Subhash Ghai was hesitant about Khalnayak’s song Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai, singer Ila Arun’s mother disapproved of it: ‘We cannot make this’

However, when he first recited the lyrics to Ghai, the filmmaker was ‘shocked’ and expressed reservations, saying, “No, we can’t make this.” Yet, when he encountered the line, ‘Yeh dil main dungi apne yaar ko,’ he was convinced and decided to go ahead with the song.

The song ‘Choli Ke Peeche’ created quite a stir at the time due to its provocative undertones and its open discussion of female desire. Singer Ila Arun lent her distinctive voice to this blockbuster track.

In an interview with Hindustan Times, Ila revealed that her mother disapproved of the song. “She told me, ‘Yeh Kya gaana gaya hai, apna star itna mat girao ki kuch bhi gana ga do ?’ (What have you sung? Don’t fall down so much that you have sing anything). Later, she realised that it was a good song and praised me, but initially, she didn’t like me singing the song,” she said.

During his conversation with TOI, Subhash Ghai also disclosed that Anil Kapoor had approached him for the role of Ballu. Ghai, however, felt Kapoor wouldn’t fit the part and cast Sanjay Dutt in the role. He said, “I told Anil ‘Ye tujhe suit nahi karega. Tu jaega, main jauga aur ye film bhi jaege‘ (I told Anil this part won’t suit you, you won’t work, I won’t work, this film won’t work).” There were also rumours that Aamir Khan had approached Ghai for the same role, but the filmmaker clarified that Aamir had reached out to him for his 1991 film, Saudagar.

Khalnayak emerged as the second highest-grossing film of its release year (1993), following Aankhen. The movie secured 11 nominations at the Filmfare Awards and was a massive success at the box office.