PremiumSushmita Sen recalls her Main Hoon Na days, reveals how her minimal screen time made maximum impact in the Shah Rukh Khan starrer
Sushmita Sen revealed how her introduction shot was changed by Shah Rukh Khan with an impromptu act.
Shah Rukh Khan and Sushmita Sen in a still from Main Hoon Na
Last Updated: 09.38 AM, Aug 27, 2023
Hands down, one of the most iconic roles played by Sushmita Sen onscreen is that of Miss Chandni in Main Hoon Na. The actor played a chemistry teacher and was paired opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the film. The Farah Khan directorial debut had Sushmita looking as stunning as ever in chiffon sarees, and fans lauded her sizzling chemistry with the superstar too. During a recent interaction with Humans of Bombay, the actor took a trip down memory lane and spoke at length about her experience shooting for Main Hoon Na.
Sushmita started by saying, "My God, lots of good memories. By the way, India looks at teachers like that, but they have never been able to express it in a film. I think Farah did a good job of that. Chandni is teaching chemistry, and nobody's listening in class."
Unplanned magic on set:
Talking about her introduction shot, the actor stated, "The magic of that film was that a lot of the stuff you see in the movie was not written; it just happened. 'Nanna Munna Rahi Hoon,' that's there in the script; then he sees this woman, and he goes down on his knees and opens his arms; that was not there."
"Shah Rukh actually did that in the shot and was just like, 'Dude, what are you looking like?' Farah was like, 'Perfect, cut! Let's light for this; let's get all the lights closer, the fan, and everything,' because this was not choreographed. So it just happened in the movie, and Shah Rukh can do the same take 50 times and make it look like it's happening for the first time. So that was a brilliant introduction; that was not planned; that happened the way it did; the pallu was flying over his face; he was holding the pallu and walking; that was not planned; it was just stuff happening in the moment," the actor revealed.
Speaking about her experience, Sushmita went on to say, "We shot in a very beautiful place, so she gets to wear the jackets and sweaters, and I get to wear a chiffon saree that is freezing, and then Farah Khan wants a blower fan. It was so cold that I was worried you could see goosebumps on screen. I was trying to do your lines and dialogues, and I was actually stammering through them."
Unexpected career impact
The Taali actor then went on to share an interesting anecdote about creating an impact with her small role. She said, "It became career-defining, of course, because everybody keeps going back to Main Hoon Na; it definitely was that. I must give you a little anecdote on this; it was actually quite funny when Farah called me and said, 'Sush, I have seen the final edit and I have to apologise to you. Shah Rukh, of course, has the role; Zayed (Khan), Amrita (Rao), everybody has a role; you are barely there.' So, I'm just like, 'Well, that's okay, Farah; we had a deal; you kept through the promise; I kept through it; it's done; don't worry about it.' But inside I was thinking, 'Oh, I'm barely there in the film—not that I had shot a lot, but still barely there in the film.'"
Surprising reaction
About the response she received, Sushmit added, "The screening happens at Film City, and my phone starts ringing. I don't know why Yash Chopra and the whole gamut of the industry are calling. I pick up the phone, and I hear them saying, 'Kya kaam kiya hai bacche, I couldn't take my eyes off of you; it's just an interval; I hope you are in the second half in every frame.' And I am just like, 'Oh, it's just an interval,' and I didn't go for the screening because I'd feel bad watching like I am barely there, and I missed out on that because, from that response, I knew something had changed. The role hadn't changed, but the impact had. The role was still as small as it was, but it was powerful enough, and the reaction of the audience was so intense."