Bipasha Basu Furious After Being Tricked into Filming During Curfew in Kashmir; Rahul Dholakia Reveals Crew Was Held Hostage for Hours
Director Rahul Dholakia has recently opened up about the dangers he and his crew faced while filming Lamhaa in Kashmir during a period of heightened militant activities. The 2010 film, which stars Sanjay Dutt and Bipasha Basu, was shot entirely in the Valley, a region grappling with ongoing conflict at the time. In a candid interview with casting director Mukesh Chhabra for Mashable India, Dholakia recounted the harrowing experience of being held hostage by separatist forces for over four hours and revealed how he tricked Bipasha Basu into filming during a curfew, much to her outrage.
Filming Amid Danger in Kashmir
Lamhaa, a film that delves into the complexities of terrorism and insurgency in Kashmir, required an authentic setting, and Dholakia was determined to shoot on location in the Valley despite the risks. However, the decision to film in Kashmir, during a time when the region was rife with terrorist activities and political instability, brought immense challenges for the cast and crew.
Recalling the nerve-wracking experience, Dholakia shared, “I was very stubborn about shooting *Lamhaa* in Kashmir. At that time, there was no functioning government in place, and militants were everywhere. On our very first day of shooting, we were held hostage, along with 10,000 people, for about four to four-and-a-half hours.”
He explained that the crew was shooting in a mandi when separatists surrounded them, locking all the doors and demanding to speak to the film’s producer. “The production staff had hidden themselves, and there was no producer on site. I stepped forward and asked, ‘What is the problem?’ They asked me to come with them, and the CRPF jawans and Jammu Police on duty fled the scene.”
Hostage Situation Unfolds
Dholakia found himself in a room with 400 other individuals, facing accusations from the militants. “They told me, ‘You are against Kashmir,’ and I was held there for more than four hours. A CRPF officer gave me his number and then left,” the director recounted.
Despite the tension, a surprising turn of events occurred when someone among the separatists recognized Dholakia as the director of *Parzania*, a film about the Gulbarg Society massacre during the Gujarat riots. “That recognition helped us. I asked them to let the women from my crew go if they had any issues with me, and they responded, ‘You are in Kashmir, not Hindustan. We respect our women,’” Dholakia revealed.
This mutual respect for women, despite the hostility, ultimately led to the filmmaker and his crew being released safely.
Bipasha Basu’s Outrage Over Curfew Shoot
While the hostage situation was terrifying, Dholakia also revealed how he deceived Bipasha Basu into shooting during a strict curfew in the region. Bipasha, who played a key role in the film, was unaware of the curfew and was initially thrilled by the scenic beauty and calm atmosphere in Kashmir.
“I shot during curfew without telling Bipasha. She was so happy, saying things like ‘Kashmir is so beautiful. There aren’t many people here.’ But when she found out about the curfew later, she was furious. She called me and said, ‘How dare you make me shoot during a curfew?’” Dholakia said with a chuckle. The director admitted that the situation led to tensions on set, but Bipasha eventually returned to complete the film despite her anger.
Casting Challenges and Commitment to Kashmir
In the interview, Dholakia also addressed why he chose Bipasha Basu for the role of a Kashmiri woman, a decision that had drawn some curiosity. According to the director, many actors, including Karisma Kapoor and Deepika Padukone, had initially shown interest in the film but turned down the opportunity to shoot in Kashmir due to safety concerns. Karisma, who had recently become a mother, and Deepika both expressed their unwillingness to take the risk of filming in the volatile region.
Bipasha, however, took on the challenge, though not without hesitation. Following the curfew incident and the hostage scare, the actress briefly left the shoot but returned later to finish her scenes.
A Film in the Midst of Conflict
Lamhaa, which revolves around an undercover Indian Army officer working alongside the daughter of a separatist leader to expose those responsible for extremist attacks, was critically acclaimed for its gritty portrayal of the conflict in Kashmir. However, the behind-the-scenes experiences of the crew further highlight the real-life dangers that accompanied the film’s production.
Dholakia’s determination to shoot Lamhaa in Kashmir, despite the ongoing conflict, underscores his commitment to authenticity in storytelling. Reflecting on the experience, the director shared, “It was risky, but it was the only way to tell the story the way it needed to be told.”
Today, Lamhaa stands as not only a film about the conflict in Kashmir but also as a testament to the challenges and risks faced by filmmakers who dare to bring such stories to life amidst real-world dangers.
