Suchitra Sen said 'no' to Satyajit Ray, Raj Kapoor

Suchitra Sen's surpassing beauty and acting prowess had attracted legendary filmmakers Satyajit Ray and Raj Kapoor but their offers to act in their movies were politely turned down.

For Satyajit Ray, Sen could not find dates while for Kapoor she didn't like the 'filmi' way he approached her for a role.

In the 1960s when Ray decided to film the Bengali novel 'Devi Chaudhurani' he had first approached Suchitra for the role.

The director wanted her to block her dates and not do any other film during the shooting. This condition was not acceptable to the actress after which Ray altogether dropped the idea.

"He also wanted her to change her looks for the film to which she simply refused," film historian S M M Ausaja told PTI.

Bollywood's 'Showman' Raj Kapoor also once went to her house in Kolkata asking her to act in a film under his R K Films banner.

What irked Suchitra was the 'filmi' style in which Kapoor approached her. It is said that Kapoor knelt down on the floor with a bouquet in his hand and offered the film.

"Why should a man bow down before a woman like this?" Sen had reportedly told her close associates after politely refusing the offer.

Her close friend Gopal Krishna Roy said, "She was very moody and has always been guided by her own temperament. But as a person she was loving and cheerful".