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Veteran Bollywood actor Ranjeet, a name synonymous with iconic villainous roles of the 70s and 80s, once opened up about a side of his life far removed from the scheming characters he portrayed on screen. In one of his conversation with ANI, the actor reflected on the golden era of Hindi cinema, revealing how his Juhu residence became an unexpected hub of nightly revelry and camaraderie for some of the industry’s most celebrated figures.
Bollywood's parties in the 70s'
Though he built his career playing hard-drinking, cigarette-smoking antagonists, Ranjeet made an interesting revelation that he has never touched alcohol himself. Despite being a lifelong teetotaler, his doors were always open to friends and colleagues in the industry. His home, centrally situated in Mumbai’s Juhu neighborhood, turned into a beloved gathering spot where formalities were cast aside and friendships flourished over food, laughter and late-night chatter.Ranjeet shared, “My parents were based in Delhi and I was living alone in Juhu, so naturally, everyone began to drop by in the evenings. There was no need for invitations—people just came over.”
The guest list at Ranjeet's parties in the 70s'
These nightly sessions weren’t limited to male actors. He fondly remembered the presence of popular female stars like Reena Roy, Moushumi Chatterjee, Parveen Babi and Neetu Kapoor. Each of them, he said, added their personal touch to these get-togethers, Reena would prepare paranthas, Parveen mixed the drinks, Moushumi delighted guests with fish dishes, while Neetu made her signature bhindi.The guest list read like a who’s who of classic Bollywood, Sunil Dutt, Dharmendra, Raaj Kumar, Feroz Khan, Sanjay Khan and Shatrughan Sinha were frequent visitors. Ranjeet recalled how the legendary Rajesh Khanna was known for indulging in heavy drinking, reportedly downing one or two bottles in a single evening. Yet Ranjeet himself stayed away from alcohol, embracing the role of a warm, grounded host. “A home that welcomes people with love is a home blessed by the gods,” he mused, explaining that his belief in hospitality came from a deep sense of gratitude and abundance.
“No one turned up for a 10 am shoot on time."
He added that the relaxed and nocturnal lifestyle of the film fraternity often meant shooting schedules were pushed to the afternoon. “No one turned up for a 10 am shoot on time. They’d show up after lunch,” he laughed. This prompted Ranjeet to take on several projects at once, maximizing productivity while his co-stars ran on their own clocks.With a prolific filmography featuring cult classics like 'Dharmatma,' 'Namak Halaal,' 'Lawaris' and 'Sharaabi,' Ranjeet’s legacy in Indian cinema is already well cemented. But beyond the silver screen, his Juhu home stood as a quiet epicenter of Bollywood’s most cherished memories—ones marked by generosity, spontaneity and an enduring sense of togetherness.
English (US)