Directed by Rajiv Rai, the 1994 action thriller Mohra starred Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, and Naseeruddin Shah in the lead roles. The film recently completed its 30 years of release on July 1. Akshay and Raveena's sizzling chemistry in Tip Tip Barsa Pani became the highlight of the film. However, Raveena was not the first choice for the film.
Divya Bharti had shot for a few days for the film before her untimely death in 1993, and thus, the makers had to find a new leading lady for Mohra. Shabbir Boxwala, who had written the film along with Rajiv Rai, revealed that Aishwarya Rai and Sridevi were approached for the film but they rejected it before Raveena Tandon came on board.
Talking to Bollywood Hungama, Shabbir had said, "I saw Aishwarya’s pictures and liked them. Rajiv asked me to call her. But she couldn’t do the film as she was preparing for Miss World." In the 1994 Miss India pageant, Aishwarya was the first runner-up, and she won the Miss World title as well. Apart from Mohra, she was also offered Yash Chopra's Darr, which she also refused to prepare for the beauty pageant.
Shabbir further added, "We offered Mohra to Sridevi too. However, we didn’t have big male stars. Akshay and Suniel were not known. So, any heroine would think twice before saying yes to Mohra. Nobody imagined in their wildest dreams that one song Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast would change everything for Akshay and the film."
The writer also shared that Raveena was initially hesitant to do the film because of a kissing scene between her and Akshay in the Tip Tip Barsa Pani song. "Raveena had met Rajiv. She knew that it was a good project but she was apprehensive, as there was a peck in the ‘Tip Tip Barsa Paani’ song. She said that her father won’t appreciate it. To which Rajiv said, ‘Don’t show the film to your dad!'. Finally, she agreed", Shabbir concluded.
Made in just below Rs 4 crore, Mohra earned over Rs 22 crore at the global box office. It was the second highest-grossing Indian film of 1994 after Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit-starrer Hum Aapke Hain Koun. The film's songs including Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast, Tip Tip Barsa Paani, and Na Kajre Ki Dhaar became chartbusters.
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