After Mr Nehru, Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri took over as Prime Minister. Thereafter, Mrs Indira Gandhi, Mr Nehru's daughter, was elected as Prime Minister. Then Mr Morarji Desai was the Prime Minister of India. Again Mrs Gandhi was sworn in as PM.
After her re-election, Mrs Gandhi appointed Mr Vasant Sathe as Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, who himself was a film buff, and he took personal interest in the Gandhi film. It would not be an exaggeration to say that without Mr Sathe, Sir Richard's film may not have been made.
Gandhi film's shooting in India created its own history. Hitherto, film shooting at Mumbai was a leisurely affair. One scene could take anything from one week to one month to film. There was no fixed shooting schedule in place and economies of effort and cost were unheard of. Lord Attenborough's lunch spread in Delhi had to be seen to believe. There were 101 varieties of international matured cheese repas, fruits, vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes, continental and Indian food and no restriction on whosoever came and ate. Somebody said acidly, when some people, who had nothing to do with the shooting, came and helped themselves to plateloads of food : "Do they think it is Salvation Army kitchen ?"
Gandhi shooting changed Mumbai film world's outlook. The shooting schedules came in place and were, by and large, strictly adhered to. True some bratty stars continued to have their lunch in their luxury limousines with their girl friends, but extras, hitherto neglected, also got some food during shoots for a change.
Obviously, shortage of funds forced Sir Richard to advertise in the papers inviting common people to participate in the funeral procession scene of Mr Gandhi. And sure enough, people responded enthusiastically and came over to India Gate for the shooting. Urban and rural populace did participate, as they had done when Mr Gandhi himself had died.
But, as it was a make believe scene, an infection of untimely laughter at this sombre occasion pervaded the actors sitting with the coffin. It was a sacrilege for the common man who had walked from nearby villages, as no proper transport was available in Delhi then. Some people left in a huff. Sir Richard was upset, to say the least, as whenever he said "action" the actors would burst out laughing. Ultimately, his tact and sharp tongue got him the shot he wanted of the funeral procession. And the shooting was over.
(Finis)
