Actress Mandakini’s iconic portrayal of Ganga in Ram Teri Ganga Maili remains unforgettable, but actress Khushbu Sundar recently disclosed that she was originally considered for the role. However, at just 14 years old, Khushbu couldn’t continue with the project as director Raj Kapoor felt it was unsuitable for her to portray a mother.
In an interview, Khushbu revealed, “Raj Kapoor had planned to launch me in Ram Teri Ganga Maili. We even did a photoshoot, and after seeing the pictures, Raj Kapoor said, ‘She is my Ganga.’ Initially, the Gangotri schedule was planned, but due to snow, the team decided to start with the Kolkata shoot, which included the brothel scenes where the character is already a mother to a baby.”
She further explained, “Since I was not even 14 at the time, Raj ji felt it wouldn’t look right for someone so young to be holding a baby. He couldn’t delay the film’s production, so I had to step away from the project.”
Ram Teri Ganga Maili, released in 1985, was directed and co-written by Raj Kapoor. The film featured Rajiv Kapoor and Mandakini in lead roles and became a massive box-office success. It also marked Raj Kapoor’s final directorial venture. Despite missing out on the role, Khushbu went on to build a successful career and shared a close bond with Rajiv Kapoor.
In the same interview, Khushbu spoke about Rajiv Kapoor’s health struggles before his passing. She said, “Rajiv had a heart condition, and his addiction to alcohol made things worse. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get him to quit. He also had severe knee issues, undergoing multiple surgeries, but they didn’t help much.”
Khushbu recounted the moment she learned about his death, saying, “I was in Bombay when Boney Kapoor informed me. He called and said, ‘Chimpu (Rajiv) is no more.’ It was a shocking and painful moment for me.”
The actress added that she still has Rajiv Kapoor’s phone number saved and regrets not staying in touch with his family.