Even after two decades, Main Hoon Na continues to enchant Bollywood fans with its unforgettable moments, and one of the most memorable among them remains Sushmita Sen’s entry as Chandni. The breathtaking red saree, the slow-motion walk, the wind brushing through her hair, and Shah Rukh Khan standing awestruck—these visuals have become etched in pop culture history. However, Sushmita recently revealed that shooting those dreamy scenes was far from the effortless elegance seen on screen.
Speaking to Divya Jain, the actress shared that she had to endure harsh weather conditions while filming. “That red saree I was made to wear came out freezing cold,” she recalled. “On top of that, Farah Khan put a massive storm fan because Chandni’s hair needs to fly all the time. If Chandni is in the classroom, her hair is flying; if she’s crying, her hair is flying; even if it’s raining, her hair is flying.” The constant wind, she explained, was a mandatory requirement for the character’s ethereal presence.
Sushmita also admitted she wasn’t thrilled about being in a saree throughout the entire film—especially for her first collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan. “When Farah told me I would be in a saree for the entire film, I said, ‘Please don’t do this to me. This is my first film with Shah Rukh; I want to wear 50,000 different costumes.’ But she said, ‘Trust me, you’re in a saree and that’s it.’”
Farah Khan, known for her meticulous eye, even had very specific instructions for how the saree had to be draped. Sushmita recounted her first costume trial: “The day I wore that red saree and walked out, Farah looked at me and said, ‘Kya lungi baandhi hai? Geeta, take her back.’ After that, Geeta tied it really low. I was worried the whole time—‘Bas yeh gir na jaye!’ The pallu was kept very long.”
She then described filming the now-iconic teacher-student encounter. “When I walked across and SRK being SRK opened his arms, I playfully lifted my hand so the pallu would brush his face. These are the beautiful moments that happen spontaneously on set.” But Farah ensured perfection—“She made us repeat it again and again for multiple angles.”
Despite the challenges, Sushmita credits Farah for creating a character that left an indelible mark. “Though my role wasn’t huge, she made sure Chandni made an impact every time she appeared on screen.”
