'Smita Patil ka dil kaafi saaf tha...' reveals veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi

'Smita Patil ka dil kaafi saaf tha...' reveals veteran actress Rohini Hattangadi

• Rohini Hattangadi praises Smita Patil's clarity and honesty in competitions.
• Smita Patil was considered for Kasturba Gandhi's role in Attenborough's Gandhi
• Smita's generous reaction to Rohini's screen test highlighted her selflessness

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Veteran actor Rohini Hattangadi has offered a warm, revealing glimpse into the personality and professional grace of the late Smita Patil, recalling their shared history and a little-known moment connected to Richard Attenborough’s Gandhi.

Speaking about Smita Patil’s nature, Rohini described her as someone whose clarity of mind and emotional honesty stood out even in competitive situations. “Smita Patil ka dil kaafi saaf tha,” Rohini said, underlining how rare that quality was in an industry driven by ambition and rivalry.

Rohini traced their connection back to their early years in Pune. “If we look at Smita, she was in my school in Pune. I was a junior for two years,” she recalled, setting the context for a relationship that began long before cinema entered their lives in a serious way.

She then spoke about the screen tests for Gandhi, where Smita Patil was among the actresses being considered for the role of Kasturba Gandhi. “But for Gandhi’s screen test, Smita was one of the contestants,” Rohini said, clarifying that it was indeed for the role of Kasturba.

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Recounting how the process unfolded in England, Rohini shared, “Yes, for Kasturba. When they met in England, I had gone from here. Myself, Nasir and Bhakti Barve, the three of us had gone from here.” Smita Patil, she added, was travelling from abroad because she had another screening commitment in a different country.

According to Rohini, Smita was not aware of who else had been called for the screen test. “She didn’t know who all had been called,” she said. When Smita arrived and found out Rohini was also in contention, her reaction reflected her inner clarity rather than insecurity. “So when she got down and told them that Rohini has also come… very good. Something like this happened,” Rohini recalled.

What stayed with Rohini all these years was Smita Patil’s response after meeting Richard Attenborough. “She said, Rohini. Her mind was so clear,” Rohini remembered. Smita then told her, “I have met Richard. But Rohini, it’s you. I won’t be surprised if you are selected.”

For Rohini Hattangadi, that moment summed up Smita Patil’s character — generous, grounded, and secure in her own talent. In an industry where competition often breeds quiet resentment, Smita’s words revealed a rare selflessness that continues to define her legacy long after her passing.