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From Sara Akash to Balam Pardesiya: Rakesh Pandey’s unrecognized triumphs

Rakesh Pandey had faded from the public eye long before news of his passing surfaced in a brief snippet today. He began his career with a bang, making his debut as the lead in Basu Chatterjee’s 1969 classic Sara Akash—a film that remains underrated despite its artistic brilliance.

In a conversation I once had with Rakesh Pandey, he reflected on his early career, saying, “I couldn’t have hoped for a better start. Basu Chatterjee and I both began with Sara Akash. He became a big name. I didn’t. The film earned me immense critical acclaim. Have you seen it? Not too many have. I played Samar, a man forced into an arranged marriage who refuses to speak to his wife. After Sara Akash, I became the mascot of the New Wave movement. The offers wouldn’t stop. I was spoiled for choice. Unfortunately, many of the films I signed after Sara Akash were either shelved or released sporadically. No one saw them.”

Rakesh lamented that nearly ten of his films never saw the light of day. “One of them was a film I hold dear—Basu Bhattacharya’s Sangat, where I played a city-bred musician who learns classical Indian music from a village girl. Salil Choudhary’s compositions for the film—Balma Mora Aanchra, Kanha Bole Na, and Dekhte Dekhte Ek Dhuan Cha Gaya—were priceless. Sadly, no one heard those classics or saw the film. Then there was Dil Ki Raahein, featuring great songs composed by Madan Mohan. I played a man drowning his sorrows in alcohol—somewhat like Bachchan Saab’s role in Mili.”

When his career as a leading man stalled, Rakesh transitioned to supporting roles. “I had to keep my kitchen running. Producers stopped offering me lead roles, so I adapted. If you remember, I played Rajesh Khanna’s brother-in-law in Amar Prem.”

Yet, Rakesh held no bitterness over his fleeting success. “Everyone has their own destiny. Other actors who started with me—Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Naseeruddin Shah—raced ahead. But I am content with what I got. I had the opportunity to work with some of the finest talents in Indian cinema. In 1979, I played the lead in the Bhojpuri film Balam Pardesiya, which became the biggest hit in that language. Unfortunately, my successes were never truly acknowledged. By the way, how did you get my number? I am not in touch with anyone from the film industry.”



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