When Bunty Aur Babli was released in theatres back in 2005, it opened up a new chapter in the careers of Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek and Aishwarya for the good. No, it wasn’t just about the quirky characters or the unique plot of the ‘con artist’ story. Instead, it was about the unforgettable chartbuster song, Kajra Re, which continues to mesmerise fans to date. The song featured the father-son duo of Amitabh and Abhishek with Aishwarya who later went on to marry the latter. The sensational dance number, infectious beats and rare combination of actors made it an instant hit. But do you know the song was almost removed from the film? In a recent interview, Bunty Aur Babli‘s director, Shaad Ali, shared the reason behind it.
Shaad Ali reveals Big B asked him not to shoot Kajra Re
Shaad Ali is credited for making some of the most popular films from the 2000s including Saathiya and Bunty Aur Babli and more. He recently sat down for an interview with Screen and recalled the behind-the-scenes drama that took place before the filming of Kajra Re. He revealed he knew the song was a hit, the moment he heard it. However, the makers of the film were doubtful about the song’s potential. At the same time, Amitabh Bachchan suggested that he not shoot the song. Recalling the situation, Shaad Ali said:
“I knew when I heard an eight-second riff of it… that this is going to work wonders. But Yash Raj had given it the last number… ki yeh sabse kam popular hoga. Amit ji ne kaha tha ki yeh gaana shoot hi mat karo.”
The filmmaker shared that Yash Films pointed to the song being among the weakest links in the film before its release. On the other hand, Amitabh told him that the song won’t work after listening to it. Shaad even asked the megastar if he could sing some part of it, but he felt Shankar Mahadevan would be ideal for it. However, Shaad stood firm on his belief and Big B Shot for it with Abhishek and Aishwarya. Once the song became a household number after its release and was played at functions and events, everyone realised its potential. Shaad said:
“Tabhi Amit Ji ka mujhe message aaya ki, ‘I’m sorry, I second guessed it. Later, he was shooting a song for some film, maybe Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna or something else, I don’t exactly remember, and said, ‘Yeh hota hai item song’ I was like, okay.”
Abhishek and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan danced on Kajra Re with their daughter, Aaradhya
Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai tied the knot in 2007 and welcomed their daughter, Aaradhya, in 2011. Recently, nearly two decades after the song’s release, the duo attended a wedding with their daughter and in a now-viral video from the event, they were seen dancing to the iconic song, Kajra Re. It was performed live by singer, Rahul Vaidya while Aaradhya and other guests joined the couple.
More about Bunty Aur Babli
Bunty Aur Babli is a one-of-its-kind crime comedy film based on a story by Aditya Chopra. It featured Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji in the lead roles con-artists while Amitabh Bachchan plays the supporting role of a cop who is tasked with the responsibility to catch the duo. Inspired by the 1967 American film, Bonnie and Clyde, the film became an instant commercial hit with positive reviews and became the second highest-grossing film of 2005.
What do you think about Amitabh Bachchan’s initial hesitancy on shooting for Kajra Re? Let us know in comments.
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