Remember the pretty Bollywood actress, Rajshree, who starred opposite Shammi Kapoor in Janwar? Rajashree Shantaram (aka Rajshree) ruled the industry with her acting skills. From the early 50s to early 70s, she was a diva in the true sense of the term, winning hearts for her flawless performances. But little do people know that she had bid adieu to the film industry for love!
Rajshree, daughter of well-known filmmaker, V Shantaram, who has directed films like Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani and Amar Bhoopali. Her mother was the late actress, Jayashree, V Shantaram's second wife. She was popular for her films like Nightmare in Red China, Choron Ka Chor and others. In her nearly two-decade-long career, Rajshree has acted in movies such as Suhaag Raat, Sagaai, Geet Gaaya Pattharon Ne and Shehnai.
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Renowned Marathi filmmaker, V Shantaram married thrice. His first wife was Vimla. After divorcing her, he tied the knot with popular actress, Jayashree. The couple had three children, Kiran Chandra (Marathi film director), actress Rajshree and Tejasri. However, he fell in love with the leading lady of his film, Navrang, Sandhya, and divorced Jayshree. Once when asked about their split, Jayshree was quoted as saying:
“I’m now like a bird let out of a cage and am happy to work in other movies as a freelance artiste.”
Rajshree made her debut as a leading actress in her father’s movie, Geet Gaaya Pattharon Ne (1964), which won her praise and fame. It created her own identity as the movie emerged to be a huge hit at the box office. Rajshree also did a movie opposite Shammi Kapoor, Janwar. The actress also appeared in hit movies opposite the leading Bollywood actors like Biswajeet, Joy Mukherjee, Jeetender, etc. Her numerous films, including Sehnai, have proved to be a successful. In the 1970s, Rajshree drifted away from the industry. Her films, though, need to be preserved for future generations.
She said her final goodbye to the film industry when she was at the height of her fame and went to the USA. The account of her serendipitous encounter with love was simply a love story ripped from the pages of some 18th-century novel. She was working with Raj Kapoor on a film, Around the World in Eight Dollars (1967). It was during that time in the USA that she fell in love with an American student, Greg Chapman. Three years later, they wed in a five-day traditional Indian marriage ceremony held in India. Thereafter she accompanied her husband and settled down permanently in America.
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Shantaram was then working on a film in its pre-production stage, Boond Jo Ban Gayee Moti. His eyes had disbelief in them, and he did not want to believe that his daughter would stab her father from the back. In an old interview with a publication, Jeetendra, who was a very close friend of Rajshree, said:
“And the best thing was, Shantaramji wasn’t worried about Raj - that’s her pet name - marrying an American. He was only worried about his film. He quickly told his daughter to do whatever she wanted to and signed Mumtaz to play the lead opposite me”.
Now, she is living a happy life in the USA with her American Husband and their daughter, Chandrika Chapman. She and her husband own a high-end custom tailoring shop based in Los Angeles. She never regretted following Greg to the US.
While her contemporaries like Sadhna, Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman and Saira Banu are still celebrated at award shows or in film magazines, Rajshree as a talented and adorable actress from the 1960s is often underestimated. While the other aforementioned stars are still mentioned in the nostalgic conversations centring on Indian cinema, Rajshree, known for her elegance and beauty, has not been a regular feature of most major happenings.
What's your thoughts on Rajshree's married life? Was her choice the perfect stroke of fate? Let us know!
Also Read: Rajendra Kumar And Nutan's Love Story: Latter's Mom Insulted Him, Stopped Them From Getting Married
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