Urmila Matondkar on whether Rangeela can be remade

Actor Urmila Matondkar is all smiles as her much-loved classic Rangeela makes its way back to the big screen, nearly three decades after its release. For her, the film’s return is more than just nostalgia. It’s a reminder that a solid story never goes out of style.

Today, the Ram Gopal Varma directorial, which also stars Aamir Khan and Jackie Shroff, enjoys a cult status. The film was re-released on Friday. In an interview with Hindustan Times, Urmila recalls how Rangeela was made on a minimal budget at a time when Bollywood was obsessed with extravagant song shoots in Switzerland.

Rangeela revolves around Urmila's character Mili who dreams of becoming a star. However, things take a turn when Raj Kamal, an actor, and Munna , her childhood friend, both fall in love with her.

“Instead of memories, it's a big flash of happiness, excitement, thrill… Everything just comes to your mind the minute you say Rangeela,” an excited Urmila tells us as she walks down the memory lane.

The 51-year-old continues, “The film almost made the time stand still at the point when it was released. Very few movies get that place in people's hearts… It's unbelievable how people remember the name of my character. When I'm at the airport, they call me by my character’s name. It comes out from the relatability factor which the characters had in the movie.”

She says the film still takes viewers through an incredible emotional graph. From the moment the young girl first appears on screen, the story unfolds with layers of feeling. Urmila compares it to the navrasas in Indian literature, each representing a different emotion.