Uday Shankar Pani recalls the darker days of Guru Dutt’s career after Kaagaz Ke Phool’s disastrous release: ‘He became very short-tempered’ – Exclusive – Newz9

Veteran filmmaker Uday Shankar Paniwho is thought for his deep connections to Indian cinema’s golden period, spoke completely to etimessharing his ideas on one of the most important figures in the historical past of Bollywood – Guru Dutt. Pani, who had the privilege of working with Guru Dutt’s son, Arun, and was deeply concerned in the filmmaking course of of the time, recounted some lesser-identified tales about the legendary filmmaker.
One of the most poignant points Pani highlighted was Guru Dutt’s battle with failure. Despite creating two bold and iconic movies, Pyaasa and paper flowerseach of which initially confronted industrial setbacks, Dutt’s ardour for cinema by no means wavered. However, these failures left him financially strained and emotionally shaken. Pani recalled an incident that illustrated the filmmaker’s dignity in the face of adversity.
“After the disappointment of Kaagaz Ke Phool, Guru Dutt was under immense financial pressure,” Pani shared. “I remember one evening at his Pali Hill flat. Guru Dutt and Geeta Dutt were having a traditional dinner on the floor when a group of workers showed up, demanding payment for services rendered. The workers were persistent, and their arrival at that hour made the situation more tense.”
What adopted was a second of dignity and beauty from the legendary filmmaker. “Guru Dutt, without missing a beat, asked Geeta Dutt to pack up her jewelry, saying, ‘Take this gold as payment for now, and come to the office tomorrow for the balance.’ The workers, surprised by his gesture, refused to accept the gold, saying they would resolve the matter the next day,” Pani continued. “It was a remarkable moment that left a lasting impression on everyone present.”

Pani went on to elucidate how the pressures of failure took a toll on Dutt’s persona, particularly after Kaagaz Ke Phool’s disastrous launch. “There was a noticeable change in his behavior. He became very short-tempered, and we were all a little scared of him. The failure seemed to have affected him deeply,” Pani recalled. “But despite these challenges, he was a master of his craft, and his next film, Chaudhvin’s moonwent on to become a huge success, both commercially and critically.”
Reflecting on his experiences working alongside Dutt and his group, Pani talked about how Dutt’s brilliance in filmmaking was evident, even throughout troublesome instances. “Guru Dutt’s legacy as a ‘guru’ of celluloid was cemented through his sheer dedication, no matter what he faced outside of filmmaking.”

He additionally touched upon the tragic day of Guru Dutt’s dying, acknowledging how the circumstances surrounding it have remained a topic of a lot hypothesis and dialogue. However, Pani was cautious to not delve into the particulars. “There are countless incidents related to him. For instance, the day of his death is still a matter of discussion. But for now, I wanted to recount these incidents from the post-Kaagaz Ke Phool period,” he concluded.