Most of you readers are probably already aware that Trimurti Films and director Rajiv Rai are ready with a film—Zora—after a gap of 20 years. This return has brought trivia associated with Rai’s earlier films back into the spotlight. One story that stands out is how Rai kept a commitment he made to Naresh Malhotra.

Naresh Malhotra (Image courtesy- YRF website)

Producer, director, and editor Naresh Malhotra was one of Yash Chopra’s assistant directors during the 1980s, although his career actually began as an assistant editor. Malhotra’s first big project was Joshila (1972), where he assisted editor Pran Mehra on a film directed by Yash Chopra and produced by Gulshan Rai.

Later, director Ramesh Talwar convinced Malhotra to work as his assistant director for Doosra Aadmi (1977), which brought him closer to the film’s producer, Yash Chopra. This led Malhotra to work as an assistant director on several films made by the then-head of YRF.

Rai Had Already Chosen His Editor for His First Film

Malhotra was also a friend of Rajiv Rai, who, like him, was an assistant to Yash Chopra. Rajiv, the son of renowned filmmaker Gulshan Rai, had promised Malhotra that he would be the editor of his first film as a director.

“Rajiv Rai had promised, ‘When he makes his first film as a director, I will work as his editor,’” said Naresh Malhotra during his recent interview.

Rai fulfilled this promise, and Naresh Malhotra edited Yudh (1985). Malhotra went on to edit two more of Rai’s films: Tridev (1989) and Vishwatama (1992).

Naresh Malhotra stopped working as an editor after directing his first film, YRF’s Yeh Dillagi, in 1994.

Interesting Trivia: Here’s what late Yash Chopra had said about Salim-Javed’s separation

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