Actor Raveena Tandon, one of the most prominent stars of the 1990s, has opened up about turning down two major Bollywood projects — Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and the iconic song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ from Dil Se — at a crucial point in her career.
Raveena, who became one of the most sought-after leading actresses after the success of Mohra, recently reflected on her decisions in an interaction with Zoom. The 1994 action thriller marked a major turning point in her career and cemented her position as a top star.
Why She Said No to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Raveena revealed that filmmaker Karan Johar had offered her a role in his directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. However, she declined the film as it was a second lead.
Explaining her decision, she said, “I had my reasons to reject certain films. For example, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Karan always says that you didn’t do my first film, but I tell him that I would have loved to do it, and you are my friend, but unfortunately, during that time in my career, I couldn’t have restarted my career by playing second lead after leaving at a point which was Mohra.”
She further added, “It was very necessary for me to start off, even if I have five scenes and five songs, but as a solo heroine. I had to restart my career like that, which was very difficult, but I was like you have to do this. It worked for Rani Mukerji because she was young and fresh face, but for me, it was not trying to start off from where I left off, that was a really difficult decision for me.”
The role eventually went to Rani Mukerji, and the film went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of the late 1990s.
Turning Down Chaiyya Chaiyya
Raveena also spoke about refusing the now-iconic song ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya,’ composed by A.R. Rahman and filmed atop a moving train with Shah Rukh Khan.
“‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ came, and I was dying to do it, but I didn’t want to be branded ‘item girl’. So I remember telling Mani Ratnam Ji that I am dying to do a film with you, I want to be in every film of yours, but unfortunately I can’t do this song. These are the regrets that you do have, but then you can’t do everything in life,” she said.
The song ultimately featured Malaika Arora, and became a cultural phenomenon.
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