Apara Mehta worked 17 days without sleep on Devdas and Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi: ‘It was only death after that, not even hospital'

Indian Express

a day ago

Apara Mehta was part of two crucial projects of her life in the year 2000 – the daily soap Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas. While both projects brought her immense fame, the experience pushed her to the brink, leaving her feeling as though there was nothing beyond it but death.
In a recent interview with Friday Talkies, Apara recalled the time when she worked round the clock for 17 days managing the shoot for both Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Devdas.
She said, 'In the year 2000, around Diwali, I received a call on my landline. The person on the other side said, 'I am Sanjay Leela Bhansali speaking.' My mouth fell open. I was making Aloo tikki when I picked the call. He then said, 'I am making a film called Devdas, I am offering a very tiny part to you but I feel you fit the role perfectly.' I couldn't say a thing to him. He then called me to meet him. I immediately left to see him. When I went to his house, Leela Behan opened the door and she happily told to me in Gujarati, 'I suggested your name.''
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After many meetings, Apara Mehta was told she would have to shoot for 12 days for the mujra 'Kaahe Ched Ched Mohe' in Devds. She said, 'I thought I will adjust my shoot timings for Kyunki Saas Bhi, but that shoot got extended to 17 days. In these 17 days neither could I cancel Devdas shoot, nor could I extend my request to not shoot for Kyunki at night after 12 days.'
Apara added, 'I have worked round the clock for 17 days and nights, it was after this I realised, that there is just death after this. Hospital is also not an option. I used to go for my Devdas shoot with blood shot eyes because I was sleep deprived. But this was an experience. I was so happy to see the set of Devdas. I looked heavenly.'
Apara Mehta endured it all because Devdas was her dream project, something she manifested secretly.
In the same interview, the veteran actress recalled, 'When I read the news that Sanjay Leela Bhansali is going to make Devdas. I secretly thought to myself that if ever I do a film it will be something like Devdas. However, I had not shared this with anyone.'
Apara Mehta, who played the role of Savita Virani in the Smriti Irani family drama, featured as Badi Aapa in the Shah Rukh Khan-Aishwarya Rai-starrer.