MUMBAI: Ranjeet talks about Bollywood parties in the 1970s: ‘Rajesh Khanna would drink 1-2 bottles, Parveen Babi would make drinks…’

MUMBAI: Ranjeet, a veteran actor, reminisced about the atmosphere of the Bollywood gatherings he hosted during the 1970s and 1980s, frequented by leading stars of the industry.Ranjeet, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s, revealed in a recent interview that despite his on-screen characters often indulging in alcohol and smoking, he has never consumed alcohol in his life. He also mentioned hosting frequent gatherings for industry friends despite being a teetotaler.

In a conversation, Ranjeet reminisced about the informal gatherings at his Juhu residence, where both male and female actors would assemble every evening. He mentioned how actors like Reena Roy, Parveen Babi, Moushumi Chatterjee, and Neetu Kapoor would contribute to the lively atmosphere by preparing various dishes. Ranjeet also mentioned the regular presence of iconic actors such as Sunil Dutt, Raaj Kumar, Sanjay Khan, Feroz Khan, Dharmendra, and Shatrughan Sinha at these gatherings.

Ranjeet mentioned that individuals like Rajesh Khanna would consume one or two bottles in a single night. He described his own routine of working multiple shifts in a day and returning home to find the party already underway. Ranjeet expressed his belief that a welcoming home is blessed, and he considered himself fortunate to have ample space and staff to entertain guests.

Ranjeet explained that the actors wouldn’t typically wake up before 2 pm after such late-night gatherings. For morning shifts at 10 am, they would arrive around lunchtime, have their meal, and then begin shooting. He highlighted this as a key reason why he preferred working on multiple films simultaneously, as it allowed him to move between sets and complete his work efficiently rather than waiting for the hero to arrive.

Ranjeet has gained recognition for his roles in numerous films, including ‘Dharmatama,’ ‘Namak Halaal,’ ‘Sharaabi,’ ‘Lawaris,’ and many more. His son Jeeva marked his acting debut in 2022 with ‘Govinda Naam Mera’.