Veteran actress Sharmila Tagore, in a recent interview, reminisced about the classic film Chupke Chupke, expressing her admiration for co-star Dharmendra's performance and suggesting he deserved a National Award for it. The 1975 Hrishikesh Mukherjee-directed comedy, which also starred Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Asrani, and Om Prakash, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.

Tagore fondly recalled the joyous and relaxed atmosphere on the set of Chupke Chupke, emphasizing that the entire cast was there to have fun and that the film was made possible by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. She noted that even Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, who had relatively small roles, joined in the fun for the director's sake. Tagore also highlighted Mukherjee's clear vision and direction, which she believes contributed to the film's enduring appeal.

In a conversation with SCREEN, Tagore reminisced about working with Dharmendra, with whom she shares a birthday. She recalled their collaborations in several films, including Anupama, Satyakam, and Chupke Chupke, as well as other popular hits from the 1960s like Devar and Mere Humdam Mere Dost. Tagore mentioned that she would have liked to do more comedies, as many of her films were emotionally intense. "Chupke Chupke was a delightful experience," Tagore stated, noting it was a welcome shift from the serious roles she had played in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's earlier films like Anupama and Satyakam, both co-starring Dharmendra. "Those were intense, emotionally demanding roles. In Anupama, I barely spoke," she added. "So, when Hrishida offered us a fun film like Chupke Chupke, we all jumped at it".

Tagore also shared an interesting perspective on the roles played by Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan, saying, "Amit and Jaya had very little to do in the film. But they were happy to be part of it, just for Hrishida's sake". She added that the cast, including Om Prakash, Asrani, and Usha Kiron, was united by the sheer joy of collaboration.

Reflecting on her career, Tagore expressed her desire to explore more roles in the comedy genre, as she found Chupke Chupke to be a particularly enjoyable experience. She noted that while she has mostly done serious films in her career, she would like more roles in the comic genre, as that is what she enjoyed the most about Chupke Chupke.

Tagore shared that, after five decades, she still vividly remembers every detail of Chupke Chupke. She recalled the fun atmosphere on set and explained how Hrishikesh Mukherjee's films, though not always easy to watch, were quite different in the case of Chupke Chupke. She added that comedy always comes with uncertainty—what makes them laugh during shooting may not always resonate with the audience. However, Hrishikesh was confident that Chupke Chupke would be loved, and he was right.

Chupke Chupke, loosely inspired by Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors, remains a hallmark of Hindi cinema's comedic legacy. From playful disguises to poetic banter, Chupke Chupke remains a comedy gem that never goes out of style. It is a film you return to like an old friend—comforting, hilarious, and full of heart.

Sharmila Tagore recently made her comeback in the Bengali film industry after 14 years with Suman Ghosh's Puratawn.