Somy Ali-starrer Andolan clocks 28 years in 2023 and it does call for a celebration. The film, directed by Aziz Sejawal, featured Govinda and Sanjay Dutt in lead roles and did well at the box office as well. Looking back, Somy remembers the filming days, how the movie helped her Bollywood career, and what makes it special.
“This makes me realise how quickly time flies and how we should cherish and be grateful for every second we have on this planet. The first time I faced the camera was with Sanju (Sanjay Dutt) in Goa with the song, Dil Toh Khoya Hai Yahin Pe Kahin Pe. I will never forget that first shot and how comfortable Sanju made me feel given I was nervous and excited about acting as a leading lady with a star I grew up watching. In the end, it turned out to be a beautiful shoot/song thanks to Sanju for making me feel completely at ease,” says the actor.
The film also has bittersweet memories for Somy. The reason was the late Divya Bharti, who starred opposite Govinda in the actioner. After her death, Mamta Kulkarni stepped in to play Guddi.
A still from Andolan |
“Divya and I became close friends during the shooting of the film. I miss her a great deal even today as there was no one more authentic or dared to speak the truth than Divya in the industry. Additionally, we lost one of the most beautiful and talented actresses of the 90s. I still remember attending her funeral and spending time with her mother, who was justifiably beyond broken due to the loss of her daughter. Nonetheless, one can’t change what is written for us and what has been already laid out as a blueprint for our lives,” Somy shares.
Somy, who now runs her US-based NGO, No More Tears, on a parting note explains what makes Andolan a special movie for her. “Andolan will always be close to my heart for several reasons — from being the first film I shot for, Sanju’s unbelievable humility and the memories I still carry of my amazing and unlike no other friend, Divya,” she signs off.
