The film is an adaptation of an American movie, Signpost to Murder.
Casting the film wasn’t easy. Sanjay Khan was initially approached for the lead role but demanded more than the film’s budget allowed.
Did you know there’s a Bollywood film made without any interval or songs? The 1969 thriller Ittefaq, directed by Yash Chopra, is a standout for its unique format. The film’s script was written in just one week and the entire shooting was wrapped up in 28 days. Starring Rajesh Khanna, alongside Nanda, Bindu, Madan Puri, Sujit Kumar and Iftekhar, the film runs for 1 hour and 41 minutes and is the fourth Bollywood film without any songs. Interestingly, Ittefaq is a remake of the 1965 American movie Signpost to Murder and became a semi-hit at the box office.
The film’s making has an intriguing backstory. Before Ittefaq, Yash Chopra was working on Aadmi aur Insaan, but production halted when the lead actress, Saira Banu, broke her leg. With time on his hands, Chopra turned his attention to a new project. His inspiration came from the Gujarati play Dhummas, which he watched and loved. The next day, he brought the entire BR Films team to see the play. Impressed by its potential, Chopra decided to adapt the play, writing the script in a week. Dialogues were completed by Akhtar Ul Iman and shooting commenced, resulting in a film without the usual song-and-dance sequences that define Bollywood.
Casting the film wasn’t easy. Sanjay Khan was initially approached for the lead role but demanded more than the film’s budget allowed. Both Shashi Kapoor and Vinod Khanna were also considered, but due to various reasons, they couldn’t commit to the film. Finally, the role went to Rajesh Khanna, who delivered a memorable performance.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first songless film by BR Films. Earlier, B.R. Chopra had directed Kanoon, another film without songs. Ittefaq remains a significant film in Indian cinema for its experimental approach and gripping storyline.