Salman Khan’s heartfelt foreword for Asha Parekh

Salman Khan has written an endearing foreword ahead of the Asha Parekh biography launch on the 10th April. As a tribute to the yesteryear, he reminisces of the incredible work the legendary actress had done in a short period of time.

In The Indian Express, Khan questions why Parekh had left so soon after becoming a superstar of the golden era. He praises her ability to have had such an impact in the industry without the “need of self-publicity 24 x 7 or no compromises.”

The ‘Sultan’ (2016) star also reflects on how it wouldn’t be possible to remake any of her classics such as, ‘Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai’ (1961), ‘Teesri Manzil’ (1966) or ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh’ (1971) because now it would all about casting an marketable face. Khan writes, “Happy endings, the kind which were ordained for Ashaji and her heroes are not possible any longer. It all depends on which hero or heroine is marketable when a sequel is launched. Ashaji did not have to face such commercial necessities. What if a Kati Patang 2 was ever conceived? What if Rajesh Khanna or Ashaji were shown to be having differences? What if either of them was substituted by another star? Would the sequel match the romantic appeal of the original?”

Khan also shares a memory from his father Salim Khan, in which he says, “My dad, Salim Khan, remembers that a film would be snapped up by the distributors and exhibitors if Ashaji was the heroine. Newcomers, as well as the leading music directors of the time, would be inspired to compose some of their best songs for her. She did justice to the songs by performing them with amazing ease, whether the number was purely Indian or westernised in its rhythm.”

Concluding his foreword he goes on to say how he or any other Khan in the industry is privileged to be able to call the 74 year old superstar a family friend. “All of us Khans have been blessed. Ashaji has been a family friend. We may not see her regularly but we know she is there for us, and we are there for her, just a phone call away. She joins us for our festive celebrations for the Ganpati puja, Christmas and Eid”…Signing off with “‘Achha Toh Hum Chalte Hain…’ went the lyrics of one of her songs. She can never say goodbye really. Because movie stars may come and go but Asha Parekh will remain in our hearts forever.”