In a recent interview with Siddharth Kanan, choreographer-director Ahmed Khan shared heartwarming anecdotes from his time as a child artist on the set of the iconic film “Mr India.” Directed by Shekhar Kapur and starring Sridevi and Anil Kapoor, “Mr India” remains one of India’s most beloved films. Ahmed Khan’s reflections shed light on the off-screen camaraderie and Sridevi’s playful nature, which stood in stark contrast to her reserved off-camera persona.
Ahmed Khan revealed that Sridevi had a unique way of breaking the ice with the child artists on set. He recalled a particularly intense day of filming, where the tension was high due to the serious nature of the scene—a hospital sequence following a bomb blast. Sridevi decided to lighten the mood by offering the children ice cream. However, there was a catch: they had to teach her some break-dancing moves in return. Ahmed fondly remembered, “She took us to one of the doctor’s rooms and offered us ice cream. She said, ‘I’m not giving you this because I like you; you have to teach me break-dancing.’ So we taught her some moves. That’s how our friendship began.”
Sridevi’s Reserved Nature and On-Camera Transformation
Ahmed Khan also touched upon Sridevi’s dual nature—reserved off-camera and transformative when the cameras were rolling. He compared her to Michael Jackson, noting how she could switch from being quiet and reserved to fully embodying her character, Seema, once filming began. “Off-camera, she would be reserved, but once the camera began rolling, she became Seema and would snap out of it once the director said cut. It was like Michael Jackson, who spoke softly but exploded on stage. We would think, how did she do this? She was mahaan (great),” Ahmed explained. He mentioned that although Sridevi wasn’t initially friendly with the children on set, this dynamic changed over time, leading to genuine bonds.
Upcoming Projects
Currently, Ahmed Khan is making waves in the film industry as a director. He is at the helm of the much-anticipated film “Welcome to the Jungle,” which boasts a star-studded cast including Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Disha Patani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Arshad Warsi, Suniel Shetty, Johnny Lever, Shreyas Talpade, and Tusshar Kapoor. Ahmed has previously directed popular films such as “Lakeer,” “Fool & Final,” “Baaghi 2,” “Baaghi 3,” and “Heropanti 2.”
Ahmed Khan’s reminiscences about working with Sridevi on “Mr India” not only provide a nostalgic glimpse into the making of an iconic film but also highlight the behind-the-scenes interactions that contributed to its enduring charm.