When Raaj Kumar ignored warnings and threw gulaal in Dilip Kumar’s eyes during a heated moment: ‘There was no way Dilip saab was coming back to the set again…’ | Hindi Movie News

Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar may have shared a strong bond on screen in Saudagar, but behind the scenes, their decades-long rivalry made filming tense. Actor Prashant Narayanan, then an assistant art director, revealed that the Holi song “Imli Ka Boota” was especially challenging due to rising friction between the two legends.
A Dangerous Turn During the Holi Song Shoot
In conversation with Siddharth Kanan, Prashant reevaled that during the shoot of the Holi song in Saudagar, Raaj Kumar was repeatedly reminded by the team not to throw gulaal directly at Dilip Kumar’s face, as the latter was wearing contact lenses. Despite multiple warnings—including one from director Subhash Ghai—Raaj Kumar seemed unfazed. He paused the shoot, stepped away, and casually lit a cigarette, as recalled by Prashant Narayanan, who stood between the two actors holding a tray of colours.The Moment That Escalated Everything
The tense atmosphere on the set only grew worse after the shoot resumed. Despite clear instructions, Raaj Kumar suddenly grabbed a handful of gulaal from the colour tray and hurled it straight at Dilip Kumar’s face. The senior actor, visibly hurt and shocked, rubbed his eyes and walked off the set. As chaos unfolded, Subhash Ghai ordered the lights to be turned off, while Raaj Kumar boldly declared pack-up, fully aware that Dilip Kumar wouldn’t return to finish the scene.
Long-Standing Rivalry Behind the Scene
Adding further context, Prashant explained that tensions between Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar were always simmering beneath the surface. Being caught between two legendary actors who shared a long-standing rivalry made the experience intense and surreal for everyone on set.

The Origin of the Rift: A Slap from the Past
The well-known rivalry between Raaj Kumar and Dilip Kumar began during the shoot of the 1959 film Paigham, when Raaj Kumar accidentally slapped Dilip too hard in a scene. This created a serious rift, and Dilip chose to avoid working with his peers after that. Still, despite their differences, both actors gave memorable performances in Saudagar, which turned out to be a big hit.
Subhash Ghai’s Clever ‘Ego Massage’ Strategy
In a recent interview with News18, Subhash Ghai shared how he managed to bring Dilip Kumar and Raaj Kumar together despite their long-standing feud. He used what he called an “ego massage” trick—telling each actor that the other had been praising him. This helped create a positive vibe when they met on set, making it easier to get the work done.