Apara Mehta recalls working for 17 days without sleep on Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas and Ekta Kapoor's Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi: 'It was only death after...'
Apara Mehta recounts her hectic year in 2000, balancing the demands of 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' and her dream project, 'Devdas.' She recalls receiving an unexpected call from Sanjay Leela Bhansali and working tirelessly for 17 days straight. Despite extreme exhaustion, being part of the film felt like a dream come true, making the sleepless nights worthwhile.
Balancing two of the biggest projects of her career,
Apara Mehta
faced a whirlwind of fame, exhaustion, and silent dreams in the year 2000. As she juggled the emotionally charged sets of Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and the grandeur of Devdas, the veteran actress reached her breaking point—working non-stop for 17 days without sleep.
In a candid new interview, Apara opened up about that overwhelming period, the call that changed her life, and why Devdas was more than just a film—it was a dream quietly fulfilled.
In conversation with Friday Talkies, Apara recalled the intense phase in 2000 when she juggled shoots for both Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi and Devdas, working non-stop for 17 days.
She shared that the opportunity came unexpectedly while she was making aloo tikki during Diwali. To her surprise, it was
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
on the phone, offering her a small but significant role in Devdas.
She was later told the recommendation came from Bhansali's sister, Leela Behn.
Initially scheduled to shoot for 12 days for the mujra sequence 'Kaahe Ched Ched Mohe,' the shoot got extended to 17 days. Apara tried to manage her time with Kyunki, but couldn't adjust either schedule—leaving her to power through both projects without a break, even filming late nights for the daily soap.
She also shared that working non-stop for 17 straight days left her completely exhausted, both mentally and physically.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Esta nueva alarma con cámara es casi regalada en Cañadita Alegre (ver precio)
Verisure
Más información
Undo
She recalled reaching a point where she felt there was nothing beyond that phase but death, not even the option of going to a hospital. Despite being severely sleep-deprived—often arriving on the Devdas set with bloodshot eyes—she described the experience as unforgettable, saying the grandeur of the Devdas set felt nothing short of heavenly.
Apara pushed through the exhaustion because Devdas was her dream project—one she had quietly manifested.
Despite the physical toll, being part of the film was a deeply personal milestone that made every sleepless night worth it.
In the same interview, the actress revealed that when she first read about Sanjay Leela Bhansali making Devdas, she secretly wished to be part of it. Though she never voiced it out loud, she hoped that if she ever did a film, it would be something as grand and timeless as Devdas.
Apara Mehta, best known for her role as Savita Virani in the Smriti Irani-starrer Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, appeared as Badi Aapa in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, starring
Shah Rukh Khan
and
Aishwarya Rai
.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Jungkook may be sporting new tattoo, fans spot ‘swallow shaped' tattoo on chest during performance; buzzing with excitement
Recently, BTS idols Jungkook , Jimin, V, and RM all got discharged after serving their mandatory military service. Only two days after coming back to civilian life, Jungkook chose to join the stage alongside fellow members J-Hope and Jin to perform special songs just for the fans, making this a mini BTS reunion. Jungkook joins Jin and J-Hope on the encore stage, sporting a possible new ink J-Hope, on June 1,3, held his first stage for the encore stage for the HOPE ON THE STAGE tour. The member was joined alongside by Jin as well as Jungkook for a special surprise for the fans. While ARMY is not new to random bursts of surprises, Jungkook still managed to shock the crowd with a possible new ink on his chest! The idol joined the stage and performed one of his most popular solo songs, 'SEVEN', alongside which fans in the crowd could spot that the idol might have some new ink on his chest. Fans in the crowd could spot a new tattoo on the right side of the idol's chest, just shaped like a swallow bird. While the tattoo was not fully visible due to the idol's clothes fans could still capture a peek of it, situated under Jungkook's white vest. Another thing that the fans noticed during the performance was that the ink might also be coloured. Previously, the popular idol showcased different kinds of doodles and artworks in the form of tattoos with a full sleeve. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2 & 3 BHK Homes Near Padur, OMR Starting @ ₹72.50 Lakh* TVS Emerald Undo The news of the new tattoo comes as a surprise, leaving fans wondering about when they'll be able to catch a proper glimpse of the artwork. The artist performed songs like 'Jamais Vu,' 'MIC Drop', 'Baepsae,' and 'Airplane Pt. 2' alongside his fellow members.
