Bollywood actress Aruna Irani, who gained fame in the 1970s for her supporting roles, revealed that she was initially cast as the second lead in ‘Mangalsutra’. However, Rekha, a close friend, allegedly had her removed and even cut her scenes from another film due to Aruna’s strong performances.Working with Rekha on ‘Aurat Aurat Aurat’In an interview with Lehren Retro, Aruna shared her memories of working alongside Rekha in the film ‘Aurat Aurat Aurat’. She explained, “Because of the producers, the film took six years to be made. I had a very good role — it was the central character. Anybody would pray for a role like that. But due to several people, it had to be cut down. Rekha ji, for instance, she just wouldn’t allow it. She said, ‘No, Aruna’s role is too good’.”Removed from ‘Mangalsutra’ Over Acting SkillsShe shared an incident where Rekha, despite being a close friend, had her removed from a film due to her impressive acting. She explained, “Rekha removed me from a film even though she was a good friend of mine. She still is. But when she took me out of a film called Mangalsutra, I asked the producer, ‘Why did you remove me even after giving me the signing amount?’ He said, ‘Rekha ji never wanted you in the film.’ When I asked Rekha why she did it, she said, ‘Aruna, if you pulled off the role too well emotionally, I’ll start looking like a vamp in the film.‘ So she cut me off.”About the Film ‘Mangalsutra’Besides Rekha, ‘Mangalsutra’ starred Anant Nag and Prema Narayan in prominent roles. The film delved into the significance of marriage, highlighting themes like commitment, personal sacrifice, and the societal pressures tied to the sacred institution of matrimony.Aruna Irani’s Career HighlightsAruna Irani is a well-known Indian actress who has worked in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Kannada films for over 50 years. She acted in more than 500 movies, playing many different roles. She became famous in the 1970s and 1980s with films like ‘Bobby’ and ‘Beta’. Later, she also worked as a TV producer and director.
