Raveena Tandon has never shied away from speaking her mind, and in a recent appearance on the ANI Podcast, the actress revisited some of the biggest decisions from the early days of her career—turning down roles in Darr and Prem Qaidi, both of which went on to become significant films for their eventual leading ladies, Juhi Chawla and Karisma Kapoor.
Sharing candid details about why she opted out of Darr, which later became an iconic thriller in Indian cinema featuring Sunny Deol and Shah Rukh Khan, Raveena explained that her choices primarily stemmed from discomfort with certain scenes. “Darr came to me first. It wasn't vulgar, but there were some scenes I was not comfortable with. There were things like wearing a swimming costume, and I would say, ‘No, I'll not wear that.’” The film, released in 1993, went on to earn cult status, with SRK’s portrayal of obsessive lover Rahul becoming one of the defining performances of his career.
Raveena also revealed that Prem Qaidi, the film that marked Karisma Kapoor’s debut, had first been offered to her. The decision to decline, she said, was again tied to her boundaries at the time. “Even Prem Qaidi was offered to me first. There was a scene where the hero pulls down the zipper, and a strap is showing. I was uncomfortable with that. I used to be uncomfortable with a lot of things, especially proximity with people I didn't know well.”
The actress emphasised that her reluctance had nothing to do with attitude but with personal comfort and values. Reflecting on her mindset during her early Bollywood years, she added, “I was always like how I am right now. That's why people treated me like one of the boys,” noting that while she wasn’t snooty, she did maintain certain boundaries that were important to her.
Raveena’s revelations offer a rare glimpse into the pressures and choices actresses in the ’90s often faced, especially when it came to conforming to glamour expectations or performing bold scenes. Her refusal of two films that later became stepping stones for other leading actresses highlights how personal comfort played a defining role in shaping her career path.
Today, decades later, Raveena continues to command respect for her authenticity—still guided by the same principles she held as a newcomer navigating the complexities of the film industry.
Also Read: From Big Screen to Stream Screen: How Hindi cinema’s biggest names found freedom online
More Pages: Prem Qaidi Box Office Collection
BOLLYWOOD NEWS - LIVE UPDATES
Catch us for latest Bollywood News, New Bollywood Movies update, Box office collection, New Movies Release , Bollywood News Hindi, Entertainment News, Bollywood Live News Today & Upcoming Movies 2025 and stay updated with latest hindi movies only on Bollywood Hungama.
