Archive · 1 Oct 2026
How Silsila’s Casting Joined Amitabh, Jaya And Rekha
Silsila was a film about marriage, love and an extramarital relationship.
Yash Chopra first planned to cast Smita Patil and Parveen Babi with Amitabh Bachchan.
Reports say Parveen’s health problems caused the casting to change.
Chopra then wanted Jaya Bachchan and Rekha for the two main female roles.
Jaya was reportedly uncomfortable because people were already discussing Amitabh and Rekha’s relationship.
Sanjeev Kumar, who was close to Jaya, helped persuade her to join.
Jaya reportedly asked to be present whenever the film was being shot.
The unusual casting created intense public interest in the movie.
Later accounts by Chopra and others differed on how the casting change happened.
Yash Chopra initially cast Smita Patil and Parveen Babi alongside Amitabh Bachchan.
Reports say Parveen Babi’s health concerns led Chopra to replace both original actresses.
Jaya Bachchan reportedly hesitated but agreed after Sanjeev Kumar appealed to her.
Jaya’s reported condition was that she remain on set, including when not needed.
Chopra later said Amitabh accepted the new casting but asked him to convince both actresses.
- Who
- Yash Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Rekha, Smita Patil, Parveen Babi and Sanjeev Kumar were central to the reported casting story.
- What
- The casting of Silsila changed from Smita Patil and Parveen Babi to Jaya Bachchan and Rekha alongside Amitabh Bachchan.
- When
- The changes occurred before filming; the account was later recalled in interviews and discussions about the film.
- Where
- The film was made in the Hindi film industry; one account about Parveen Babi’s reaction refers to Kashmir.
- Why
- Reports cite Parveen Babi’s health concerns, Chopra’s desire for different casting and Jaya Bachchan’s reluctance amid speculation about Amitabh and Rekha.
Reported Health-and-Reluctance Account
Chopra’s Casting Account
Why the original cast changed
Reported Health-and-Reluctance Account
Hanif Zaveri’s account says Parveen Babi’s severe health issues led Yash Chopra to remove her and then replace Smita Patil as well.
Chopra’s Casting Account
Yash Chopra later described the change as a casting decision after Amitabh Bachchan asked whether Smita Patil, Parveen Babi and he were the ideal combination.
Jaya Bachchan’s involvement
Reported Health-and-Reluctance Account
Reports say Jaya Bachchan initially hesitated because Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha were already the subject of relationship rumours; Sanjeev Kumar reportedly persuaded her, and she asked to stay on set.
Chopra’s Casting Account
Chopra recalled that Amitabh was comfortable with casting Jaya and Rekha but told him to convince the two actresses, without publicly confirming the details of Jaya’s reported condition.
Parveen Babi’s removal
Reported Health-and-Reluctance Account
Ranjeet described Parveen as the original heroine and attributed her replacement to a controversy-related casting decision; Hanif also linked it to concerns about her mental health and behaviour.
Chopra’s Casting Account
The accounts do not establish a single agreed explanation: Chopra’s recollection focuses on finding the preferred trio, while other reports emphasize Parveen’s health.
- Film
- Silsila
- Director
- Yash Chopra
- Original female cast
- Smita Patil and Parveen Babi
- Final principal cast
- Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan and Rekha
- Reported condition
- Jaya Bachchan wanted to remain on set even when she was not required
- Casting account
- Chopra later said Amitabh Bachchan accepted the proposed change but asked him to convince the actresses
- Later comparison
- Silsila was compared with Mahesh Bhatt’s Arth, which also addressed relationships and infidelity