When Tarachand Barjatya made Zarina Wahab give up non-vegetarian food for Gopal Krishna: ‘It was difficult…’

Last update:November 30, 2024, 5:00 p.m. IST

Tarachand Barjatya, the founder of Rajshree Films, was known for his principled approach to cinema, avoiding violence or obscenity. For the 1979 mythological film Gopal Krishna, he asked Zarina Wahab, who played Radha, to stop non-vegetarian food during filming.

Tarachand Barjatya, visionary founder of Rajshree Films and grandfather of renowned filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya, firmly believed that cinema could thrive without resorting to obscenity or violence. After years of working as a distributor, he established the production house and proved his philosophy by producing the hit film Aarti in 1962. His productions became synonymous with stories rooted in family values, leaving an indelible mark on the Indian cinema.

In 1979, Tarachand Barjatya produced the mythological film Gopal Krishna, starring Zarina Wahab and Sachin Pilgaonkar. True to his ideals, he imposed strict rules on his actors, including a single requirement: to abstain from non-vegetarian food while filming mythological films. Zarina Wahab, who played Radha in the film, recently shared her casting experience and the conditions Tarachand imposed on her.

Recalling the events in an interview with Lehren Retro, Zarina said: “One night I received a call. The person asked me to come to a particular film set the next day if I was free. I went. As soon as I arrived, I was given a certain outfit and asked to check if it fit me.”

Zarina had been recruited to replace another actor who had been removed from the project due to his unprofessional behavior. She revealed, “They were replacing a heroine in the film after shooting 11 reels of film. I don’t want to reveal who she was. My hairdresser at the time informed me about her.”

After her first day of filming, Zarina was called into Tarachand Barjatya’s office, where he told her about his expectations for her role. She recalls, “After packing, Tarachand Barjatya, whom we affectionately called Sethji, called me to his office. He told me, ‘Look, you’re playing Radha in this film, Gopal Krishna, so please stop eating meat until we finish shooting the film.’ I accepted. I never ate meat until the movie came out.”

Although it was difficult at first, Zarina adapted to her new lifestyle and even developed a preference for vegetarian food. “Now I prefer vegetarian food over non-vegetarian food unless I am in Hyderabad. I love the biryani there,” she added with a smile.

Tarachand Barjatya’s uncompromising values ​​not only shaped the philosophy of Rajshree Films, but also influenced the lives of those who worked with him. His dedication to creating meaningful and morally uplifting cinema remains a testament to his legacy in Indian cinema.