Hema Malini asked Baghban makers to stitch her blouse tightly to enhance on-screen chemistry with Amitabh Bachchan: ‘She’s very romantic’

Although Baghban (2003) has, over the years, faced considerable criticism for its perceived one-sided narrative, favouring the elderly while overlooking and not giving a fair ear to the struggles and problems of the younger generation, one of the major factors that contributed to its success was the performances of its lead actors Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini. Playing the elderly couple Raj and Pooja Malhotra, the two silver screen legends won many hearts, with their performances even helping to mask many of the film’s shortcomings.

Filmmaker Ravi Chopra’s wife Renu Chopra recently shared an anecdote that highlighted Hema Malini’s deep involvement in the project. She, apparently, not only immersed herself in the role but also offered suggestions that enhanced the portrayal of Raj and Pooja’s relationship. “There was a scene where she was getting ready, standing in front of a mirror. At that time, Raj comes from behind and upon seeing her says, ‘Wow’. Hema asked me to stitch her blouse a bit tight so that, when Amit ji comes, he can fasten the blouse tightly. She said, ‘That touch would give me the look I want’; one that conveyed, ‘He’s touched me. After so many years of being married, it meant so much.’ She is a very romantic person in real life,” Renu shared during a chat with Pinkvilla.

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Interestingly, the role of Pooja Malhotra was initially offered to Tabu. While she loved the story and the character, Tabu declined the role as she was reluctant to portray the mother of four children at the age of 36. She later starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in director R Balki’s critically acclaimed romantic comedy Cheeni Kum (2007), which was based on December-May relationship.

During the same interview, Renu Chopra also revealed that finding a distributor for Baghban was initially a herculean task, as many considered the film outdated. She noted that its theatrical run began slowly, with the first four days yielding poor results, but its fortunes took a dramatic turn afterwards. The film also featured Salman Khan and Mahima Chaudhry in key cameo roles.