Rohini Hattangady Recalls Dharmendra’s Makeup Request

Veteran actor Rohini Hattangady has portrayed mothers to some of Indian cinema’s biggest superstars, even when there was only a small age gap between her and the actors playing her sons. From playing Amitabh Bachchan’s mother in films such as Agneepath and Shahenshah to portraying Dharmendra‘s mother in the 1990 action drama Humse Na Takrana, Rohini has built a reputation for bringing conviction to characters across generations.

In a recent interview with India Today, the actor recalled a particularly amusing incident from the sets of Humse Na Takrana. She revealed that Dharmendra once felt she looked too young to play his mother and asked for her makeup to be increased so that she would appear older on screen.

The anecdote offers a glimpse into the practical challenges of casting actors in family roles, particularly when performers are required to portray relationships that do not necessarily reflect their real-life ages. Rohini, however, said she never allowed such considerations to affect her approach to acting.

Rohini Hattangady Recalls Dharmendra’s Makeup Request

Recalling her experience of working with Dharmendra, Rohini described an incident that took place on the first day of shooting in Ooty. She had gone to greet the actor when she arrived on the sets of Humse Na Takrana. After settling into her chair, she noticed that her makeup artist was spending considerably more time than usual getting her ready.

Initially, Rohini wondered why the makeup process was taking so long. When she asked the makeup artist what was happening, he explained that he had been instructed to apply more makeup because Dharmendra felt she looked too young to portray his mother.

Remembering the exchange, Rohini said, “My make-up man came and started working extensively on me. I asked him what he was doing, and why we were still not done. He sheepishly informed me that I was told to put on more make-up because Dharam ji was saying that I was looking young.”

The actor then humorously questioned how much makeup and artificial grey hair would be needed to make her look old enough for the part.

“I wondered how much make-up I would need, and how much white hair we would need? And what am I supposed to do because I am young?” she recalled, laughing.

The incident highlights the unusual demands that can come with playing a parent to an older or more established actor. For Rohini, the solution on that particular day involved a little extra makeup and an adjustment to her on-screen appearance.

Rohini Hattangady Says Age Never Influenced Her Choice of Roles

During the interview, Rohini also spoke about being repeatedly cast in older roles despite being younger than some of the actors portraying her children. She explained that she never felt uncomfortable with such casting decisions because she approached every assignment as a character to be performed rather than as a reflection of her actual age.

She said, “It never affected me because when I do a role, it’s a role for me. You are doing a character. Main sochti nahi hoon ki yeh bada hai, yeh chhota hai (I was never bothered if the part is that of an elder or younger woman). I’ll always act according to my character.”

Her response reflects an approach to acting in which the requirements of a character take priority over the actor’s personal identity or age. Rather than questioning why she was being cast as someone’s mother, Rohini focused on understanding the character and portraying it convincingly.

She also indicated that Amitabh Bachchan was comfortable with her casting in motherly roles. Her experience with Dharmendra, however, gave her a memorable behind-the-scenes story that she can still recall with humour.

Humse Na Takrana: The 1990 Film That Cast Rohini as Dharmendra’s Mother

Humse Na Takrana was a 1990 action drama directed by Deepak Bahry. The film featured Dharmendra, Jeetendra, Anita Raj and Amrish Puri in prominent roles, with Rohini Hattangady playing Dharmendra’s mother.

The age difference between the two actors makes the casting particularly interesting. Born in 1951, Rohini was 39 when the film was released in 1990, while Dharmendra was 55. Despite the 16-year age gap, she was required to portray his mother on screen.

Such casting was not unusual in Indian cinema, where established character actors often played parents of leading stars, regardless of their actual age difference. Makeup, costumes, hairstyles, body language and performance helped create the visual and emotional impression of a parent-child relationship.

Rohini’s anecdote about the additional makeup illustrates how even small details of an actor’s appearance could become a subject of discussion during filming. In this case, Dharmendra’s observation that she looked too young led to an unexpected change in her makeup routine.

Her recollection also reflects the light-hearted working relationship and candid exchanges that can take place behind the camera, even when the actors are involved in serious or demanding roles.

Rohini Hattangady’s Acclaimed Performance in Gandhi

Rohini Hattangady is widely remembered for her portrayal of Kasturba Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s 1982 biographical film Gandhi. Her performance received international recognition and earned her the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

With the honour, she became the first Indian actor to win the BAFTA in that category. The achievement remains an important milestone in her career and in the recognition of Indian performers on the international stage.

