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Raj Kapoor was unable to cast Khushbu Sundar in the film due to her young age.
Mandakini’s iconic role as Ganga in the film *Ram Teri Ganga Maili* has left an indelible mark on the audience’s memory. Recently, actress Khushbu Sundar disclosed that she was originally considered for the leading role in the film. However, at just 14 years old, she was deemed too young for the part, as Raj Kapoor believed it would be inappropriate for her to portray a mother.
During an interview with Vickey Lalwani, Khushbu recounted, “Raj Kapoor had intended to cast me in *Ram Teri Ganga Maili*. A photo shoot was even conducted in anticipation of my role. After reviewing those images, Raj Kapoor proclaimed, ‘She is my Ganga.’ Initially, the plan was to complete the Gangotri shoot first. However, due to heavy snowfall, the decision was made to film the Kolkata scenes, where the character is depicted as a mother with a baby.”
She continued, “At the time, I was not yet fully 14 years old, so Rajji remarked, ‘She is still a child, and carrying a baby wouldn’t appear right.’ Unfortunately, because he couldn’t delay the project, I missed out on this opportunity.”
Released in 1985, *Ram Teri Ganga Maili* was Raj Kapoor’s final directorial venture. Starring Rajiv Kapoor and Mandakini, the film achieved remarkable success at the box office. Despite not landing the role, Khushbu Sundar also carved out a successful career for herself in the industry and cherished a friendship with Rajiv Kapoor.
In that same interview, Khushbu spoke candidly about Rajiv Kapoor’s health struggles leading up to his untimely passing. “He had a heart condition, but alcohol dependency posed significant challenges. We found it difficult to help him overcome this struggle,” she revealed.
She reflected on the impact of his health issues, saying, “He was facing severe challenges and had undergone several knee surgeries, yet his condition did not improve. We were all aware that Chimpu (Rajiv) was unwell. When I was in Bombay, I received the devastating news of his death from Boney Kapoor, who said, ‘Chimpu is no more.’ It hit me incredibly hard.” Khushbu also shared that she still has Rajiv Kapoor’s contact number and regrets not maintaining closer ties with his family.
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