Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty Were Close to Marriage, Says Jaanwar Director

Akshay Kumar and Shilpa Shetty were once so close that they were reportedly considering marriage, according to filmmaker Suneel Darshan, who directed the actors in the 1999 film Jaanwar. Speaking about their relationship during the making of the film, Darshan recalled that the two shared a strong bond and appeared to be heading towards marriage. He said their relationship eventually ended following misunderstandings, bringing an end to one of Bollywood’s widely discussed romances of the 1990s.

Darshan said he believed Akshay and Shilpa were “almost getting married” while they were working together. According to the filmmaker, their relationship was strong at the time, but circumstances changed and the couple eventually separated. Akshay and Shilpa had worked together in several films during the period, including Main Khiladi Tu Anari, Insaaf, Jaanwar and Dhadkan. Their professional association and reported relationship made them one of the prominent on-screen pairs of that era.

The filmmaker also recalled the difficult phase in Akshay’s career before Jaanwar. According to Darshan, several producers had become reluctant to work with the actor after a series of unsuccessful films. The situation changed significantly following the release of Jaanwar, which became a commercial success. Darshan said the film provided Akshay’s stardom with a major boost and helped accelerate projects that had previously been put on hold.

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Among the projects that gained momentum after the success of Jaanwar were films such as Hera Pheri and Dhadkan. Darshan credited the success of the 1999 film with helping change the perception around Akshay’s commercial prospects. The actor subsequently became one of the most established stars in Hindi cinema, while Jaanwar remained an important film in his career trajectory.

Darshan also revealed that Shilpa was not initially his first choice for the female lead in Jaanwar. He said her casting came after his mother suggested her name and encouraged him to consider the actress for the role. The director initially felt that Shilpa’s image did not naturally fit the character because she was then largely associated with glamorous roles, while the part required her to portray a more traditional woman who appeared in sarees.

Despite his initial reservations, Darshan decided to cast Shilpa and later felt that the decision had worked well. He said the actress successfully adapted to the role and delivered the performance required for the film. His recollections offer a glimpse into the making of Jaanwar, while also revisiting the personal and professional association between Akshay and Shilpa during a significant period in both their careers.

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