Bollywood actor Tabu and filmmaker Shekhar Kapur almost collaborated on two projects in the 80s and 90s, but due to bad timing, they never worked together. In a recent interaction, Tabu recalled how Shekhar convinced her to forgo her dream of higher studies abroad to work with him on the 1995 film Prem. Although The Namesake actor reluctantly agreed to star in the movie, the filmmaker himself left the project, which was later directed by Satish Kaushik.
In an interview with The Lallantop, Tabu recounted her frequent meetings with Shekhar at her aunt Shabana Azmi’s house when she was a teenager. There, the filmmaker saw her and decided to cast her in his film Dushmani. However, soon after Tabu agreed to star in the film, the project was shut down. She recalled, “Shekhar Kapur cast me for Dushmani and I had barely given my 10th exam but he was very sure that he wanted to cast me. So, I came back after giving my 10th exam and he fixed me for the film, I didn’t want to do it at that time but he convinced me but that film was shut down and couldn’t get made. I think it went through a lot changes.”
Dushmani released in 1995, starring Sunny Deol and Manisha Koirala in lead roles. Although Shekhar directed major portions of the film, it was later taken over by Bunty Soorma.
Sharing how she again came close to working with Shekhar Kapur in Prem, Tabu said, “I joined college. So, two years into my college, Shekhar saw me again and said, ‘You will star in Prem.’ I refused because I wanted to go abroad for higher studies but he convinced me. I signed the film and said, ‘I will only do this one film.’ Shekhar convinced me and said bus ek ye film karle (just do this one film) then I will let you go but he himself left the film and ran away. The film went on for 5-6 years and I regretted saying yes to it.”
Prem was produced by Boney Kapoor. Ajay Devgn, who was part of the conversation, quipped, “Boney ji’s films have a five-year plan.” Both Ajay and Tabu are busy with the promotions of their upcoming film Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha.
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