Sushmita Sen is one of the most loved and talented actresses in the Indian film industry. Over the years, she has won hearts with her charm, grace, and powerful screen presence. One of her most memorable roles was as Miss Chandni in ‘Main Hoon Na’. However, not many people know that after the film was released, director Farah Khan apologised to Sushmita for the way her role turned out in the final cut.
In an interview with Humans of Bombay, Sushmita shared how Farah Khan had called her after watching the final edit of the film. She recalled, “She (Farah Khan) called and said, ‘Sush, I have seen the final edit, and I have to apologise to you. Shah Rukh Khan, of course, has the role, Zayed and Amrita have a role, but you are barely there.’”
At first, Sushmita took it in stride and assured Farah that their deal had been honoured and that she was fine with it. However, deep down, she was a little disappointed. She admitted to herself, “Oh no, I am barely there!”
Despite her initial concerns, something unexpected happened after the film was released. She started receiving calls from some of the biggest names in the industry. She shared, “My phone started ringing. And I didn’t know why Yash Ji (Chopra) was calling me. The whole gamut of the industry was calling. So, scared, I picked up the phone.”
To her surprise, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. People were in awe of her performance. She remembered Yash Chopra’s words clearly, “You have done amazing work; I could not take my eyes off you.” She had avoided attending the film’s screening, fearing disappointment, but the response she received made her realise that even though her role was small, it was impactful.
Sushmita’s character, Miss Chandni, may not have had much screen time, but the audience fell in love with her. The way she carried herself, her chemistry with Shah Rukh Khan, and her overall presence made her unforgettable. The reaction from the public was so strong that it even led to a major change in the film’s promotional material.
Initially, the posters of ‘Main Hoon Na’ around Mumbai featured Shah Rukh Khan, Zayed Khan, and Amrita Rao. Some posters had Shah Rukh alone. But after the film’s release, the audience made their feelings clear. “By Saturday, after the film had been released, there were posters of Shah Rukh Khan and me everywhere,” Sushmita revealed.
She added that Farah Khan herself called her and said, “All the posters are being brought down, and new ones are being put up. You better go for a drive today.” And so, she did! Seeing herself featured alongside Shah Rukh on billboards was a special moment for her. ‘Main Hoon Na’ was a significant film for many reasons. It was Farah Khan’s directorial debut and a massive box office success.
