Director Dharmesh Darshan's unfiltered take on Karisma-Abhishek's relationship, 'Mela's setback
Dharmesh Darshan, the acclaimed director known for creating box office hits such as Raja Hindustani and Dhadkan, recently revisited his cinematic journey in an interview with Lehren Retro. He also provided insights into the reasons behind the underwhelming performance of his film Mela (2000). Darshan further shed light on how the off-screen dynamics between Abhishek Bachchan and Karisma Kapoor impacted his film Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002). Here are some highlights from the interview.
Darshan called 'Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya' mistake
Darshan candidly expressed that it was a mistake to take on Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002), starring Bachchan and Kapoor. When the interviewer asked what went wrong with the film, he explained that Kapoor's distraction due to her impending marriage to Bachchan—which eventually broke apart during the movie's production—had a visible impact on the film. He stated, "[Kapoor] was distracted, naturally, with the marriage thing... I was hearing both sides, I'll be honest with you. And I'm watching also."
Anecdote: Babita Kapoor's presence in 'Raja Hindustani' shoot
Darshan further praised Kapoor, saying she is an actor "in touch with emotions." Recalling Raja Hindustani, he revealed she had never done an onscreen kiss before that. So, he felt it was crucial to involve her mother, Babita Kapoor, given Kapoor's young age. As a result, Babita sat through a three-day shoot to support her daughter. Additionally, Darshan disclosed the film's producers had even considered featuring the kiss on the movie poster to generate buzz. However, he decided against it.
Darshan shed light on why 'Mela' flopped
During the conversation, Darshan also shed light on the reasons behind the box office disappointment of Mela (2000), starring Twinkle Khanna and Aamir Khan. Acknowledging the shortcomings of his film, he specifically addressed Khanna's public jokes about Mela. He noted that despite her humorous comments, Mela holds the distinction of being her TRP film. According to Darshan, another factor that contributed to the complex legacy of Mela was its positioning between his two major hits, Raja Hindustani and Dhadkan.
Darshan refuted Mahesh Bhatt's claim of being 'illegitimate child'
In a previous interview with Hindustan Times, Mahesh Bhatt said he was an illegitimate child, born to a Muslim mother, Shirin Mohammed Ali, and a Hindu father out of wedlock—a revelation that had stirred controversy. However, in this latest interview, Bhatt's nephew, Darshan, vehemently refuted these claims. He stated, "It was rubbish." Darshan further pointed to the traditional marriages of Bhatt's three sisters, where every wedding card had "Mr. and Mrs. Nana Bhai Bhatt (Bhatt's parents)" written.
