Tabu refused Hema Malini’s role in Baghban as she didn’t want to play mom of four, was scolded by her aunt: ‘Chhappal se maarungi’

Producer Renu Chopra, wife of filmmaker Ravi Chopra, revealed that Tabu was the first choice to play Amitabh Bachchan's wife in Baghban.

By: Entertainment Desk

Chennai | Updated: February 24, 2025 03:39 PM IST

3 min read

Tabu was the first choice to play lead role in Baghban. (Pic: IMDB)

Tabu and Amitabh Bachchan were paired opposite each other in R. Balki’s acclaimed 2007 film Cheeni Kum. However, the two could have shared screen space much earlier in the 2003 film Baghban—had Tabu accepted the role which was later essayed by Hema Malini. In a recent interaction, producer Renu Chopra, wife of filmmaker Ravi Chopra, revealed that Tabu was the first choice to play Amitabh Bachchan’s wife in the film. However, the actress turned down the role, which eventually went to Hema Malini. Tabu would have been 36 at the time while Amitabh was 65.

During an interaction with Pinkvilla, Renu shared that although Tabu was deeply moved after listening to Baghban’s story, she refused to be part of the film. “We thought of casting Tabu, and she insisted on listening to the film’s script. She cried and all that. She loved the script. I thought she was definitely going to say yes to the film. Somebody was sitting with me, and she said, ‘When Tabu cries listening to the script of a film, she never does that film.'”

When Renu confronted Tabu about her decision, the actress politely declined the offer, explaining her reasons. “I asked this to Tabu, ‘You won’t do the film?’ She said she loved the story but she doesn’t want to portray a mother of four children. She said, ‘My whole career is ahead of me, so Ravi ji, mujh maaf kardo (Ravi ji, please forgive me).'”

Also read | Saroj Khan recalls training a broke Govinda for free during struggling days; he later repaid her by quietly giving Rs 4 lakh for her treatment: ‘Doctors declared I can’t be saved’

However, after the film was released, Tabu’s aunt reprimanded her for rejecting the role. “After two years of this conversation, when the film released in theatres, Tabu was in Hyderabad and she went to see the film with her aunt and uncle. She told them that she was offered the film but refused the role. Her aunt reprimanded her, saying, ‘Ye chhappal nikalke tumhare sir pe marungi. Why did you say no to this film? (I will beat you with a slipper).'”

Baghban, directed by Ravi Chopra and co-written and produced by B. R. Chopra, was a massive success at the box office but received mixed reviews from critics. Hema, who played Bachchan’s wife in the film, said in a later interview that even she had reservations regarding the role. She had told Lehren in an interview, “I remember when I was hearing the story from Ravi Chopra, my mother was sitting with me. After he left, I said, ‘Chaar itne bade bade ladka ka role karne ko bol raha hai (He’s asking me to play the mother of four grown-ups). How can I do this.’ But my mother said, ‘No no no, you must do it. The story is very good. You must do it.’ How she was after me. I said, ‘Okay, I’ll do it.'”

From the homepage