Did You Know Mani Ratnam planned a Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol film before Dil Se? Here’s what went wrong

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Mani Ratnam’s 1998 movie “Dil Se” is one of his most enduring masterpieces, continuing to resonate with viewers even today. Interestingly, it was initially intended to be the film “Alai Payuthey,” starring Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. However, Ratnam found himself unable to complete a crucial aspect of the project, causing him to instead produce “Dil Se.

According to PTI’s report from the G5A Retrospective open forum, filmmaker Mani Ratnam shared his creative journey. He mentioned that he initially planned to work with Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol on a project called Alai Payuthey. He narrated the story to Shah Rukh who agreed, but the final aspect of the plot was still unresolved at the time. Therefore, they decided to move forward with Dil Se instead.

It wasn’t until the film was finished that the filmmaker discovered the missing element for Alai Payuthey; however, he harbored some doubts about revisiting the concept.

Nonetheless, Mani Ratnam conceded that there’s an ongoing feeling of doubt, even following the completion of a script. The creative journey persists with its fluid nature, as he continually seeks more, even throughout the filming process.

For the unversed, Saathiya, the Hindi adaptation of Alai Payuthey, was directed by Shaad Ali.

In the movie Dil Se, Manisha portrays a female character who is a suicide bomber and a terrorist. Towards the end of the film, Shah Rukh Khan’s character sacrifices his life to prevent her from detonating an explosive device she was carrying. However, during an interview with ANI, Manisha disclosed that the movie’s original ending was significantly different from what viewers experienced.

Originally, the film’s focus leaned towards the characters’ personal struggles rather than their romantic feelings, with SRK’s character contemplating letting her go. However, this was changed at the last minute. Manisha Koirala favored the initial ending, stating that it enhanced the emotional distance between the characters and underscored the unattainable nature of their relationship.

She believed that the revised ending, which highlighted SRK’s sacrifice, steered attention away from the fundamental concept of the movie. To her, the initial ending, centered around unrequited love, had a stronger emotional impact and seemed more authentic compared to the love story that ended with a clear resolution.

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2025-01-26 08:37