Bollywood Film Sets Guinness Record for 20-Year Production, Released Posthumously

Rapid Summary

• the Bollywood movie “Love and God (Qais Aur Laila)”, directed by K Asif, holds the Guinness World Record for the Longest Production Period of a Hindi Film, taking over 20 years to complete.
• Production started in the early 1960s but faced numerous hardships:

– Lead actor Guru Dutt passed away in 1964, halting progress.
– K Asif attempted to revive it with Sanjeev Kumar but died in 1971, leaving the film incomplete without a climax.

• Incomplete portions were salvaged from three studios and pieced together by Akhtar Asif (K Asif’s senior widow) with assistance from KC Bokadia. This version was released on May 27, 1986 despite being unfinished.By then, lead actor Sanjeev Kumar had also passed away (1985).
• Before “Qais Aur Laila,” K Asif made another iconic film “Mughal-e-Azam”, which itself took over 14 years to complete before releasing in 1960.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The remarkable journey of “Love and God (Qais Aur Laila)” reflects both artistic ambition and logistical challenges unique to cinema production at its time. confronting extreme hurdles-multiple deaths among key contributors-the film underscores how persistence sometimes sustains art through adversity but does not guarantee completion in its intended form.

For India’s cinematic heritage, this story highlights not only the commitment filmmakers bring to their projects but also showcases how unforeseen real-world events can derail even high-budget endeavors. While “Qais Aur Laila” holds a Guinness world Record for its extended timeline, its release as an incomplete project sparks crucial discussions on balancing legacy preservation versus delivering cohesive art forms for audiences-a subject that remains relevant for filmmakers today.

Read More: Republic World