‘Chappal nikal ke…’ This actress refused to work with Amitabh Bachchan, the film became blockbuster, earned Rs…, the actress was scolded by…

Ravi Chopra’s Baghban is considered an iconic film in Hindi cinema. Starring Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, the emotional drama served a powerful message over family bonding and parental love. The film also featured Aman Verma, Rimi Sen, Paresh Rawal, Samir Soni, Divya Dutta in significant roles, as well as Salman Khan in cameo appearance. While the film is still etched in hearts of many, but did you know Hema Malini wasn’t the first choice to play Amitabh Bachchan’s wife? Yes you read that right!

Not Hema Malini, this actress was first choice for Baghban

Producer Renu Chopra, wife of Ravi Chopra, revealed that Tabu was first offered the role but she declined it as she didn’t want play the mother of four grown up kids on-screen. While speaking to Pinkvilla, Renu revealed, “We thought of casting Tabu, and she insisted on listening to the film’s script. She cried and all that. She loved the script. I thought she was definitely going to say yes to the film. Somebody was sitting with me, and she said, ‘When Tabu cries listening to the script of a film, she never does that film.”

However, after the film released, Tabu was reprimanded by her aunt for rejecting the role, “After two years of this conversation, when the film was released in theatres, Tabu was in Hyderabad and she went to see the film with her aunt and uncle. She told them that she was offered the film but refused the role. Her aunt reprimanded her, saying, ‘Ye chhappal nikalke tumhare sir pe marungi. Why did you say no to this film? (I will beat you with a slipper).” Renu said.

Well, not just Tabu, Hema Malini too wasn’t sure about taking up the role. In an earlier interview with Bharathi S Pradhan, the Dream Girl revealed, “Before the mahurat of Baghban, B R Chopra met me and told me that he wanted me to play the role perfectly just like he had desired. He narrated the story to me and I think, it was his blessing because of which the film did well. Till today, people talk about that film. I remember when I was hearing the story from Ravi Chopra, my mother was sitting with me. After he left, I said, ‘Chaar itne bade bade ladko ke maa ka role karne toh bol raha hai. How can I do all this?’ My mother said, ‘No, no. You must do it. The story is good’.”

Made on a hefty budget of Rs 10 crore, Baghban eventually grossed Rs 45 crore worldwide, becoming the fifth-highest grossing film of the year.

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