New Delhi: Moushumi Chatterjee and Rajesh Khanna were the lead pair at the mahurat of Raj Khosla’s Prem kahani in February 1973. When Moushumi moved from Kolkata to Mumbai after her marriage, her father-in-law, Hemant Kumar, played a significant role in helping her secure films such as Shakti Samanta’s Anuraag (1972) and Raj Khosla’s Kuchhe dhaage (1973). While working on Kuchhe dhaageshe was automatically chosen for Prem Kahani. The film’s mahurat went well, but Rajesh Khanna believed that Mumtaz was his lucky co-star. Their previous films—Do raaste, rottiand Aap ki kasam—had been successful.

As Prem kahani completes 50 years, film historian Dilip Thakur discusses the Rajesh Khanna film—how Moushumi Chatterjee was replaced by Mumtaz and how the film contributed to Rajesh Khanna’s downfall.

Khanna requested Mumtaz to do Prem kahani for him. At the time, she was set to shoot for Dharmesh Malhotra’s Lafange and Rajkumar Kohli’s Nagin. Another project, Awainaco-starring Rajesh Khanna and directed by K Balachander, had been delayed. Initially, Mumtaz was reluctant to take on Prem kahanibut Khanna insisted, and she eventually agreed to do the film.

Moushumi gave interviews to gossip magazines at the time about being replaced by Mumtaz. However, Prem kahani did not perform as expected at the box office. While its songs, composed by Laxmikant-Pyarelal, became popular, the film itself did not fare well. Notably, Prem kahani was the first film to be screened at the New Excelsior Theatre in Mumbai.

Rajesh Khanna and Moushumi Chatterjee later worked together in Hamshakal and Bhola Bhala, but their pairing did not achieve success. Prem kahani also featured Vinod Khanna and Shashi Kapoor. Kapoor had once infamously stated that he did not want to work with Mumtaz because she played second leads—a remark she has mentioned in several interviews. Kapoor reportedly made this statement around the time of Do raastewhich is why Rajesh Khanna was cast in the lead role instead.

Vinod Khanna’s role in Prem kahani was initially offered to Feroz Khan. However, Vinod Khanna was eager to work with Raj Khosla again, having previously collaborated with him on Mera Gaon Mera Desh and Kuchhe dhaage. Due to its popular songs, Prem Kahani had a strong opening, but it failed the Monday test and ultimately flopped.

Interestingly, 1975 marked a turning point in Hindi cinema with two major Amitabh Bachchan-starrer hits—Deewar, released in January, and Sholaywhich premiered in August. These films reshaped the course of Bollywood. Incidentally, Prem Kahani’s failure signaled the beginning of Rajesh Khanna’s decline at the box office. His slump lasted for four years until he revived his career with Thodisi bewafaii.