“I cannot forget you, and I won’t let you forget me.” That memorable line still echoes in our minds. It belongs to the classic romantic film ‘Dhadkan,’ starring Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, and Shilpa Shetty. This beloved movie just turned 25 years old. Released on August 11, 2000, ‘Dhadkan’ continues to captivate audiences. People still tune in whenever it airs on television. Its story and songs remain cherished favorites.
Even today, fans celebrate ‘Dhadkan’ for its charm and enduring appeal. But behind the scenes, making this film was quite a journey. It took a surprising four and a half to five years to complete. The reason? Many changes happened during production. Dharmesh Darshan directed the film. However, he was busy shooting his other movie, ‘Mela,’ when he was first signed for ‘Dhadkan.’ This scheduling conflict caused significant delays.
The film’s central roles, Ram, Anjali, and Dev, saw many actors come and go before the final cast was chosen. Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty, and Shilpa Shetty eventually brought these characters to life. The role of Dev, played by Sunil Shetty, had a particularly winding path. Initially, Sanjay Dutt was set to play Dev. But then, he went to jail. Sunil Shetty stepped in to fill the void.
Sunil Shetty was also quite busy with other films at the time. So, he had to leave ‘Dhadkan’ midway through production. Arbaaz Khan was then chosen to play Dev, and some scenes were even filmed with him. Yet, the makers soon felt that Sunil Shetty was the perfect fit for Dev. In the end, Sunil Shetty returned to complete the role, and his performance became iconic.
Akshay Kumar was not the first choice for the character of Ram either. The role was first offered to Anil Kapoor and Ajay Devgn. They both turned it down. Only then was Akshay Kumar finalized for the part.
Another surprising addition to the cast was Mahima Chaudhry. Her character, Sheetal Verma, was not in the original script. But during the film’s shooting, Mahima Chaudhry gained huge popularity from Subhash Ghai’s film ‘Pardes.’ The makers decided to add her to ‘Dhadkan’ to tap into her newfound fame. Before Mahima, the role of Sheetal Verma was offered to Sushmita Sen, who declined. Rani Mukerji and Raveena Tandon were also approached but said no. Finally, Mahima Chaudhry took on the role.
The ending of ‘Dhadkan,’ which everyone loves today, was also quite different at first. The initial climax had Dev dying after Anjali tells him she is pregnant with Ram’s child. However, the filmmakers decided the movie needed a happy ending. So, they changed the climax to what we see now.
The film’s title, ‘Dhadkan,’ even faced a legal battle before its release. Goyal Cine Corporation and United Seven Combines claimed rights to the title. A court decision was needed to settle the dispute. Rajat Jain was eventually allowed to use the title, and the film finally became ‘Dhadkan.’ This legal challenge also added to the film’s delayed release.
The music of ‘Dhadkan’ was a massive hit, too. It was the second-highest selling album that year, right after ‘Mohabbatein.’ Composers Nadeem-Shravan made a grand comeback with this film. Sameer penned all the lyrics. A fun fact: the word “Dhadkan” (heartbeat) is featured in every single song from the movie’s soundtrack.
One of the most popular songs, “Dulhe Ka Sehra,” is still a wedding anthem today. The legendary singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan lent his voice to it. Originally, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was supposed to appear on screen in the song. However, he passed away before the shooting could happen. Because of this, Kader Khan appeared on screen as the singer instead.
Speaking of songs, “Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hai Dil Se” took an astounding four and a half years to shoot. The initial part of the song was filmed in Switzerland. Then, the movie production halted for a year to a year and a half. The next portion of the song was shot at a completely different location. When Akshay Kumar joined, his parts were filmed separately. The segment “Kaise Aankhen Chaar Kar Lo” alone took four and a half years to complete filming.
Sunil Shetty’s performance as Dev earned him his only Filmfare Award for Best Villain. This decision, however, drew criticism from many at the time. They argued that Sunil Shetty’s character was not truly a villain in the film. Despite these behind-the-scenes struggles and the long production, ‘Dhadkan’ carved a special place in people’s hearts, proving that true passion can overcome any obstacle.