When Amala Replaced Madhuri Dixit

Veteran filmmaker Singeetam Srinivasa Rao did many experimental films in Tollywood. He surprised all with a silent film Pushpaka Vimanam that starred Kamal Haasan and Amala Akkineni in lead roles.

Singeetam revealed the difficulties in finalizing the heroine for the film. He said, “First we planned to cast Mumbai actress Neelam Kothari. I also went and after seeing her, okayed her. However, she put some conditions like that her hairstylist, costume designer would accompany her.

I told her 'This is a special film. We would have agreed for your conditions had it been a normal film'. She did not agree for it. When we met Ramesh Sippy at that time 'A girl is there. She is very beautiful. She did 4-5 films but half of her films got shelved and none of them got released. In one word she is the iron leg. If you do not have any such sentiments, you can meet her. Her name is Madhuri Dixit.'

During that time tracing Madhuri Dixit's address became quite difficult. Finally, we found and met her PA. When we informed him about the project, he said 'Our heroine will not do films without dialogues'. Later when the Indian Express group felicitated me, Amala came to that event. When asked others told 'She did a film with Shivaji Ganesan. She doesn't know acting'. However seeing her face, I did not feel in such a manner. I felt it is natural. So I finalized Amala for Pushpaka Vimanam'.

It came out that Madhuri Dixit while doing another film, when she came to know about it, banged her head and remarked 'Who's that guy. He robbed me a golden opportunity' and became furious.