‘Sunil Dutt told me to sit in a corner and cry, barred me from meeting anyone’: Sheeba says he made her a method actor

Actors have contrasting views on method acting. While some embrace it as their go-to technique, others dismiss it as impractical. Veteran actor Sheeba Akashdeep Sabir, however, recently shared how she was introduced to the technique by the legendary actor and filmmaker Sunil Dutt during her debut Hindi film Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi. In a recent conversation, Sheeba revealed how Sunil Dutt, the film’s director, refrained her from meeting any cast members to maintain the emotional intensity of her character.

Speaking to Bollywood Hungama, Sheeba recounted, “I did method acting in my first film. While shooting the climax, they were pouring kerosene on me to burn me alive for dowry. Before filming the scene, Dutt sahab didn’t let me speak to my co-stars or even my staff. He told me, ‘Sit in a corner and cry all day because you are getting burnt, and I want you in that frame of mind.’ So, Dutt sahab taught me method acting—staying immersed in the character’s mood and not stepping out of it. At that time, we didn’t even have phones to distract us.” She added, “Since that day, I’ve never used glycerine for crying scenes.”

In Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi, Sunil Dutt not only directed but also starred in the lead role alongside Rekha. The film’s music and lyrics were composed by the renowned Ravindra Jain.

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Sheeba also recalled another instance involving Sunil Dutt during an earlier interview. She revealed that Dutt became upset when she signed Rajinikanth’s Athisaya Piravi while still working on Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi. Dutt didn’t want her to take on another project—especially one with a superstar like Rajinikanth—because he wanted Yeh Aag Kab Bujhegi to release first and not be overshadowed by the Rajinikanth-starrer.

Sheeba’s most recent appearance on the big screen was in Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt’s Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani, directed and produced by Karan Johar.