In 60’s filmmaker, Lekh Tandon used the double role formula in a unique style in his film Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968) starring Rajendra Kumar and Saira Banu. In this film, the hero Rajendra Kumar (Sanjay) dies in an accident but when his soul arrives at the Almighty’s death department it is realized that the death angel had made the mistake of seizing his soul (Sanjay) instead of his look-alike (Tarun Kumar– Rajendra Kumar in a double role). The mystery leads to an amazing twist and turns in the film. The film was a huge hit.
Double Role And Horror
Master filmmaker Raj Khosla, the assistant of Guru Dutt, used double role concept exceptionally to make horror- cum musical –thrillers. Raj Khosla started with Manoj Kumar and Sadhana in Woh Kaun Thi? (1964). In this film, Manoj Kumar plays a doctor, who gives a lift in his car to a beautiful lady but later recognizes that she is a ghost! A few months later, Manoj Kumar is taken aback when he discovers that lady he has married is a look-alike of the ghost!!! After the mega success of Woh Kaun Thi?, Raj Khosla made two more suspense thrillers with the heroine in double role i.e. Mera Saaya (1966) and Anita (1967).
Double Role Using Two Identical Brothers As Tall And Short
In 1989 Kamal Haasan known for his experimentations in cinema gave a remarkable twist to double role in Indian cinema with his film Appu Raja. In this film, he introduced the concept of identical brothers one is tall and the other a dwarf! How the dwarf brother takes his father’s murder revenge by killing the villains made interesting viewing. In addition, the wonderful concept of an actor playing tall and short roles won huge applause to Kamal Haasan. Later Anupam Kher (Jaan-E-Mann), Johnny Lever – Aashiq and Shahrukh Khan (Zero) attempted the same formula but all the three films failed!
Double Role As Disguise
Another form of the double role was the trick of disguise. In the ’60s, Shammi Kapoor‘s Professor (1962) has a similar theme, where a young Shammi Kapoor disguises as an old professor to seek a job. In 70’s Rishi Kapoor and Paintal did a good job in Rafoo Chakkar (1975) dressed as women to enter the girl’s hostel.
In 90’s Madhuri Dixit did the female version of Professor in the film Dil Tera Aashiq (1993). In Tumse Achha Kaun Hai (1969) Lalita Pawar played a similar role.
