Veteran Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon has opened up about why she turned down Shah Rukh Khan’s 1993 psychological thriller Darr, revealing that she was the first choice for the role that later went to Juhi Chawla.
In an interview, Tandon shared that she was approached by legendary filmmaker Yash Chopra to star opposite Shah Rukh Khan. However, she decided to decline the offer for personal reasons.
“Darr had come to me first,” she recalled. “It was not vulgar, but there were some scenes that I was not comfortable with.”
On her personal boundaries
The Mohra and Andaz Apna Apna star said that during her early years in the industry, she often turned down roles that required intimate or uncomfortable scenes.
“So I used to be uncomfortable with a lot of things,” she said. “I was very uncomfortable with proximity, with people whom I could not… I would not… I’d be very, very like this (leaned back).”
Raveena added that while she wasn’t “snooty,” her reserved nature led people to treat her differently on set. “I was a little uppity at the time, I think. Not snooty — I was always like how I am right now only. So that’s why they treated me like a boy,” she added.
Also rejected Prem Qaidi
Tandon also revealed she had turned down the role of Neelima in Prem Qaidi, which later became Karisma Kapoor’s debut film. The actress said her decisions were driven by comfort and principles rather than ambition.
Yash Chopra’s Darr became a landmark in Indian cinema, redefining Shah Rukh Khan’s career and earning him acclaim for his portrayal of an obsessive lover. The film also starred Sunny Deol and Juhi Chawla and remains one of Bollywood’s most iconic thrillers.
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