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Damini, considered to be one of the best woman-centric films ever made in Bollywood, has a story of its own behind the scene. The making of the film went through a rough patch when director Rajkumar Santoshi proposed to the film’s leading lady Meenakshi Seshadri. In a recent interview, the 60-year-old actress, who is planning to make a comeback, opened up about the incident.
When asked if it was true that Rajkumar Santoshi proposed to her, the actress told Lehren Retro, “Yes. this is true. Rajkumar Santoshi proposed to me.”
She further shared details and said, “The entire controversy took place around the time of Damini shoot. He thought he won’t be able to complete the film with me. They were looking for a different heroine, but somehow, we worked things out. The Producers’ Council and the Artistes’ Council, they all sorted things out. That day, we took an oath that we will never ever discuss this controversy ever. Whatever happened, we left it in the past. We just wanted to make a good film, we worked hard and it worked out really well for all of us. And as a director, to leave everything behind and give his best to the movie, hats off to Rajkumar Santoshi.”
When Meenakshi was asked if she will do a film with Rajkumar Santoshi today, the actress quickly said, “Absolutely, I will jump at it. Provided, there is a good role for me.”
She further explained, “We didn’t have awkwardness while shooting Damini despite all the controversy, then I don’t think we will have any awkwardness today.”
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In an interview with Times Of India, Meenakshi said, “When all this news broke out and whatever supposed problems happened, Mr Yash Chopra and Mr Amjad Khan intervened to put Damini back on track. Mr Santoshi and I also and make Damini as the best film. Whatever personal talks took place, from this side or that, we decided that we won’t comment.”
She added, “And it was the most dignified thing to do. Plus, it was the right thing to do. I went on to marry and lead a respectable life and he too went on to marry and did the same. Yes, we did Ghatak together. But that’s what I said na? We had decided to continue working professionally.”
In another interview with Zoom, she said, “The courage to stand up was important because nobody should be told they aren’t required anymore. It had several implications for rules in the workforce and beyond. I dealt with it by keeping quiet. I just said that I will choose not to comment on this as it is below my dignity to turn this into a fight. This is not a fight.”
Rajkumar Santoshi and Meenakshi’s first film together was Ghayal (1990), marking the filmmaker’s directorial debut. In 1993, they made the film Damini amid various controversies. The actor-director duo once again reunited for the 1996 film Ghatak, which released a year after Meenakshi’s wedding with Harish Mysore in 1995.
Later, Rajkumar Santoshi too tied the knot with Manila, who predominantly worked in Bollywood.
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