By Omair Alavi The Hit Girl of Bollywood Asha Parekh celebrates her 75th Birthday today; from 1959 to the mid-70s she was unstoppable due to her barrage of hit films that included movies with Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Jeetendra to name a few. Let’s take a trip down the memory lane…
SAMAA | Omair Alavi – Posted: Oct 2, 2017 | Last Updated: 4 years ago
By Omair Alavi
The Hit Girl of Bollywood Asha Parekh celebrates her 75th Birthday today; from 1959 to the mid-70s she was unstoppable due to her barrage of hit films that included movies with Shammi Kapoor, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna, Dharmendra and Jeetendra to name a few. Let’s take a trip down the memory lane and listen to some of the songs that many don’t remember featured Asha ji. Enjoy!
Sau Saal Pehle Mujhe Tumse
Film: Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai (1961)
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammad Rafi
Music: Shankar – Jaikishan
Dev Anand paired with a young Asha Parekh in this Nasir Hussain classic to deliver a romantic ballad that has an expiry date of 100 years. The vocals, lyrics and above all, picturization is perfect with Dev ji winning the heroine over, with his eternal charm.
Aaja Aaja
Film: Teesri Manzil (1966)
Singer: Mohammad Rafi, Asha Bhosle
Music: RD Burman
How actresses of today would love to snatch this number from Asha Parekh because she got to match Shammi Kapoor’s steps as well as the wild composition of RD Burman. The murder mystery was supposed to star Dev Anand who was replaced as the actor after a misunderstanding with the director.
O Mere Sona Re
Film: Teesri Manzil (1966)
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Music: RD Burman
A wonderful song made even better by Asha Parekh’s insistence and Shammi Kapoor’s angry face; the film is remembered for its brilliant soundtrack that featured dance numbers in bulk. This was only one of the two slow songs in the film, the other being Deewana Mujh Sa Nahi.
Kya Jaanu Sajan Hoti Hain Kya
Film: Baharon Ke Sapne (1967)
Singers: Lata Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar
Music: RD Burman
Nasir Hussain teamed up with his future collaborators RD Burman and Majrooh Sultanpuri with this flick where Rajesh Khanna was introduced as a future superstar. The whole film was in black and white whereas this dream sequence was in color because it earned its colours.
Parde Main Rehne Do
Film: Shikar (1968)
Singer: Asha Bhosle
Music: Shankar – Jaikishan
It was 50 years ago that this song became a sensation where Asha Bhosle sang on an Arabic tune for Asha Parekh who looked amazingly beautiful. The song was integral to the murder mystery plot that saw Dharmendra running around, trying to find out the murderer.
Acha To Hum Chalte Hain
Film: Aan Milo Sajna (1970)
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar, Kishore Kumar
Music: Laxmikant Pyarelal
Anand Bakhshi and Laxmikant Pyarelal had a parting conversation one day, which was translated into one big song in the Rajesh Khanna songography. Asha Parekh who missed Aradhana because she didn’t want to play mother to Rajesh Khanna made a comeback with his Baharon Ke Sapne costar and excelled in it.
Bangle Kay Peeche
Film: Samadhi (1972)
Singer: Lata Mangeshkar
Music: RD Burman
In what can be termed as the most remixed hit from the 70s, Asha Parekh was on top of her game despite being 30 years old. She danced her heart out in Kaanta Laga that was remixed a few years back and was disapproved by the leading lady.
