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Shah Rukh Khan and Manisha Koirala starrer Dil Se is a much-loved film but at the time of its release, it did not draw many viewers to the theatres. However, the Mani Ratnam directorial went on to become a cult classic and a fan favourite in the following years. The film’s dialogue writer, director Tigmanshu Dhulia, the film didn’t work because the audience wasn’t appreciative of its climax, in which the main characters don’t get a happy ending.
In a conversation with Lallantop Adda, Tigmanshu was asked about his reaction to Dil Se’s poor feedback. He shared, “I felt really bad when it didn’t work. Despite the fact that it had such amazing songs, including ‘Chaiyya Chaiyya’ and ‘Ae Ajnabi’. In fact, my daughter’s name was inspired by a song. When the music released, I was listening to those songs with her and my daughter was already 2-3 months old by then. My wife said that we will change her name from Shreyasi to Jaansi. In a way, Gulzaar sahab kept my daughter’s name.”
He further added, “I feel that people didn’t want to lead actors to die towards the end, maybe that’s the reason the film didn’t work in the theatres. I think the climax was disappointing for the audience. Because otherwise, the film was sailing through beautifully.”
When asked if there was any discussion to rework the climax as it was a popular trend during the 1970s-1980s, he said, “Mani Ratnam is an artist as a director, I have learnt a lot from him. Director ho toh Mani Ratnam jaisa ho (A director should be like him). He trusted his work, it works r doesn’t, he didn’t care. He would never change any shot, the film works or not.”
Dil Se was set in the backdrop of insurgency in Assam. In the film, Manisha played the role of a terrorist. In an earlier interview with ANI, the actor talked about the film’s ending and said, “As an artist, for me, that was a great opportunity to explore the negative side of the character. I had always played lovable and good roles, but this was different. It was not typical and I liked it. In the original script that we had agreed on, the cause was larger than love for both the characters. In the original version, he lets her die, and that was agreeable to all of us, but they changed it last minute.”
She added, “In the final version, everybody was trying to achieve that his love was so intense for her, and at the same time he couldn’t allow her to go for it, nor allow to live without her. He stops her but dies in that, they were trying to show it as his big sacrifice, the original script didn’t have that. Back then only I had liked the original because there was no way they would have become one. Sometimes unrequited love is more interesting than a completed loved story.”
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