Not Madhubala, Nargis was Mughal-e-Azam’s original Anarkali; ‘jobless’ K Asif demanded Rs 1.5 cr to make film: ‘Films were made for Rs 3 lakh’ | Bollywood News
4 min readMumbaiApr 23, 2026 05:02 PM IST K Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam is widely regarded as one of the greatest period dramas ever made. It continues to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. What makes the film even more remarkable is the extraordinary story of its making, a long, difficult journey driven by passion, persistence, and an almost stubborn belief in a dream. K Asif reportedly spent around 15 years completing the film, often while facing financial hardship and unemployment. ‘Nargis was initially playing Anarkali’ Recently, veteran Bollywood screenwriter Kamlesh Pandey spoke in detail about the many difficulties faced during the making of the epic. He recalled that the film’s initial casting and production were disrupted by several unexpected tragedies including Partition. “Initially, Nargis was cast as Anarkali, Chandra Mohan as Akbar, and Sapru as Salim. Shooting had begun, but Partition happened. The original producer Shiraz Ali Hakeem went to Pakistan after selling his studio and everything. Then Chandra Mohan, who was playing Akbar, died. One setback after another kept happening, but K Asif never gave up …
