A delayed comeback

In a sudden turn of events, producers Viacom 18 have decided to release the long-delayed Hema Malini-Raj Kummar Rao starrer Shimla Mirchi. The film, which is about a romantic relationship between a young man and an older woman, was shot in 2014, after which it faced serious production issues and was shelved for all practical purposes.

A pity, since Shimla Mirch was the great Sholay director Ramesh Sippy’s first directorial venture in 25 years. Sippy last directed Zamana Deewana with Shah Rukh Khan and Raveena Tandon in 1995. The film was a disaster and the director of neo-classics such as Seeta Aur Geeta, Sholay, Shakti and Saagar went into a self-imposed hibernation, only to return in 2014.

When Shimla Mirch was completed and remained unreleased, Sippy had sadly said, “I don’t think that film is going to get released.”

Fortunately, Sippy was wrong.

The film’s leading lady Hema Malini, who has not been seen on screen since Aman Ke Farishay in 2016, is surprised to know about the film’s sudden release. The unbeatable director-actress combo of Ramesh Sippy and Hema Malini created history three times over with Andaz, Seeta Aur Geeta and Sholay.

Would they again generate the same hysteria with their fourth outing together in Shimla Mirch?

Says Hema, “I am working with Ramesh ji after nearly 40 years. But it seems like just the other. We picked up the threads of our association as if the big time gap didn’t happen in-between. He is very mischievous to me. There is a glint in his eyes and a secret smile that hasn’t faded with time. He is still the same. Shooting with Ramesh ji again was a lot of fun. Let’s see if this time around we again emerge with something special. Ramesh ji has given me another very important role in Shimla Mirchi. He insisted, and when I heard the script I knew why. At my age, actresses don’t get such important roles that easily.”