Renowned filmmaker and actor Tinnu Anand has given us iconic films like “Kaalia” and “Shahenshah” with Amitabh Bachchan, and he was on the verge of pairing Amitabh and Madhuri Dixit for the first time onscreen in the film “Shanakht” in 1989. In an interview with Radio Nasha, Tinnu recalled an incident where he had an argument with Madhuri on the very first day of the shoot and told her to leave the film.
“In the scene, Amitabh is tied up in chains by the villain in that carriage. He is trying to protect Madhuri, but he gets overpowered by these goons. So Madhuri’s character says, ‘Why are you attacking a man in chains when a woman is standing in front of you,’” he said.
Tinnu revealed that he had narrated the entire scene to Madhuri before she signed the film, explaining that she would need to open the blouse and stand in a b*a. Madhuri agreed to it.
“I had narrated the entire sequence to Madhuri and I told her that you have to remove your blouse and for the first time, we should see you in your b*a. And I am not going to hide anything behind a haystack or anything. Because you are offering yourself to help a man who is trying to help you. So it is a very important situation, and I want to shoot it on the first day. She said okay,” the actor-director recalled.
He further mentioned that he gave the actress a free hand to design her own b*a, saying, “I said you can design your b*a, whatever you want. You don’t have to wear a b*a b*a, but you can design your own b*a, I don’t mind. But it has to be a b*a because you are opening your blouse, offering yourself.”
However, on the day of the shoot, Madhuri refused to do the scene. “I asked what happened. She said, ‘Tinnu, I don’t want to do this particular scene.’ I said, ‘I’m sorry, you have to do this scene.’ She said, ‘No, I don’t want to.’ I said, ‘Okay, pack up, say goodbye to the film. I’ll cancel my shoot,’” he continued.
Even Amitabh Bachchan intervened and tried to make things normal. Tinnu recalled him saying, “He said, ‘Let it be, why are you arguing with her? If she has an objection…’ I said, ‘If she had to object, she should have done it earlier, before signing the film,’” he shared.
“Later, Madhuri’s secretary came in and said she will agree to it, give her some time,” he concluded.