Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon were romantically involved while shooting Mohra? Director breaks silence: 'Did not have binoculars'

Time of India

07-08-2025

Director Rajiv Rai Speaks About the Rumours
No On-Set Clues, Says Rai
Raveena Tandon Reflects on Her Past with Grace
Life After the Headlines
During the 1990s, Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon emerged as one of Bollywood's most discussed on-screen pairs, admired not just for their magnetic chemistry in films but also for the rumours surrounding their off-screen relationship. Their sizzling presence in movies like Mohra sparked a wave of public interest, with fans and media alike speculating about a possible real-life love story unfolding behind the scenes. The speculation was especially intense during the filming of iconic songs such as Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast and Tip Tip Barsa Paani, which cemented their status as a hot on-screen couple.Now, decades after Mohra's release, director Rajiv Rai, who helmed major Bollywood blockbusters like Tridev, Mohra, and Gupt, has finally addressed the long-standing rumours regarding Akshay and Raveena's relationship. In a recent conversation with film journalist Vickey Lalwani, Rai was asked whether he had ever observed any romantic spark between the two lead actors during the production of Mohra.Rai responded to the curiosity with a hint of amusement, suggesting that he wasn't monitoring his stars closely while they worked. 'I wasn't sitting there with binoculars, was I? he quipped.On a serious note, he explained that film sets are crowded environments, often with more than a hundred people present at any given time. Under such scrutiny, he said, actors are expected to conduct themselves professionally, particularly actresses who are mindful of maintaining their public image. According to Rai, there were no visible signs of a romance during filming. He stated that any speculation about their relationship surfaced only after the film had wrapped up."There are 100–200 people on set. Every actor has to be well-behaved. A heroine has to maintain her reputation. Don't you think she knows there are a thousand eyes watching her? So, to be very honest, I never saw anything. Whatever I later heard, I was pleasantly surprised, like, Is this really true?' he said.Rajiv Rai clarified that despite the intense spotlight on the pair, nothing about their body language suggested a personal relationship. In his words, the atmosphere on set demanded decorum from everyone involved. Rai remarked that he was surprised when rumours of a romance later came to light, as he had witnessed no such dynamic while directing them. He emphasized that if there was any truth to the stories, it certainly wasn't something that developed during the shoot of Mohra. According to him, the connection—if it ever existed—had no bearing on the film or its production period.Raveena Tandon has also addressed the topic in earlier interviews, making it clear that the relationship—whatever form it took—was a closed chapter long ago. In a candid conversation with ANI, Raveena shed light on how the narrative of her past engagement with Akshay Kumar continues to follow her, even decades later. She pointed out that by the time their relationship had ended, both of them had moved on to new partners. She questioned the need for lingering assumptions about jealousy or unresolved emotions when both individuals had clearly turned new pages in their lives.Raveena also expressed frustration over how people seem to cling to the story of her broken engagement. She noted that in modern times, it's common for people, especially college-goers, to frequently change partners, yet her brief engagement remained a recurring point of discussion. She highlighted the unfairness of this fixation and stressed that, like anyone else, she too moved forward.While their association once stirred immense public interest, both Akshay Kumar and Raveena Tandon found happiness far away from the glare of their rumoured past. Akshay eventually married author and former actress Twinkle Khanna, the daughter of Bollywood icons Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia. The couple now shares a strong bond and a family life away from the media frenzy.Raveena, on the other hand, found love in filmmaker Anil Thadani. The two got married in 2004, and she has often spoken about her contentment in her personal life and her role as a mother and wife.