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Mohan Segal was a truly kindred artiste (OBITUARY)
By Subhash K. Jha, Indo-Asian News Service

Mumbai, Oct 22 (IANS) He introduced Rekha in "Sawan Bhadon". But that wasn't Mohan Segal's calling card to fame.

The prolific and wide-ranging filmmaker who passed away Wednesday was a truly kindred artiste. Trained alongside Guru Dutt in the art of filmmaking, Segal was part of Uday Shankar's dance group. Like Dutt, he was also a part-time actor.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, whose sister Bela is married to Segal's son Deepak, is an admirer of the late director's work.

"I loved his spirit. It showed in his cinema. I remember at the premiere of my 'Devdas'...Mohanji had become frail and could hardly see. But he loved the dances in my film and sat through the film. He had met his star-discovery Rekha at the premiere. She had promised to meet up. But I don't think they met again," Bhansali says.

Rekha, in fact, is the actor that Segal's career was most closely identified with. For "Sawan Bhadon", he auditioned the 15-year-old overweight Tamil star and immediately saw her potential.

"People thought Mohanji had lost it," laughs Bhansali. "But he knew what he was doing. 'Sawan Bhadon' not only launched one of Indian cinema's greatest star-actresses, it also gave us Navin Nischol. Mohanji had an eye for talent."

In 1974, Segal again paired Rekha and Nischol in the experimental "Woh Main Nahin". The film didn't work. Rekha was also the lead in Segal's last directorial venture "Kasam Suhaag Ki" in 1989.

Asha Parekh, with whom he made two back-to-back films - "Kanyadaan" and "Sajan" - is all praise for Segal. 

"He was such a quiet, gentle man. Very emotional...I remember while shooting "Kanyadaan" with Shashi Kapoor I visited a wildlife sanctuary. Mohanji was so concerned I'd be eaten by a bear. He was very kind and caring. We had a ball shooting both the films. His children Deepak and Uma (who later made an award-winning documentary 'Shelter') were also there. His daughter expired under tragic circumstances. I wonder why God is unkind to those who are so nice....

He was very innovative. My dance in a wine glass for the song 'Parayi hoon parayi' in 'Kanyadaan' is remembered to this day. And 'Sajan' was such an unusual murder mystery. Everyone was a murder suspect."

Adds Bhansali: "Mohanji wasn't just a director, he was a complete artiste. His penchant for choreography was well known. During the making of his satire on national integration 'New Delhi', when the choreographer didn't turn up, he choreographed the famous 'Nakhrewali' number on Kishore Kumar. What an innovative artiste! We don't make them like that any more."

Mohan Segal's most famous films: "New Delhi" (1956), "Apna Haath Jagnnath" (1960), "Devar" (1966), "Sajan" (1969), "Sawan Bhadon" (1970), "Raja Jani" (1972), "Ek Hi Rasta" (1977).