Mandira Bedi, who played a supporting role in the 1995 blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), recently shared a challenging memory from the film’s iconic song “Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna.” In an interview on Kareena Kapoor’s talk show What Women Want, Mandira described her experience working with legendary choreographer Saroj Khan as both an honor and a “nightmare.”
Mandira revealed her struggles with dancing, likening the experience to her childhood fear of math exams. “If I have nightmares, even as an adult, it’s about two things—choreographed dance and math exams,” she said. She added that working on the popular wedding song gave her “cold sweats,” as she had difficulty keeping up with the intricate choreography.
Saroj Khan, known for choreographing Bollywood legends like Madhuri Dixit and Govinda, even compared Mandira’s dance moves to those of actor Sunny Deol. Mandira recalled Saroj saying, “You are like Sunny Deol. He shakes his shoulders.” Despite the comparison, Mandira looked back on the experience with humor, calling it unforgettable.
Released in 1995, DDLJ marked Aditya Chopra’s directorial debut and starred Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol in lead roles. The film, celebrated for its music and love story, became the highest-grossing Indian film of the year and a cultural phenomenon. Songs like “Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna” remain wedding staples, even as Mandira’s amusing anecdote adds a personal layer to its legacy.