Chupke Chupke

Amitabh Bachchan

Rajkummar Rao

Madhabi Mukherjee

Pati Patni Aur Woh

Last week, on April 11, Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s 1975 slice-of-life cult comedywhich had featured Dharmendra,, Sharmila Tagore and Jaya Bachchan in the lead, completed 44 years. Speaking to Mirror (April 13) Dharmendra who played a professor of botany, Parimal Tripathi, masquerading as a chauffeur, Pyare Mohan to hoodwink his wife’s (Sharmila) jeeja ji (Om Prakash), an all-knowing lawyer, while on their honeymoon, when quizzed on whether the film could spin off a remake had said, “With an intelligent writer, for sure. But it would be a challenge because so many people, young and old, have seen the original and loved it. So, it will have to be just as matchless.”Mirror has now learnt that producers Bhushan Kumar and Luv Ranjan are collaborating on a remake. And one of the first actors to be roped in is. He will be reprising Dharmendra’s role.“ Chupke Chupke is an iconic film and a favourite of many, including Rajkummar. He loved the idea of a remake and has agreed to come on board. It will have Raj in the dual avatars. The script is still being finalised, while the director and the rest of the cast are yet to be locked but the team is really excited about this one,” informs a source close to the development.Big B played Sukumar Sinha, a nerdy professor of English literature who when he takes on Parimal’s identity, is forced to teach botany to Vasudha, enacted by his real-life better half Jaya. Usha Kiran, Asrani, Lily Chakravarty, David and Keshto Mukherjee made up the strong supporting cast. Interestingly, Chupke Chupke was the Hindi adaptation of Uttam Kumar and’s 1971 Bengali film Chhadmabeshi, coming four years after it.It has remained unforgettable, entertaining generations of cinema lovers through television reruns. Dharmendra himself admitted that he sits down to watch it when he sees it playing on some channel. “ Chupke Chupke was the Sholay of comedy,” the actor asserted.This will be Bhushan’s second straight remake after. While the 1978 original had featured Sanjeev Kumar, Vidya Sinha and Ranjeeta, the new version has Kartik Aaryan, Bhumi Pednekar and Ananya Panday. The Chupke Chupke remake is expected to go on the floors in a few months.