Rekha is considered an icon, not just for her memorable on-screen portrayals but also for her aura and style off-screen. Fans are quite excited as her film ‘Umrao Jaan’ is set to re-release in cinemas. This one is considered one of Rekha’s best works and director Muzaffar Ali says that even he wouldn’t attempt to make this film again.Ali said that this film based on Mirza Hadi Ruswa’s novel should not be remade. He told Hindustan Times, “Rekha is not easy to find! You don’t people with such commitment — what she did, no one else can do today. Every person in the film was as real as Rekha, and she, too, became part of that milieu. It reflected in everything: Shahryar’s lyrics, Khayyam’s music, Kumudini Lakya’s choreography, Asha Bhosle’s playback singing, the characterisation, the actors, the cinematography, and the costumes. Everything was crafted in layers.”Muzaffar adds, “The film has reached such a level that anything new should surpass it. Films aren’t made just with budgets; they’re made with commitment and passion. I haven’t felt that same passion again, and even I wouldn’t redo it. Closure is important — you can’t make it better than this. It can’t be recreated. Others have tried and failed, so why should I? Instead, I’d rather tell new stories with the same passion.”Talking about the process of shooting it, he said, “We shot it for a year in two seasons in 1980. We shot it extensively in and around Lucknow, Faizabad and a set in Mehboob Studio in Mumbai where we created a kotha with original elements (old doors and artifacts) so it became a real place where we can play with lights and shades. Rerelease is a reassurance that the film is alive. The life and warmth I am feeling is very inspiring as people are taking interest and exploring different shades in it. Umrao Jaan was like discovering my inner world, the past and my Lucknow. It was going back in time.”‘Umrao Jaan’ which starred Naseeruddin Shah, Farooq Sheikh alongside Rekha, is set to re-release on June 27. The film has been restored in 4K by the National National Film Archive of India (NFAI).
