New Delhi: The concept of double roles in films has been going on for a long time. From Hema Malini's 'Seeta Aur Geeta', Shah Rukh Khan's 'Duplicate', Dilip Kumar's 'Ram Aur Shyam' and Salman Khan's Judwaa, the audience sat in the theatre and enjoyed double the fun by buying a single ticket.

They always get a chance to see their favorite stars in different roles on the same screen. Last year, Shah Rukh Khan played the role of father and son in the film 'Jawaan', and now Kriti Sanon's name has also been included in the league of playing double roles. She will be seen playing a double role in her upcoming film 'Do Patti'.

Do you know who brought the concept of double role in India? Who was the first actor to play a double role in a mythological film? If not, then let's know the history of a 107-year-old superhit film in which the same actor played the role of Ram and Sita.

This actor played a double role in a film made in 1917

The first actor to play a double role in a film was none other than Anna Salunke, who also acted in India's first film 'Raja Harishchandra'. In the early part of his career, he played the role of hero as well as heroine. After playing Rani Taramati in Dada Saheb Phalke's film 'Raja Harishchandra', he also played Mata Sita and Lord Shri Ram on screen.

In the year 1917, a film was released, whose title was 'Lanka-Dahan'. This film was based on the Hindu epic 'Ramayana', which was written by Maharishi Valmiki. The film was directed by Dadasaheb Phalke . This was the director's second feature film after Raja Harishchandra. Like Raja Harishchandra, 'Lanka-Dahan' was also a mute film.

Why did Anna Salunke have to play the role of Sita?

Before India gained independence, it was considered wrong for women to work in commercial films or to showcase their talent on screen in this way. This was the reason that whatever female roles came up at that time, they were played by film actors. After playing the role of Shri Ram in 'Lanka Dahan', he also played the role of his wife Mata Sita. He was the first actor of Indian cinema who played the role of both actor and actress in most of the films.

Why did Dada Saheb Phalke make only the actor the heroine?

Getting Anna Salunke to play the role of heroine in films was not Dadasaheb Phalke's choice but a compulsion. Actually, Dadasaheb Phalke and Anna Salunke first met in a restaurant, where the actor reportedly worked as a waiter. Dadasaheb Phalke was looking for a girl at that time, whom he could cast in his film. But at that time, it was not acceptable for any woman to be associated with films.

In such a situation, Dadasaheb Phalke's eyes fell on Anna Salunke, whose height and features were such that the director found her to be perfect for the role of the heroine. Somehow Dadasaheb Phalke convinced Salunke, who used to work for Rs. 10, to come into films by paying her a fee of Rs. 15 and her journey as an actor began.