In Shah Rukh Khan`s Main Hoon Na (2004), Sushmita Sen played Miss Chandni Chopra, a Chemistry teacher. However, her connection with Shah Rukh and her red saree in one scene from the film are famous. In a new podcast chat with Divya Jain, Sushmita detailed the behind-the-scenes narrative of her wearing the red saree on set, while Farah informed her that her character will wear sarees throughout the film.
Sushmita Sen recalls Farah Khan scolding her
Sushmita Sen shared, “That red saree I was made to wear… it was freezing cold. On top of that, Farah Khan put a massive storm fan because Chandni’s hair needs to fly all the time. If Chandni is in the classroom, her hair is flying; if she’s crying, her hair is flying; even if it’s raining, her hair is flying. It was a mandatory requirement for the character.”
Sushmita went on to add, “When she told me I would be in a saree for the entire film, I said, ‘Please don’t do this to me. This is my first film with Shah Rukh; I want to wear 50,000 different costumes.’ But she was like, ‘Trust me, you’re in a saree and that’s it. The day I wore that red saree and walked out—the first change ever—Farah looked at me and said, ‘Kya lungi baandhi hai (Why have you worn it as a lungi)? Geeta, take her back.’ After that, Geeta tied it really low. I was worried the whole time—‘Bas yeh gir na jaye (It must not fall)!’ The pallu was kept very long.”
Sushmita Sen on shooting the iconic song with SRK
Sushmita went on to share her experience on shooting the iconic number with Shah Rukh Khan, “When the scene happened and I came walking across, Shah Rukh being Shah Rukh opened his arms. I playfully lifted my hand so the pallu would brush his face. These are moments that only happen on set-when actors capture magic in the moment. But Farah being Farah made us do it again and again because she wanted multiple angles. That moment set the tone for Chandni and Ram.”
Farah Khan wrote and directed Main Hoon Na, which marked her directorial debut. The film also starred Suniel Shetty, Amrita Rao, and Zayed Khan. It follows Major Ram Sharma (Shah Rukh), who is assigned to an undercover mission as a university student to safeguard a general`s daughter (Amrita) from a deadly rogue soldier.
Ram falls in love with Chandni, the chemistry professor (Sushmita). Main Hoon Na, which was originally set for release in 2003, debuted on April 30, 2004, to favorable reviews from reviewers.