Shah Rukh Khan, Juhi Chawla and Sonali Bendre starrer film, Duplicate completed 27 years on May 8, 2025. The film was one of the most loved films of the year, more so because it was the first time that Shah Rukh Khan appeared in a double role. Directed by ace director, Mahesh Bhatt under Dharma Productions, Duplicate is still loved for its songs and comic timing.
Kajol did a cameo in ‘Duplicate’
But do you know, Kajol did a cameo in Duplicate? Yes, you read that right. It was a scene where Shah Rukh Khan’s character goes to drop his mother, Farida Jalal, at the station and is visibly seen upset with her departure. The actor was seen whining, stating that he would not eat and would marry an ugly-looking girl.
It was at that moment when Kajol passed him, and suddenly, the background score of Dilwale Dhulania Le Jayenge played. While Shah Rukh stops her and asks her, “Behenji Kya Aap Mujhse Shaadi Krengi?” She gives a witty response and says, “Chee. No.” and leaves the place shouting Raj’s name. For the unversed, Kajol did a cameo in the film for her best friend, Shah Rukh.
‘Duplicate’ was delayed for two years
Duplicate portrayed Shah Rukh in a protagonist and an antagonist’s role. It marked Shah Rukh Khan’s first collaboration with Dharma Productions. Do you know that Sonali Bendre was not the original choice for the role of Lilly? The original choice was Divya Spandana. The film, which was delayed for two years because of financial issues, was made on a budget of Rs. 9.5 crores. Producer Yash Johar, who launched Dharma Productions with Duplicate, lost a humongous amount of money.
Mahesh Bhatt revealed what went wrong while making ‘Duplicate’
Legendary director, Mahesh Bhatt was at the peak of his career when he directed Duplicate. He was involved with multiple projects, which made it difficult for him to focus. Along with Duplicate, Mahesh was also directing Tammanna and Angaaray. As a result, the film couldn’t shine at the box office.
In an interview with Subhash K Jha, Mahesh Bhatt talked about Duplicate’s failure and accepted that it was solely dependent on him. The acclaimed director also stated that Duplicate was a promising project as it featured Shah Rukh in a double role. Yet, despite his efforts, the film failed to captivate the audience. Taking the ownership of the film’s failure, Mahesh said:
“I had worked with Shah Rukh earlier in Chaahat. But this was special. With India’s beloved superstar Shahrukh Khan by my side and the unwavering support of our dear Yash Johar, Duplicate held the promise of greatness. Yet, despite our best efforts, the film failed to capture the hearts of audiences, and I wholly and solely take responsibility for that.”
The film saw Shah Rukh Khan acing the role of ‘Bablu’, a goofy chef with big dreams, and the other where he’s ‘Manu’, a cold-blooded criminal. The comedy and action-packed sequences made the audience glued to their seats. The film did not break any records at the box office, but it was ranked 12th among the highest-grossing Bollywood films of 1998 globally.
Did you know about Kajol’s cameo in Duplicate? Let us know.
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