Kismat (1968)

Interesting facts

Kismat (transl. Destiny) is a 1968 Indian Hindi-language romantic thriller film directed by Manmohan Desai, produced by Kamal Mehra and released under the banner of Pride of Asia Films. It stars Biswajeet, Babita, Helen and Kamal Mehra in prominent roles. Other notable actors in the film are Bhagwan Sinha, Murad, M. B. Shetty, Hari Shivdasani, Hiralal, Indra Kumar, Jagdish Raj, Polsan, Prem Kumar, Paul Sharma, Tun Tun and Ullhas.

Production

For the filming of the song "Kajra Mohabbat Wale", the hero Biswajeet had to be dressed up as a girl and the heroine Babita as a Pathan. Biswajeet in an interview, said this about the preparation that went about making the song, "Kajra Mohabbat Wale":

Director Manmohan Desai would sit in on our rehearsals with choreographer P. L. Raj that went on for 6–7 days. For me, the song meant hours in make-up, elaborate wigs and a sari pallu that never stayed in place. The adas and nakhras were not so difficult because as I child I had watched the neighbourhood dadas act out female parts in pararar plays because those days respectable ladies didn't act.

The song "Kajra Mohabbat Wala" became very popular due to the way it was filmed, choreographed and for its memorable tune. Biswajeet did the drag act of putting a female disguise for this song. Film historian and critic, Firoze Rangoonwalla explains the controversy that took place after the film was released:

In fact, Biswajeet's drag act in Kismat worked a little too well. Though Biswajeet was a hero for a long time, he was never portrayed as a very masculine hero. So when he put on a female disguise and sang "Kajra Mohabbat Wala", the audience received it with wolf whistles, knowing very well that he was a man! I remember that one of the film magazines made a very caustic remark that if Biswajeet were to stick to this kind of roles, he would be much…

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