Raveena Tandon Reveals Why She Rejected Shah Rukh Khan’s Darr: “I Had My Boundaries”
Raveena Tandon reveals she rejected Darr because Yash Chopra wanted her in a swimsuit for intimate scenes.
Veteran Actress Raveena Tandon has opened up about why she turned down Yash Chopra’s 1993 thriller Darr, which went on to become one of Shah Rukh Khan’s most iconic films. During a recent conversation on ANI’s podcast, Raveena revealed that she was initially offered the role later played by Juhi Chawla. However, she declined the film due to scenes she found uncomfortable at the time.
Raveena explained that while Darr was not vulgar, certain sequences required her to wear a swimming costume and perform scenes she wasn’t comfortable with. “There were things I had drawn a line at,” she said. “It wasn’t about arrogance; it was about having my own comfort zone as a young actor.” The actress emphasized that she always valued maintaining control over her image and the kind of roles she accepted during the early 1990s.
The Andaz Apna Apna star also mentioned another instance when she declined the film Prem Qaidi, citing similar discomfort with certain scenes involving physical proximity. “Even Prem Qaidi was offered to me first,” she revealed, adding that some on-screen elements made her uneasy. Her remarks highlighted how the actress consciously chose projects that aligned with her personal values, even if it meant missing out on major film opportunities.
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Reflecting on that period, Raveena noted that she was often seen as one of the “boys” on film sets because of her straightforward approach and strong work ethic. “I was always like how I am right now. That’s why people treated me like one of the boys,” she said. Her decision to decline films like Darr showcased her commitment to maintaining her integrity rather than prioritizing fame or career advancement.
Released in 1993, Darr went on to become a psychological thriller classic, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Sunny Deol, and Juhi Chawla in lead roles. The film was directed by Yash Chopra and written by Honey Irani and Javed Siddiqui under the Yash Raj Films banner. The movie is remembered for its haunting portrayal of obsession, establishing Shah Rukh Khan as Bollywood’s definitive anti-hero and cementing its place as a landmark in Hindi cinema history.
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