Mahie, the new ‘Mona Darling’

Mahie, the new ‘Mona Darling’

Yesteryear vamp Bindu’s iconic ‘Mona Darling’ act in Zanjeer in 1973 is now being taken over by actor Mahie Gill, who admits the role is challenging, but says she will pull it off. Ajit had played the arch-villain Teja in the original; for the remake, Prakash Raj has been roped in. Southern actor Ram Charan Teja, son of superstar Chiranjeevi, will step into Amitabh Bahchan’s shoes to play the ‘Angry Young Man’. The culture of an overweight seductress went out with Bindu. While Bindu got away with slit dresses and body stockings in Zanjeer, Mahie, we are told, would be doing some heavy duty lovemaking scenes with Prakash Raj and would also need to get into better shape for a bikini. “We definitely want Mahie’s Mona Darling to go beyond Binduji. If Binduji became synonymous with the character in the 1970s, we want people to shout ‘Mona Darling’ at Mahie when she steps out,” said Amit Mehra, son of Prakash Mehra who had produced and directed the Amitabh Bachchan starrer Zanjeer. Mahie’s weight is not the only thing that goes from Bindu’s ‘Mona Darling’ act. The sizzling Asha Bhosle number Diljalon ka dil jala ke has also been done away with. Mahie was apparently most keen to dance to Bindu’s number. “With due respects to Helenji and Binduji, cabarets are no longer a part of popular nightclub culture,” said Mehra.