Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is well-known for her Bollywood debut in the 1997 film Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya. However, very few people are aware that Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya was not meant to be her first film. Aishwarya had already begun working on another film before this, alongside actor Sunil Shetty. Unfortunately, the film was never completed, and as a result, it never made it to theaters. Let’s explore what happened to this project and the intriguing story behind it.
The Film That Could Have Been: Hum Bachche Hain Ek Daal Ke
The unreleased film in question was titled Hum Bachche Hain Ek Daal Ke, starring Aishwarya Rai and Sunil Shetty in lead roles. Directed by Shashilal Nair, the movie had an interesting concept and storyline. Despite the promise it held, the film was plagued with issues from the start. Due to these problems, it never saw the light of day. Rahul Dholakia, a filmmaker known for his work in documentaries, recently shed some light on the project, revealing details about why the film was abandoned after almost 30 years of silence surrounding it.
In a recent conversation with casting director Mukesh Chhabra, Rahul Dholakia spoke about Hum Bachche Hain Ek Daal Ke. He disclosed that the film could have been Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s actual debut in Bollywood had it been completed. However, things took a different turn due to the film’s director, Shashilal Nair, whose unusual approach and unreasonable demands contributed to the film’s downfall.
What Went Wrong?
Rahul Dholakia shared some startling revelations about the director’s eccentricities that hindered the production. He described how Nair made bizarre demands that were difficult to fulfill, causing significant delays. One such demand was particularly peculiar: Nair wanted to shoot an action sequence in the Grand Canyon. The scene required large stones to fall, and Nair insisted that each stone be the size of a room. Moreover, he demanded a thousand such stones for the scene. When asked about the number of takes he anticipated for this complex scene, Nair became visibly upset and irate.
According to Dholakia, a substantial portion of the film’s time and budget was wasted on fulfilling these kinds of outlandish requests, which significantly stalled the production process. Eventually, the film’s progress slowed to a halt, and it was never completed or released.
A Missed Opportunity
Had Hum Bachche Hain Ek Daal Ke reached completion, it would have marked the official start of Aishwarya Rai’s Bollywood career. Instead, she made her debut with Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya, which, though notable, didn’t quite make the impact that her later films did. This incident highlights how film production can be disrupted due to creative differences, mismanagement, or even overly ambitious ideas from the filmmakers.
The story of Hum Bachche Hain Ek Daal Ke offers a glimpse into the unpredictable nature of the film industry. What could have been a significant milestone in Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s career was lost due to a combination of creative clashes and impractical demands. It also serves as a reminder that behind the glamour of Bollywood, there are numerous projects that, despite showing great potential, may never reach the audience due to various factors.