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Drishyam actor Roshan Basheer: Till the release, I didn't know what really happened to Varun Prabhakar
Drishyam 3 announcement sparks fan interest in Varun Prabhakar's return. Roshan Basheer reveals he hasn't been approached for the sequel. He recalls his unexpected casting in the first film and working in Tamil and Telugu remakes. Basheer expresses gratitude for the recognition he gained from the franchise. He looks forward to his upcoming roles in Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu films. With the much-anticipated announcement of Drishyam 3, one question immediately popped into the minds of every Malayali: Will Varun Prabhakar return, perhaps even as a ghost? Only writer-director Jeethu Joseph holds the answer to that. But ever since the sequel was confirmed, social media has been abuzz with memes linking Drishyam to Mohanlal 's recent blockbuster Thudarum, and one name keeps resurfacing—Varun Prabhakar, and the actor behind the character, Roshan Basheer . We spoke to him exclusively to find out if there's any chance of Varun making a comeback in Drishyam 3. 'Honestly, ever since the announcement, I've been getting DMs every single day asking if I'll be part of Drishyam 3. Fans keep tagging me in scripts they've written, imagining Varun returning with major twists. But as of now, I don't think I'll be in the sequel—I haven't been approached. And knowing the makers, I doubt they'd add any gimmicks to the story,' Roshan shared. While speaking about Drishyam, Roshan was swept back into nostalgia as he recounted how he was cast in the film almost overnight. 'It was all such a surprise. Through my father, I got to know about the casting and met Jeethu Joseph. His first reaction was, 'Oh, you're a bit overweight.' I told him I could lose weight for the role, but he surprised me by saying the shoot was starting the very next day. By the time I reached home, I got a call from the production controller saying, 'The cab will come in the morning, be ready to leave for the location in Thodupuzha. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Walgreens Hides This Cheap 87¢ Generic Viagra from Seniors – Here's Why fridayplans Learn More Undo ' The rest, as they say, is history,' he gushed. Although he played one of the lead roles in the film, Roshan admitted that he had no idea about the twists in the story. 'I didn't know anything about the full story,' Roshan said with a laugh. 'All I knew was that my character appears, speaks a bit, and then gets killed. I honestly thought it was just another supporting role. I didn't even know why I was killed! Not just me—even most of the crew weren't aware of the complete plot. The makers were extremely careful about preserving the suspense. They took a lot of risks to keep the story under wraps, and I think it was the first time a Malayalam film had done something like that. ' Sharing some fond memories from the set, Roshan Basheer fondly recalled the unforgettable moment he met Mohanlal. 'Though I didn't have any scenes with Lal sir, he was on set when I arrived. I went up to him, and to my surprise, he told me he remembered me. Even though he had attended the pooja of my debut film Plus Two, and we had shared the screen briefly in Red Wine, I never expected him to actually recall me. It was such a priceless moment,' the actor said with a smile. When asked if he misses being part of the sequel, especially since the story revolves around his character, Roshan responded with grace, saying the film had already given him more than he ever expected. 'There are many actors who, despite doing numerous films, never truly get recognized. I consider myself fortunate to have gained such widespread recognition from just one movie—it's a pure blessing. Not only in Malayalam, but I was also able to establish myself in Tamil and Telugu industries through the same character. Interestingly, before Drishyam 2 released, my Instagram followers were around 100k; shortly after, that number doubled to 200k. Who gets that kind of attention without even appearing in the film? I don't think there's a single Malayali who hasn't watched Drishyam, so they know me too. Everything the movie and the character have given me is truly a bonus,' the actor added. When asked about portraying the same character in both the Tamil and Telugu versions of the film, Roshan revealed that it was much easier to perform in the remakes. 'When I did Drishyam, I didn't know much about the movie or even my character. But when it came to Papanasam and Drushyam, I pretty much understood the story and my role, so it was much easier. Papanasam was directed by Jeethu sir himself, and luckily, he also directed my parts in the Telugu remake, which made things smoother for me. The biggest blessing was getting to witness the three legends of their respective industries working their magic during the shoots. Although I didn't have any scenes alongside Mohanlal sir, Kamal Haasan sir, or Venkatesh sir, I was fortunate to spend quality time with each of them. The most interesting part was that all three of them complimented my eyes, saying they were unique. These memories are something I will cherish forever,' he shared. On the work front, Roshan is eagerly awaiting the release of his Malayalam film Rachel, co-starring Honey Rose . He's also excited about his upcoming Telugu movie, where he'll be stepping into the role of a comedian for the first time. Additionally, audiences can catch him as a college student in the Tamil film All Pass, which features a love triangle storyline.
News18
24 minutes ago
- News18
Ayushmann Khurrana Signs Quirky Family Comedy With Bhushan Kumar And Juno Chopra
Last Updated: Ayushmann Khurrana signs a new comedy with Bhushan Kumar and Juno Chopra. The film starts shooting in September 2025 and promises a quirky, laugh-out-loud ride. After lighting up the box office with Dream Girl 2 and gearing up for his Diwali release Thama, Ayushmann Khurrana is now preparing to dive into a new genre with a full-blown comedy. The actor, who has long been admired for his versatility and sharp comic timing, has reportedly signed an upcoming family comedy backed by Bhushan Kumar and Juno Chopra, the producers behind Pati Patni Aur Woh. According to a Pinkvilla report, the film will be a quirky blend of situational humor and slapstick madness, something Ayushmann has been keen to explore. 'It's an out-and-out comedy for Ayushmann Khurrana. The actor has been looking to do a film in this genre for a while now and has finally found a script that strikes the right balance," revealed a source close to the project. While the film's title and director remain tightly under wraps, casting is already underway, with the producers looking to rope in a stellar ensemble of seasoned performers and leading ladies. The film is set to go on floors in September 2025, with a start-to-finish schedule planned. 'The makers are keeping things low-key for now, but the script is locked, and casting has begun quietly. A director known for delivering commercial comedy hits is likely to helm the film," added the source. This film will slot between Ayushmann's other major ventures, including the Aditya Satpodar-directed Thama (which is part of Dinesh Vijan's horror-comedy universe) and his spy-comedy with Dharma Productions, co-starring Sara Ali Khan, scheduled for a 2026 release. Once he wraps up the comedy caper, Ayushmann will shift gears for a more emotional project — a family dramedy with none other than Prem specialist Sooraj Barjatya. 'That film goes on floors in November. Ayushmann is beyond thrilled to work with Sooraj Barjatya and play a 'Prem-like' role — it's a dream come true. He's already allotted bulk dates to Rajshri Productions," the source confirmed. With a packed slate of diverse genres — from spooky thrills to heartfelt drama and laugh-out-loud comedy — Ayushmann Khurrana is poised to deliver something for everyone in the coming years. First Published: June 14, 2025, 14:03 IST
