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Filmmaker Hid Twist from Star Until Mid-Shoot
17 Aug
Summary
- Director concealed Aishwarya Rai's character arc during filming.
- Cast and crew discovered the shocking twist halfway through shooting.
- Rai learned of her betrayal role only after an on-set injury.
Rajkumar Santoshi, director of the 2004 neo-noir thriller 'Khakee,' employed an unusual tactic by withholding key plot details from lead actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Santoshi deliberately kept Rai unaware of her character Mahalakshmi's eventual betrayal for a significant portion of the filming.
This secret was not confined to Rai; the filmmaker also kept co-stars Amitabh Bachchan, Ajay Devgn, and Akshay Kumar uninformed. They were only briefed on Mahalakshmi's full arc midway through the production, expressing shock and concern about Rai's potential reaction to the twist.
Rai's opportunity to learn the complete story came after a leg injury sustained on set. Santoshi visited her and revealed the entire narrative arc to her and her parents, who reportedly viewed the unexpected character development as an interesting and unique opportunity.
Santoshi explained his reasoning for the secrecy, stating that he feared if Rai knew her character's full trajectory early on, it might subconsciously influence her performance. The actress ultimately embraced the role, and Mahalakshmi's betrayal became a pivotal surprise in the film.
