Days after Kalpana Iyer’s performance in ‘Ramba Ho’ went viral on the internet, the veteran actress has finally responded to the overwhelming love and appreciation for her impromptu moment. She first appeared in this iconic song more than 40 years ago in the 1981 film Armaan, but more recently her spontaneous performance at a wedding celebration set the internet abuzz. The resurgence in popularity of ‘Ramba Ho’ also stems from its use in Aditya Dhar’s film ‘Dhulandhar’.
Kalpana expressed her surprise and gratitude to India Today. “I attended my friend’s son’s wedding. He’s like my own child. The dance was completely impromptu and I casually shared it on social media. Within hours, it went everywhere. I’m so surprised and so grateful for all the love. I’m completely overwhelmed,” she said.
Kalpana, who took a break from the film industry in the late 1990s, revealed that this was her first interview in several years. “And it makes it even more special that a song I wrote over 40 years ago had such a response,” she added.
Recalling how the viral moment unfolded, the actress said: “I was walking towards the stage and the dance started. Nothing was prepared. You can see I’m wearing a sari, but it was a wedding. I was there to enjoy it with my family. How can I say no when they asked me to? I did it with love, and look where it landed.”
Kalpana Iyer thanks Aditya Dhar for reviving ‘Ramba Ho’
Although her dance went viral about two months after Dhurandaar was released, Kalpana Iyer said she was aware that the song started trending after the film’s release. But she hasn’t seen it yet. “So many people have told me about this. A few friends who had seen Dhurandaar immediately sent me a clip and said, ‘Your song is playing and we are remembering you.’ It touched me and I was very grateful,” she said.
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Kalpana expressed her gratitude to director Aditya Dhar and added, “You can’t help but be thankful to him. If a film revives that song in a way that the younger generation is humming, it will be nothing short of divine for me. Who would have thought that I would be 70 years old and see my song going viral again? It’s amazing.”
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Kalpana Iyer hopes her viral dance will lead to work for her
The actor also used this moment to express her desire to return to work. “I hope God will turn this around for me. I missed my industry. I missed the studio, the smell of it, everything. There are so many things I missed. I hope this is a new beginning,” she said.
Just like her viral dance, Kalpana Iyer believes that her life and career unfolded by chance. Speaking previously on the Know Time podcast, she recalled, “Most of what happened in my life was by chance. Like it was planned. Things just kept happening. I didn’t even know if I could dance.”
Recalling her childhood, she said, “How could I afford to hire a dance teacher if I couldn’t afford to pay school fees? I was the eldest of four children. I wasn’t forced into anything. I chose to work because I wanted to help my family and make a difference.”
While ‘Ramba Ho’ remains her most famous number today, Kalpana has also enjoyed great success with chart-topping songs such as ‘Jab Chaiye Tera Jadoo’ and ‘Hari Om Hari’. Interestingly, ‘Jab Chhaye Tera Jadoo’ came to her through a special request from Dev Anand. “I didn’t know these people at the time. Everything happened suddenly and within a month, my life completely changed,” she recalled.
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“After Hum Saath Saath Hain, I stopped getting calls for work.”
In the same podcast, Kalpana said, “When people are casting for certain types of roles, I hope they consider me once in a while. I’m up for the job and have never said I don’t want to do it. All I’ve ever asked for are roles that are age-appropriate. At this stage of my life, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to wear shorts. It would look forced and even funny.”
Furthermore, she added: “I don’t need big roles. Even if it’s a one-minute role, why would I turn it down if it’s appropriate for my age? And yet people jump to their own conclusions and assume I don’t want the job without ever contacting me. My question is: , how did I come to that conclusion? I never said that. After ‘Hum Saat Saat Hain’, most of the work that came to me felt like a compromise. In many ways, it felt like my life was fulfilled.” “While Manokamana was a Rajshri film, ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ was also a Rajshri film. Since then, I have been waiting for a new role and that elusive phone call.”
