Raja Hindustani which starred Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor in lead roles is one of the most loved movies of Bollywood; the film not only performed superbly at the box-office as it minted Rs. 76 crore worldwide but it was also praised by the critics.
Karisma Kapoor’s role in the 1996-released movie proved to be a turning point in her career as she went on to win the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance.
One memorable aspect of Raja Hindustani was the on-screen kiss between Aamir and Karisma—a bold move for Bollywood at that time. Recently, it was revealed by director Dharmesh Darshan that filming this iconic scene took more than three days to complete.
During an interview on a YouTube channel, Darshan said, “She (Karisma) was very good on set, she was very excited. I could smell it on her. She was so sincere… She’d never done a kissing scene before. I told her what she would be wearing, the background wouldn’t be ‘sexy’. She said, ‘You don’t need to tell me so much’.”
He further added, “Then I called Babita ji (her mother) inside and narrated that sequence. Because Karisma was still very young, and mother can influence, no? And Lolo had a good image; she wasn’t a very noisy girl. Babita ji sat through the full three days of the shoot, and I didn’t send her away.”
Director Dharmesh Darshan disclosed that while producers wanted to highlight the kiss prominently on the movie’s poster for publicity, he ultimately refused.
Click here if you wish to watch the video of the interview
Interestingly, Karisma Kapoor was not the first choice for the role of the female lead. The part was initially offered to Aishwarya Rai Bachchan who declined it. Juhi Chawla was also reportedly considered but she turned down the role due to certain character demands. With these rejections, the role eventually landed with Karisma, marking a major career-defining moment for her.
Before Raja Hindustani, Karisma was primarily known for her performances in comedy films, often sharing the screen with Govinda in hits like Saajan Chale Sasural, Coolie No. 1, Dulaara and Raja Babu. Her portrayal in Raja Hindustani showcased a new side of her acting range, cementing her status as a serious leading lady in Bollywood.
