Farida Jalal recently revealed that she was ‘saddened’ when she wasn’t cast in any YRF film after ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’. In an exclusive chat with IndiaToday.in, the veteran actress spoke at length about her journey and why she never felt sad about not being a heroine.

The actress played a pivotal role in Aditya Chopra’s debut film ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’ which is still a cult film. Jalal recalls her unspoken promise to Yash Chopra in the 90s and explains why she still holds on to the ‘deep hurt’ she received from Yashji.

Explaining the reason for this, Farida said, “After ‘Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge’, I got a call from Yash ji for ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’. Before that, I thought that after DDLJ, he did not have any role for me, otherwise why not repeat me? So, one day Yash ji called me and said ‘I have a role for you, but Adi (Aditya Chopra) thinks you will not do it. I told him that I will talk to Farida ji.'”

He then recalled Yash Chopra giving the example of Anupam Kher who would say yes to work in all his films, regardless of their length and role. “He told me ‘never say no to me or Adi’. He said sympathetically’let this sequence continue (May this continue)’. Farida happily said and sighed, “I loved this line. I was very happy when he said it. After that, this is what I was waiting for.continuation‘ To continue.”

Farida further explained how things often change in the film industry, “It keeps happening in this industry. It hurts when you cast someone else in my place. After that I did not think twice before doing any role. I did a show on TV in which Yash ji sent me a message. I sent him a box of chocolates after that and wrote that he said these words to me’keep the series going‘ And I am still waiting because he put those words in my mind. Even after that, when there is no response, I feel hurt. I feel very hurt that people change loyalties but to the extent that you never remember me. It hurts.”

Farida Jalal’s journey began with a talent show in the 1960s, after which she played roles in many films like ‘Aradhana’, ‘Bobby’, ‘Majboor’, ‘Laadla’. However, she received many accolades for films like Shyam Benegal’s ‘Mammo’, Satyajit Ray’s ‘Dulara’.

Farida Jalal told India Today, “I got a lot of work. I did what I had to do as an actor. Now the question never comes to my mind why I did not become a heroine. Of course, when people ask me what roles I want to do, I ask for ‘Mother India’ or ‘Pakeezah’, but as a character actor, if I can hit a six in my small screen space, isn’t that good?”

She further added, “I started my journey by playing Dilip Kumar’s sister. So, once you start from there, every script that requires a sister’s role after that demands me to play Dilip Kumar’s sister. As an actor, I enjoyed it. It doesn’t matter that I am not playing the heroine or dancing in a sari. Heroines only sing, but as a character actor, you get to play great masala moments and win awards. That’s a big thing for an actor. I am an actor first and everything else comes later.”

Talking about work, Farida Jalal was seen playing the role of Kudsia Begum in ‘Heeramandi’. Her last YRF film was ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’. She will next be seen in ‘Welcome to the Jungle’.