Did Rajesh Khanna ‘copy’ this legendary actor in ‘Amar Prem’?

Bengali cinema’s Mahanayak Uttam Kumar was once highly sought after for a Bollywood debut. Such was his influence that even Rajesh Khanna was instructed to copy his acting style in Shakti Samanta’s ‘Amar Prem’. Despite receiving offers from industry giants like Raj Kapoor and Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, he remained selective, ultimately debuting in the 1967 Hindi film ‘Chotisi Mulaqaat’ opposite Vyjayantimala. However, the film failed to meet expectations, much like his other Hindi venture, ‘Bandi,’ in 1978. Despite these setbacks, Uttam Kumar’s legacy as the eternal Mahanayak in Bengali cinema remains untarnished.