Actor and sports presenter Mandira Bedi recently shared behind-the-scenes anecdotes from her Bollywood debut in the iconic film Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). Speaking on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s chat show What Women Want, Mandira revealed that her experience shooting the film, especially the dance sequences, was far from enjoyable.
During the conversation, Kareena referenced a previous remark by Mandira, where she had described the shoot as “not fun.” Elaborating on her statement, Mandira said, “I started with a song, Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna. I’ll tell you, if I have nightmares as a grown woman, they are about two things—choreographed dance and maths exams. Both give me cold sweats.”
Recalling her interactions with legendary choreographer Saroj Khan, Mandira shared a memorable comment. “Saroj ji told me, ‘You know something, you are like Sunny Deol. He shakes his shoulder, and you too shake your shoulders really well. But as a woman and a female actor, you need to learn how to shake your hips,’ which I could not do. It was actually quite terrifying,” she admitted.
Mandira confessed that dancing to a beat remains a daunting task for her. “Freestyle dancing at a party is fine, but when it comes to choreographed moves, it’s horrifying for me. That song was four days of shooting, and I kept thinking, ‘What am I doing here? I don’t belong here.’”
Reflecting on her performance in Mehndi Laga Ke Rakhna, Mandira expressed a mix of embarrassment and growth. “When I look at myself in that song, I think, ‘Oh gosh.’ I’ve grown a little grace and elegance since then. I’m still not great, but I’m not as bad as I was back then. It was a tough start,” she added.
Mandira’s candid recollections offer a glimpse into the challenges faced by actors, even in celebrated projects like DDLJ. While the film went on to become a cultural phenomenon, Mandira’s journey during its making highlights the less glamorous aspects of showbiz.
From her struggles with choreographed dance to becoming one of India’s leading sports presenters, Mandira’s story is a testament to resilience and evolution.
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