The 1987 classic Mr. India, directed by Shekhar Kapur and co-written by the legendary writer duo Salim-Javed, till today it remains as one of Bollywood’s most beloved films. Despite nearly four decades later, it still captivates audiences with its unique storyline and unforgettable characters including Anil Kapoor as the invisible hero and Amrish Puri’s menacing Mogambo. In a recent interview with Lehren Retro, former child actor and now renowned choreographer-director Ahmed Khan shared behind-the-scenes stories from Mr. India days that many fans may not have heard before and would love to hear them.
Ahmed Khan, who started his Bollywood journey as a child actor in Mr. India recalled some interesting incidents from the sets. Speaking about Amrish Puri’s portrayal of Mogambo which was one of the most scariest villains in the history of Bollywood, but he revealed that the legendary actor once tried to scare the children while being in the costume. However, contrary to expectations, Ahmed and his fellow child actors were not frightened at all. Instead, they found it amusing which left Puri saab surprised.
One of the most shocking revelations was that the child actors had no idea that Anil Kapoor’s character Mr. India would actually turn invisible in the film. Since many special effects were added later, the kids only realized the magic of the film when they watched it on screen. Further Khan also shared that the directors and senior actors treated the children with great respect, making them feel like an important part of the production.
Ahmed also praised Anil Kapoor for his down-to-earth personality by talking about how he always treated the child actors as equals, something that wasn’t common in many other film productions. Despite being a major star, Kapoor remained approachable and supportive, which made the filming experience even more special for them as young actors.
For exclusive behind-the-scenes stories in detail, watch his full interview below:
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