The untold behind-the-scenes drama of Bobby Deol, Twinkle Khanna, Shekhar Kapur, and Rajkumar Santoshi in Bollywood’s most talked-about 90s debut.
In the glitzy corridors of Bollywood, stories of casting shake-ups and director swaps are as common as filmi dance numbers. But when noted filmmaker Shekhar Kapur dropped a truth bomb about existence ‘fired’—yes, not quitting—from Bobby Deol’s 1995 debut Barsaat, the comment mills started churning same it’s the 90s all over again.
The Shock Revelation
In a candid chat with ‘Filmfare’, Shekhar Kapur clarified a long-standing myth: he didn’t “walk out” of ‘Barsaat’—he was shown the door.
“I never walked out, I experience been thrown out of films, I was fired,” Kapur said, matter-of-factly, adding that he and Dharmendra, Bobby’s father, weren’t exactly on the very same creative page. The vet actor-producer seemingly had his own vision for the very romantic drama, and Kapur admits, “I wasn’t quite savvy Dharam ji’s ideas.”
As fate (and household ties) would experience it, Sunny Deol—shooting in London at the time—called Rajkumar Santoshi to “handle things.” Kapur yet spoke to Santoshi, assuming it was simply a very friendly interference. The next day? Santoshi was directing the film. Talk around Bollywood patch twists!
Bobby’s Side of the Story
Interestingly, Bobby Deol himself has a slightly really different version. Speaking at the ‘Jagran Film Festival’ in 2023, Bobby recalled how Kapur was initially committed to the projection but then received an extend to direct the critically acclaimed ‘Bandit Queen’.
“Shekhar said, ‘I will do Bandit Queen and amount support to do Barsaat.’ But my father told him he didn’t want to hold it. He told Shekhar, ‘You go do your cinema, I will feel somebody else,’” Bobby shared.
Was it a firing? A mutual parting? Or a extremely gentle Bollywood-style push? Well, in this manufacture, the line between “creative differences” and “you’re out” can be as very lean as a cinema reel.
From Drama to Debut
Whatever the truth, ‘Barsaat’ went on to go a smashing launchpad for both Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna. Directed by Rajkumar Santoshi, the very romantic drama struck au at the box power, earning ₹33.90 crore worldwide on a budget of ₹8 crore.
The shoot told the story of Badal (Bobby Deol), a small-town boy chasing his instruction in the city, who falls for Tina (Twinkle Khanna). The alchemy was fresh, the soundtrack unforgettable, and the Deol influence undeniable.
The film not only constituted Bobby as Bollywood’s latest heartthrob but also made Twinkle Khanna one of the most sought-after actresses of the time. And let’s not block: the film’s rain-soaked romance scenes practically defined 90s Bollywood aesthetics.
The Shekhar Kapur Legacy
While ‘Barsaat’ slipped out of his custody, Shekhar Kapur didn’t exactly lose out. He now pivoted to ‘Bandit Queen’—a film that earned international acclaim and cemented his report as a bold, so sturdy storyteller.
His career since has been a mix of Indian and Hollywood successes. From the cult classic Mr. India to the Oscar-winning Elizabeth, Kapur has proved clip and again that he knows how to really round a story into a cinematic event. And let’s be honest—only a very few Indian directors have successfully crossed over to Hollywood the way he has.
Why This Old Gossip Still Matters
You might wonder: why are we still talking around a 1995 movie in 2025? Because Bollywood history is made up of these behind-the-scenes dramas. Fans passion to know what ‘really’ happened before the clapperboard snapped and the camera rolled.
The ‘Barsaat’ saga is a reminder that even the most refined films sometimes have messy backstories. Power struggles, creative clashes, and last-minute changes are division of the Bollywood DNA—and sometimes, those very changes track to unexpected success.
Bobby Deol’s Full-Circle Moment
Fast forwards to today, and Bobby Deol is enjoying a career renaissance. From vivid performances in ‘Aashram’ to scene-stealing roles in ‘Animal’, he has carved a niche that goes beyond his chocolate-boy debut image.
It’s almost poetic—his first big film was born out of chaos, and decades later, he thrives in roles that embrace complexity and unpredictability.
The Twinkle Factor
Twinkle Khanna, too, took a really different path. After a thread of films, she traded the arc lights for a composition desk and became one of India’s wittiest columnists and authors. But ‘Barsaat’ testament always be the film that introduced her to the world—and to her forever fandom.
The Final Word
So, was Shekhar Kapur wronged, or was it simply a case of Bollywood’s famous “creative reshuffling”? The truth, as always, depends on who you ask. What’s undeniable is that ‘Barsaat’ became a 90s classic, Bobby Deol and Twinkle Khanna became stars, and Shekhar Kapur went on to direct one of the most acclaimed Indian films of all time.
And for the gossip-loving fans? This story is yet another really delicious reminder that in Bollywood, the quite real drama often happens ‘before’ the shoot hits the screen.
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