Big twist in the shooting of the film! Naseeruddin Shah refused to do the scene with Hema Malini, then the shooting happened like this

New Delhi. Many times such stories come to the fore in Hindi cinema which remain in the news more because of the incidents that happened during their shooting than the films themselves. Actors often play challenging scenes as per the requirement of their character but there were some occasions when the actors avoided doing certain scenes due to personal discomfort. One such interesting story is related to the film Rihaai released in 1988 in which Hema Malini and Naseeruddin Shah were seen in important roles.

It is said that according to the story of the film, a romantic scene was to be shot between Naseeruddin Shah and Hema Malini. When the actor came to know about this scene, he expressed his discomfort in doing it. According to media reports, Naseeruddin Shah believed that he was not comfortable doing such a scene with a senior and prestigious actress like Hema Malini. He also shared his hesitations with the director.

It is said that the film’s director Aruna Raje and Hema Malini herself tried to convince him so that the scene could be completed as per the requirement of the story. However, the actor stuck to his decision. After this, the film team adopted an alternative method and decided to film the relevant scene with the help of a body double. In this way the shooting of the film was completed and the flow of the story was also maintained.

The film Rihaai is counted among the films with different themes of its time. In this, the loneliness of rural society women, social changes and complexities of relationships were presented in a sensitive manner. Apart from Hema Malini, actors like Vinod Khanna, Naseeruddin Shah and Neena Gupta played important roles in the film. Critics praised its story and acting.

According to reports, actress Smita Patil was also initially considered for this film. The role later went to Hema Malini and she accepted the film because of the strong story and her desire to work with a female director. In an interview, Hema Malini had also told that working under the direction of Aruna Raje was a special experience for her and that was the reason why she decided to do this film.

Even today, Rihaai is remembered not only for its story but also because of these interesting anecdotes related to the shooting. This incident is considered an example of how different solutions often have to be found during film production to balance the personal comfort of the actors and professional needs.