Exclusive: Shilpa and Suniel Shetty on Dhadkan turning 25! Say knew people would relate to the film

Time of India

3 days ago

Shilpa Shetty and Suniel Shetty in Dhadkan
Twenty-five years ago, Dhadkan, starring
Suniel Shetty
, Akshay Kumar and
Shilpa Shetty
Kundra, and directed by
Dharmesh Darshan
, became a hit, with its songs achieving immense popularity. While Dev (Suniel) and Anjali's (Shilpa) love story in the film remained incomplete, 25 years later, the two actors reflect on the emotional rollercoaster behind the film's scenes and share why Dhadkan strikes a chord with audiences even today.
Dhadkan is keeping me alive through the third decade of my career: Suniel Shetty
Action works only when there is emotion. I have always backed my action with emotion, because then it works like magic at the box office. I was following the vision of director Dharmesh Darshan, and that made it far easier for me. We are well aware how Dev's character came alive on screen. Dhadkan means the world to me because it's keeping me alive through the third decade of my career. After the film, my life changed as an actor.
Also, my approach changed, as I looked at every role with as much intensity and understood that acting is all about getting into the skin and putting your heart and soul into the character. I was never known to be a brilliant actor, but it was because of Dhadkan that people started believing that Suniel Shetty can act! The credit goes to our director, Dharmesh Darshan.
Dulhe ka sehra was the most difficult song of my career: Shilpa Shetty
It wasn't a scene that we shot first. We shot the most difficult song of my career, Dulhe Ka Sehra.
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Undo
I was sporting a blue lehenga. We were shooting in Film City, and my sister, who had just learned to put mehendi, did the full mehendi design on my hands with a sketch pen. She touched it up every two days because the shoot of the song went on for a good eight days. I remember for the bidaai scene, Dharmesh wanted me to cry in a particular way and look at Kiranji (Kiran Kumar, who played her father).
We did some 20 takes for that shot.
Dulhe Ka Sehra went on to become a huge hit. I knew it was a film that many people would relate to.
Shilpa on the most challenging scene in the film
I remember the scene when Suniel comes back, and we meet in his hotel room after the song Aksar Iss Duniya Mein. I tell him, 'Iss janam mein toh kya, mein agle saat janam tak Ram ki ho chuki hoon.' And then, he says the iconic line, 'Main tumhe bhool jau, yeh ho nahi sakta, aur tum mujhe bhool jao yeh main hone nahi doonga.' I feel it could have been very cheesy if we hadn't said it with conviction.
It was a very complex scene.
If Dhadkan was to be remade...
Shilpa
: I'm not pro remakes because I think it kills the whole essence and the soul of a film. But, if it had to be remade, maybe Alia Bhatt as Anjali could fit well with Ranbir Kapoor as Ram and Ranveer Singh as Dev
Suniel
: Only Dharmesh Darshan can do a good job with its remake, and Ahan (Shetty) can play my role, Dev
Suniel on Arbaaz Khan and Sanjay Dutt being considered for his role in Dhadkan
I know that I was the first choice for the film. Initially, I had to turn it down because things got delayed and my dates were clashing. Eventually, I did it purely because Dharmesh wanted me to.