Behind the Scenes: Hema Malini's On-Set Anecdote!
Mon March 17th, 2025
With a stellar ensemble that included Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, and Mahima Chaudhry, Ravi Chopra's Baghban (2003) was a huge box office hit. The film's broad appeal was largely due to its emotional depth and strong performances, particularly those of Amitabh and Hema as Raj and Pooja Malhotra. Their chemistry and performances made the movie a memorable classic despite certain storytelling issues.
The wife of director Ravi Chopra, Renu Chopra, recently talked about an intriguing story about how Hema Malini was instrumental in developing her character. She claims that Hema was very interested in portraying Pooja Malhotra and even contributed some suggestions to improve the love aspect of the film.
In one scene, Raj was standing behind Pooja, admiring her view, as she dressed and applied makeup in front of a mirror. Hema had suggested a minor but significant detail: she asked that the blouse be laced a bit tighter so that Amitabh's character could wrap it up in a very private way. “She said, ‘That touch would give me the look I want—one that conveys he’s touched me, and after so many years of marriage, it still means so much,’ ” Renu recalled.
In a previous media interaction, Hema Malini revealed that she consented to play the part at her mother's persuasion. She had first objected, wondering if she should be a mother to four adult sons, but her mother reassured her, saying, "The story is good." You have to do it.
In addition to the intense emotion in Raj and Pooja's story, Salman Khan made a special appearance in Baghban as a figure who stood up for the older couple when their own children abandoned them.
Hema Malini's perceptive input and unwavering belief in the screenplay, along with Ravi Chopra's directing, demonstrated that Baghban was a timeless family drama that still has an impact on viewers today.
POST YOUR COMMENTS