Hema Malini recalls painful barefoot dance shoot for the iconic Sholay song
Hema Malini recalls the tough circumstances behind her iconic Jab Tak Hai Jaan dance sequence.
Hema Malini focuses on the making of her iconic dance sequence as long as there is lifeWhich shows how physically demanding the shoot was. The actor shared that he danced barefoot on hot rocks during the scorching heat, enduring pain to bring to life one of the most memorable moments of Hindi cinema, despite his mother’s concerns.
talking to IANS Celebrating a magazine cover launch Sholay’s On the milestone anniversary, Hema Malini recalls shooting the song barefoot in the rocky terrain during extreme heat. “My mother was very concerned about me dancing barefoot on the rocks, especially given the extreme heat,” he said, adding that the shooting took place in punishing conditions in May.
Talking about the challenges on the sets, the actor said, “The sand, mud and especially the rocks were unbearably hot. Even stepping barefoot on the stones was very painful. My mother was worried and suggested that I wear thin soles under my feet so that there would not be much pain.”
However, that temporary solution did not last long. Hema Malini revealed Director Ramesh Sippy Noticed the adjustment immediately. “Rameshji saw this immediately and asked me to remove it. He explained that it would be visible on the screen during the dance movements and it would not look right.”
The actress also shared that she had tried to convince the filmmaker to reschedule the shoot to cooler weather. “I tried my best to convince Ramesh Sippy to shoot the song in November or December. I told him that it would be very hot in May and I would be able to dance better if we avoided that heat. But he was very adamant and said that he wanted it to be shot in May only.”
Once the shooting ended, the physical damage became impossible to ignore. She said, “After the shoot, I would soak my feet in cold water and wrap them in a cold towel to reduce the pain. I think my years of practicing Bharatanatyam have given my legs and feet the strength to bear it.”
Released in 1975, cinder became One of the most famous films of Indian cinema. Along with Hema Malini, the film starred Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Amjad Khan and Sachin Pilgaonkar, creating characters and moments that still live on screen and in the memory.
