Khalnayak Turns 30: Subhash Ghai recalls ‘Choli ke Peeche’ was labelled “Vulgar”; says, “We treated it as a folk song”

‘Choli Ke Peeche’ was originally conceived as a folk song and the brouhaha over its lyrics was shocking, says filmmaker Subhash Ghai as he remembered his 1993 film Khalnayak, which turned 30 on Sunday.

 

Khalnayak Turns 30: Subhash Ghai recalls ‘Choli ke Peeche’ was labelled “Vulgar”; says, “We treated it as a folk song”

 

The film, remembered as one of the biggest hits of the 1990s, has attained cult status over the years.

 

“My closest memory of Khalnayak is when people labelled ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ as vulgar. It was a tragedy for me… a major shock. We treated it as a folk song and presented it in an artistic way. But when the film was released, there were protests,” Ghai told PTI in an interview.

 

‘Choli Ke Peeche,’ penned by celebrated lyricist Anand Bakshi, was composed by veteran music director duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal. Singer Alka Yagnik did the playback for Dixit, while Ila Arun sang the folk version filmed on Neena Gupta.

 

“I remember, a leading newspaper wrote… ‘The song is a classical piece of Indian cinema’ and that was a relief. It was a folk song and now people understand that,” the 78-year-old director added.

 

Besides this, Shubhash Ghai also spoke about the film in an interaction with Bollywood Hungama. When asked if it was tough to convince Sanjay Dutt to wear a choli in the male version of 'Choli Ke Peeche,’ he said, “Yes.”

 

Ghai explained, “The whole concept was funny. My situation demanded that Khalnayak’s gang harass Madhuri Dixit’s character by exposing her own tricks. But I told Sanju on the set and played a re-recorded version of ‘Choli Ke Peeche’. Suddenly, Sanju started laughing. Then I revealed that he needs to wear a choli. But he enjoyed it thoroughly!”

 

Also Read: 30 Years of Khalnayak EXCLUSIVE: Subhash Ghai reveals that it was tough to convince Sanjay Dutt to wear a choli in the male version of ‘Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai’: “But he enjoyed it thoroughly”

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