‘Heartbroken’ Nawazuddin Siddiqui cried bitterly after Kamal Haasan cut his role in Hey Ram; Hema Malini rejected Esha Deol’s casting

There are many fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes surrounding Hey Ram, one of the most striking involving Nawazuddin Siddiqui. Before emerging as one of India’s most acclaimed actors, Nawaz worked with Kamal Haasan as an assistant director on Hey Ram and was even given a small acting role. Talking about the role, Nawaz had earlier revealed in an interview, “It was actually a substantial role. I was supposed to be this victim of a mob attack whom Kamalji rescues. I was excited about this opportunity to share screen space with my idol.”

On the day of Hey Ram’s premiere, Nawaz was ready to see himself on the big screen with a megastar after a life full of struggle. However, things didn’t go as planned as Nawaz’s scene was dropped from the film last minute and he was informed about the same at the premiere by Kamal himself.

Earlier, during his appearance on Kapil Sharma’s show, Nawaz narrated the heartbreaking incident. He said, “It’s premiere was held at Film City in Mumbai and I took at least 5-6 of my friends. I told them, ‘Boss Hey Ram aarahi hai, Maine kaam kia hai usmein (I have worked in that film).’ Everyone came. Before the film began, Kamal Haasan sahab came to me and said, ‘Nawaz, apne doston ko bol do ki tumhara role cut gaya hai (Tell your friends your role has been cut).”

He went on to say, “I told him how is this possible and I asked him to show my scenes just during that screening. I told him, ‘Sir meri bahut bezzati hojaege.’ He refused because the film was to be released the next day. He asked me to honestly tell my friends.”

The news left Nawaz in tears and he ‘wept bitterly’. He said, “I went to my friends and I started crying and I told my friends that my role had been cut. I gave them the choice to watch the film or not but they wanted to watch it.” Nawaz had also shared that Kamal’s daughter Shruti Haasan had consoled him at the time.

But Nawaz’s effort in the film didn’t go unnoticed, as years later when he became a successful actor, Kamal remembered how he was a fine actor even when he acted in Hey Ram. “I am proud of him. He was also an assistant director of Hey Ram. He was a fantastic actor even then, wo footage ki wajah se scene cut ho gaya. He’s talking about it casually now, but that day he was heartbroken,” Kamal said on Kapil’s show.

Not just Nawaz, even Esha Deol could have been a part of Hey Ram. Kamal had approached Esha’s mother Hema Malini, who was playing a pivotal role in the film, to cast Esha in her debut for Hey Ram. Esha was approached for the role of Kamal’s character’s second wife Mythili Ram, which ultimately went to Vasundhara Das. In the film, the character of Mythili has some sensual scenes with Kamal’s character Saket Ram.

In an earlier interaction, Esha shared that she and her mother didn’t think it was an apt role for her debut and Hema refused her casting. Speaking to Rediff, Esha had said, “I was offered Kamal Haasan’s Hey! Ram. In fact, my mother was acting in the film. We both realised the role wasn’t appealing enough for a launch. Those roles weren’t what I was looking for.”

Hey Ram wasn’t a commercial success but the film was widely acclaimed by critics and had garnered three National Film Awards.