Mumbai, March 21: Sagar Sarhadi was one of the distinguished creators in Indian cinema and Urdu literature. His sensitive writing captured the depth of relationships. Emerging from a small village across the border, Sarhadi vividly portrayed the pain of partition, separation from his mother, and disconnection from roots in his works.
He began his career with Urdu short stories, transitioned to playwriting, and later wrote screenplays, dialogues, and directed films. In 2019, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International Cultural Artifact Film Festival. Sarhadi is most closely associated with filmmaker Yash Chopra. His first major success came in 1976 with the film ‘Kabhi Kabhi,’ featuring Amitabh Bachchan and Rakhee.
Following this, he wrote for films such as ‘Noori,’ ‘Silsila,’ ‘Chandni,’ ‘Fasle,’ ‘Rang,’ ‘Anubhav,’ and ‘Zindagi.’ Among these, ‘Silsila’ is particularly regarded as a complete and intense film. It explores the complexities of relationships, love, betrayal, and social pressures, earning its status as a cult classic.
In an interview, Sarhadi shared that perfecting the film took considerable time. Yash Chopra frequently provided suggestions, and Sarhadi would revise the scenes accordingly. He felt that the extensive effort and time invested in a single film were excessive, yet he persevered.
During the shooting of a crucial scene in Delhi, where Jaya Bachchan discovers her husband (played by Amitabh Bachchan) loves Sanjeev Kumar’s wife, Sarhadi faced challenges. Initially, his written scene did not resonate with Chopra’s assistants and unit members. When this feedback reached Sarhadi, he humorously suggested they could have children write it if they found his style unsuitable.
That night, Yash Chopra visited Sarhadi’s room with his assistants, kindly requesting him to give it another shot. Sarhadi replied that he would if they promised him good food. Chopra agreed. The following morning, Sarhadi woke up early, enjoyed some tea, and wrote a new scene. When presented to the unit, it received widespread acclaim. This scene is now considered one of the most memorable moments in ‘Silsila,’ where Jaya and Sanjeev Kumar sit across from each other, delivering their lines with simplicity.
Sarhadi confessed that while writing ‘Silsila,’ he had no idea it would become such a monumental classic. He often felt fatigued and considered abandoning it, but his sense of responsibility and the support from Yash Chopra motivated him to continue. Compared to ‘Kabhi Kabhi,’ ‘Silsila’ demanded more effort and emerged as a more complete film. It has been connected to real-life experiences and continues to resonate with audiences today.
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