New Delhi. Bollywood’s history boasts numerous films with an emotional journey, as captivating as their making. The 1994 superhit film Laadla was one such film, where a tragic accident occurred during its shooting, shattering the entire team. Before the film’s climax, its original lead actress, Divya Bharti, passed away, forcing the producers to reshoot almost the entire film. Despite this, the film was a resounding box office success and became one of the most popular films of its time. Laadla ultimately starred Sridevi, Anil Kapoor, and Raveena Tandon in the lead roles, but she was not initially considered a part of the film. The producer and director had chosen Divya Bharti for the role. Divya was one of Bollywood’s most popular actresses at the time, delivering a string of superhit films. Approximately 90 to 95 percent of the film’s shooting had already been completed with her.
The film’s writer, Anees Bazmee, recently shared memories of that time, explaining that the entire unit was deeply shocked by Divya Bharti’s passing. He said that the film was almost complete, with only a few portions, including the climax, left to be shot. But Divya’s sudden death changed everything. The entire team was at a loss for what to do next. No work on the film took place for nearly two months after the tragedy, as everyone was mentally devastated.
Anees Bazmee explained that the producers ultimately decided to reshoot the film. Sridevi was then cast in the role. Sridevi delivered a stellar performance, and the entire film was reshot. This decision was not easy, as much of the previously shot portion had to be reshot, significantly increasing both time and cost.
Anees Bazmee also recounted Divya Bharti’s last shoot. He explained that the film was being shot in Chennai, and Divya had filmed an emotional scene the day before her death. In that scene, her character walks away from the camera and is dragged away by a masked man. Her last line during the scene was, “Save me.” The next day, news of Divya Bharti’s death shocked the entire film industry.
Interestingly, not only Laadla but also the film Bodyguard had to be reshot after Divya Bharti’s death. This shows how much her untimely demise affected many major Bollywood films and producers.
Despite all the difficulties, Laadla was released in 1994 and received overwhelming love from audiences. Sridevi and Anil Kapoor’s pairing was highly praised, while the film’s dialogues, songs, and powerful story made it a huge success. Even today, Laadla is considered not just a successful film but one of Bollywood’s most emotional and memorable film journeys, where, despite a tragic accident, the entire team remained undeterred and delivered a memorable film to audiences.