxury of vanity vans. These vans, now an indispensable part of a film set, were nowhere to be seen, and actors had to make do with whatever was available. “We used to go behind trees to change our outfits for scenes,” she recalled, illustrating how much the industry has evolved since then.
The actress candidly talked about the first time she had the opportunity to use a monitor on set, a significant technology in filmmaking that allows actors and directors to review footage instantly. She recounted this experience on the sets of the 1997 musical romance ‘Dil To Pagal Hai,’ directed by 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 brought it, and Aditya Chopra and Uday Chopra were also on the sets… ‘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’,” she said with a fond smile.
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Interestingly, Kapoor’s career witnessed other significant technological advancements in Hindi cinema. She spoke about her work in ‘Zubeidaa’, a film directed by Shyam Benegal that marked a pivotal shift towards the use of sync-sound technology. “The first film with sync-sound that I worked on was ‘Zubeidaa’. It was the first movie where we put on lapel mics for ‘real life sound’,” she reminisced. This represented a major milestone in the industry’s evolution, as it moved from traditional studio dubbing to recording dialogues live on set, thereby enhancing the realism and depth of film narratives.
Through her storied career, Karisma Kapoor has witnessed firsthand the transformative journey of Bollywood, from rudimentary setup to the advanced, technology-driven environment of today. “The number of vans that are parked outside the sets of this show… We didn’t have anything like this. Sometimes we went to the loo behind trees… So yeah, our industry has seen major changes in the last 40-50 years,” she added, recounting tales that illustrate the dramatic shift in working conditions over the decades.
Karisma Kapoor now shares judging duties on ‘India’s Best Dancer Season 4’ with renowned choreographers Terence Lewis and Geeta Kapoor. Her insights offer a fascinating glimpse into the past, shedding light on the humble beginnings of many actors of her generation and the resilience they demonstrated in the face of limited resources.
Reflecting on these profound changes, her narrative encapsulates the essence of an industry in constant flux. It’s a testament to the rapid advancements in technology and infrastructure that have reshaped Bollywood, bringing with it a more comfortable and efficient working environment for both cast and crew. From changing outfits behind trees and minimal on-set facilities, the industry has transformed into a sophisticated and technologically equipped space, enhancing not just the quality of productions but also the overall experience for everyone involved.
Indeed, Karisma Kapoor’s journey is emblematic of Bollywood’s transformation over the decades. Her stories merge the past with the present, providing a continuous thread that links the raw, unpolished charm of yesteryears with the glossy, high-tech veneer of contemporary cinema. In recalling these memories, Kapoor doesn’t just honor her own career; she acknowledges and celebrates the shared history and evolution of an entire industry that continues to captivate audiences around the world.
