Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein is the debut film of actors R. Madhavan and Dia Mirza starring Saif Ali Khan in the lead role. Even though the film didn’t do great business when it first released on the big screen, it eventually became a cult classic. The audience loved the film so much that it was re-released across the country 23 years after its release. Celebrating this achievement, the stars came live on social media and recalled how sad they were when the film didn’t impress the audience.
Recalling a conversation with Madhavan during the promotions of the film, Dia Mirza said that one day when they got a five-minute break together, she told him that it is a very special film and it will really connect with the audience. To which he replied, ‘I hope so’. But when the film released and people did not go to the theatres to watch it, he was disappointed.
The Dhak Dhak actress said, “It broke us; it broke our hearts so much because there was so much anticipation, so much expectations going into it. And we worked so hard.” But she acknowledged the Tanu Weds Manu actor’s work and admitted that he was right about people loving it. She said that even though audiences didn’t go to theatres at the time, they have made time for it again and again over the years and given it so much love.
Furthermore, R. Madhavan said that he was also shocked by the negative response at the box office. This was the time when he started doubting all the efforts that were put into making the film. He said that it was his first film and he had worked on it with utmost sincerity. “Then, we started blaming ourselves whether I would have been fitter or done the film more sincerely, or whether the costumes would have been better… anything. You start looking at the flaws,” he said.
But he is happy that it has been 23 years and the film is getting so much love. But now that he is seeing housefull shows, he is still confused why people want to pay money to watch the film. Why are they coming to the theatre? He questioned whether this means that cinema lovers still want to watch the film on the big screen.
In his conversation, Madhavan also admitted that even though his South Indian films were doing well, he was intimidated by Dia. He told that at that time Dia had won the title of Miss Asia Pacific International in 2000. So he thought to himself that no one would look at her because when Dia comes, the whole room lights up. He also thought that if the film works, it will be because of her.
Though she loved going back in the past and reminiscing about working together, she has now asked filmmakers to cast them together. Mirza said she has known Madhavan for the past 23 years, though they have not worked together in any other film. “I don’t know why this happened. All filmmakers please cast us together,” she said.
Meanwhile, on the work front, Dia was last seen in the limited series, IC 814: The Kandahar Hijack, which released on August 29. Talking about R Madhavan, he worked in Shaitan earlier this year.
Also read: Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein: Dia Mirza recalls being ‘dropped from several projects’ after the film’s box office failure; ‘The film’s popularity soared once…’
