Interesting Facts About Mother India, The First Indian Movie To Be Nominated At The Oscars (Part II)

In Empire magazine's list of "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2010, it was ranked number 80.  

Mother India is one of the most iconic movies in the Indian film industry. It is considered one of the best movies ever made which inspired many movies like Deewar, Vaastav, among others. In Empire magazine's list of "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2010, it was ranked number 80. Continuing from the first part of the story, here are a few more interesting facts about the Movie Mother India.

Nargis’s age was just 28 when she did the movie

It’s for sure that you will get quite amazed to know that Nargis’s age was just 28 when the movie was being made. 

Mother India shows the journey of Radha, played by Nargis, from a newlywed bride to a mother of two grown-up sons but you will be intrigued to know that Nargis’s age was just 28 when she did the movie. Her performance in the movie is considered one of the best in Hindi cinema. From her body language to voice modulation, she played the character perfectly and she received the Filmfare Award for Best Actress that year.

Sunil Dutt and Nargis fell in love while shooting for the movie

The love story of Sunil Dutt and Nargis is legendary and one of the greatest real-life love stories ever. Interestingly Sunil Dutt played the role of her son Birju in the movie.

Nargis was reportedly in a romantic relationship with the already married Raj Kapoor with whom she gave many hits. After their break up, she never did a movie with Raj Kapoor as it broke her heart immensely. Nargis was a very big star when Mother India was in making and Sunil Dutt was just a newcomer.

During the shoot of the movie, a huge fire broke out on the set, and Nargis got trapped in it. Sunil Dutt risked his life to go inside the fire and save Nargis but in the process, he suffered many burns. Nargis nursed her while he was getting treatment and during that, both of them fell in love and eventually got married.

Dilip Kumar was First Offered the Role of Birju

Mehboob Khan and Dilip Kumar worked together many times and gave many big hits. Dilip Kumar was offered the role of Birju but he declined it.

The director-actor combo of Mehboob Khan and Dilip Kumar gave many successful movies together and it was obvious that Dilip Kumar will be offered a role in the most ambitious and big movie by Mehboob Khan. Dilip Kumar was offered to do the role of Birju in the movie but Dilip Kumar was unconvinced to do the role as he worked with Nargis in past as her romantic interest. Dilip suggested that he shall play a double role in the movie as the husband and son of Nargis. Mehboob Khan rejected the idea and cast newcomer Sunil Dutt for playing the character of Birju.