Anil Kapoor recalls getting Reiki from Padmini Kolhapure before Taal’s climax shoot: “Thought about not showing up on the set”

September 26, 2024 - 6:30 PM IST

The iconic film Taal, starring Anil Kapoor, Aishwarya Rai, and Akshaye Khanna, recently celebrated 25 years since its release. To commemorate the milestone, the film’s cast and crew came together at an event in Mumbai. During the celebration, hosted by Radio Nasha, Anil Kapoor shared an interesting behind-the-scenes story about the climax of the film. He revealed that he was extremely nervous before filming one of the most crucial scenes, where his character, Vikrant, makes a significant emotional shift.

Anil Kapoor recalls getting Reiki from Padmini Kolhapure before Taal’s climax shoot: “Thought about not showing up on the set”

The Anxiety Behind Taal's Climactic Moment

In the movie, Vikrant (Anil Kapoor) lets go of his love for Mansi (Aishwarya Rai) and encourages her to be with Manav (Akshaye Khanna) just moments before his own wedding to her. Anil Kapoor shared that this scene, which shows a deep change in his character, was a huge challenge for him.

Speaking about the intense pressure he felt, Anil recalled, “Subhash Ghai (the director) would often give me my lines at the last moment. I knew this scene was going to be difficult. I was so anxious that I even thought about not showing up on the set.”

Calling Padmini Kolhapure for Reiki

Anil went on to reveal that his anxiety led him to an unusual solution. The night before the shoot, he called his co-star Padmini Kolhapure, requesting her to perform Reiki, a healing technique, to help him calm down. “I woke up in the morning and told my wife, ‘I’m not going. It’s a long scene, and he’s going to give it to me at the last minute, and I want to do my best’. I was so stressed and anxious,” he recalled.

He shared that Kolhapure came over early in the morning to perform Reiki, helping him manage his nervousness before heading to the set.

A Lighthearted Ending

Despite his fears, Anil ultimately decided to go to the shoot, but with some light-hearted concerns. “I thought, ‘What if Subhash changes the scene and gives it to Akshaye Khanna?’” he laughed. When he finally arrived on set around noon, he found Subhash Ghai completely relaxed, casually preparing for lunch. “He knew I would show up,” Anil said, smiling. They completed the scene in just two hours.

The event was attended by other key figures from Taal, including composer A.R. Rahman, choreographer Shiamak Davar, and singer Udit Narayan. Fans can relive the magic of Taal as the film is set to re-release in cinemas on September 27.

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