She also received the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Govind Nihalani’s Party (1984). These honours established her as a respected performer capable of handling complex and varied characters.

Her career has included films across different genres, from serious dramas and socially relevant cinema to mainstream commercial entertainers. She has consistently moved between supporting roles, character-driven performances and memorable family-oriented parts.

From Agneepath to Munna Bhai MBBS: Other Notable Films

Over the years, Rohini Hattangady has appeared in several acclaimed Hindi films, including Arth, Agneepath, ChaalBaaz, Pukar and Munna Bhai MBBS.

Her portrayal of Amitabh Bachchan’s mother in Agneepath remains one of her notable performances. She also played his mother in Shahenshah, further demonstrating her ability to portray maternal characters with emotional depth.

Although audiences often associate her with motherly roles, her filmography extends well beyond that category. Her performances have covered a range of characters, allowing her to work across different storytelling styles and generations of actors.

Her remarks about playing mothers to younger or older performers also offer an insight into how she views her profession. For Rohini, the responsibility of an actor is to serve the character rather than become preoccupied with how the role compares with their real-life age.

Rohini Hattangady’s Recent Appearance in Netflix Film Meethe Mein Kya Hai

Rohini was most recently seen in the Netflix film Meethe Mein Kya Hai, directed by Radhika Bansal. The film follows a young widower whose grief begins to ease during a joyful Diwali reunion with his family. However, the atmosphere changes when his sister announces a surprise marriage, setting off a series of unexpected developments.

The film features Ritwik Bhowmik, Ayesha Raza, Gaurav Sharma, Tarana Raja, Abhay Kaul and Shivika Rishi, among others.

Its family-centred storyline brings together themes of grief, relationships, celebration and changing family dynamics. Rohini’s appearance in the film adds to a career that has continued across generations of Indian cinema and different formats of storytelling.

Why Rohini Hattangady’s Dharmendra Anecdote Is Memorable

Rohini’s story about Dharmendra asking her to wear more makeup is more than a funny recollection from a film set. It captures an interesting aspect of filmmaking: an actor’s real age does not always determine the age of the character they are expected to portray.

In Indian films, performers have frequently taken on roles that require them to appear significantly older or younger than they are. Makeup, styling and performance help bridge that gap, but the process can sometimes produce amusing situations, as Rohini’s experience demonstrates.

Her response also underlines her professional outlook. She has said that she does not judge a role by whether the character is older or younger than her. Instead, she concentrates on understanding the part and performing it according to the demands of the story.

Decades after the release of Humse Na Takrana, the incident remains a light-hearted reminder of her experience working with Dharmendra. It also reflects the versatility that has allowed Rohini Hattangady to portray memorable characters throughout her career.

FAQs

1. Why did Dharmendra ask Rohini Hattangady to wear more makeup?

Dharmendra reportedly felt that Rohini Hattangady looked too young to play his mother in Humse Na Takrana. Her makeup artist was therefore instructed to apply additional makeup to make her look older.

2. Which film featured Rohini Hattangady as Dharmendra’s mother?

Rohini Hattangady played Dharmendra’s mother in the 1990 action drama Humse Na Takrana, directed by Deepak Bahry.

3. How old was Rohini Hattangady when Humse Na Takrana was released?

Born in 1951, Rohini Hattangady was 39 when Humse Na Takrana was released in 1990.

4. How old was Dharmendra during Humse Na Takrana?

Dharmendra was 55 when Humse Na Takrana was released in 1990, making him 16 years older than Rohini Hattangady.

5. Did Rohini Hattangady mind playing mothers to older actors?

No. Rohini said she was never bothered by playing an older or younger character. She explained that she approaches every role as a character and focuses on performing according to its requirements.

6. Which film earned Rohini Hattangady a BAFTA Award?

Rohini won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for portraying Kasturba Gandhi in Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film Gandhi.

7. For which film did Rohini Hattangady win the National Film Award?

She won the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1984 film Party.

8. Which Netflix film was Rohini Hattangady recently seen in?

Rohini Hattangady was recently seen in Meethe Mein Kya Hai, a family drama directed by Radhika Bansal that revolves around grief, a Diwali reunion and an unexpected marriage announcement.