The 1998 film Zakhm, directed by Mahesh Bhatt, is one of the best films in Ajay Devgn’s filmography. Recently, the actor shared that he signed the film while taking a bath because Bhatt wanted him to do it. The film, based on Bhatt’s life, also starred Sonali Bendre and Pooja Bhatt.

In a recent interview with India Today’s sister website Lallantop, Ajay shared his experience of working with Mahesh Bhatt. “It was great working with Mahesh Bhatt. I was playing his character in the film. I remember when I was shooting in Hyderabad… we didn’t have mobile phones then. I was taking a shower and the landline in my room, which was in the bathroom, right next to the shower, rang… I immediately picked up the phone and a voice from the other end said, ‘Mahesh sir wants to talk to you!'”

As soon as Bhatt took the phone, Ajay told him that he was in the bathroom and would talk later. But the filmmaker insisted, “You listen to me, I am directing the last film of my life and after this I am leaving cinema.” After saying this, he started telling Ajay the story of Zakhm.

The actor said, “He started telling the story, but since I was taking a bath, I said, ‘Bhatt sahab, I am taking a bath, I will do the film.’ This is how ‘Zakhm’ was made. After this, he never made any other film. He stuck to his word.”

Ajay also recalled that Zakhm was a great film, not just to watch but to act in. “There were many scenes that did not even have dialogues but the scenes were so powerful that I stood there and performed them in an emotional way,” Ajay said. He also revealed that Mahesh Bhatt did not even ask for retakes. Ajay Devgn won his first National Award for Zakhm.

The actor will next be seen in Neeraj Pandey’s upcoming film ‘Auron Mein Kahaan Dum Tha’, which also stars Tabu in the lead role. The film will release in theatres on August 2 alongside Janhvi Kapoor’s film Uljhan.