Shilpa Shetty recalls 'Baazigar' climax: 'I had a scar on my hip for nearly 8-10 years of my life'

Shilpa Shetty has carved a remarkable legacy in Bollywood, with her standout performance in the 1993 thriller 'Baazigar' being one of the highlights of her outstanding career. The film marked her debut and showcased her talent alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol.
The intense finale of 'Baazigar', where Shah Rukh's character sends Shilpa Shetty's character tumbling from a building, has been blowing up on social media lately, especially among younger fans. At a recent film festival, Shilpa talked about some cool behind-the-scenes stories about shooting this unforgettable scene.
Remembering her early days in Bollywood, she said, "I had no knowledge about films at that time, and I didn't know how to approach it. I was like a student on set. I used to be very nervous back then. Because I came from a South Indian background, I never spoke in Hindi on the sets. When I did Aag, I asked Kader Bhai to teach me Urdu, and that's when I learned from scratch. I used to feel very nervous about dialogue deliveries. But all of it is okay because I am able to convey. People understand what I am trying to say".
Talking about the climax scene, she revealed, "Akbar Bhai was the action director for the film, and we shot that scene nearly five times. I had a scar on my hip for nearly 8-10 years of my life because I was asked to wear a harness. Back in those times, we did not have any VFX. So I had to act authentically to show that I was falling and the building was moving. But the makers thought that the scene could be shot better. I have died nearly 15 times."
Shetty praised Khan’s performance, stating, “But when we saw the end product, I think that the shot was an iconic moment of Hindi cinema. Because you wouldn't have seen a hero push an innocent heroine down. Shah Rukh Khan was brilliant. In the 90s, films were made with sheer love and not on a monetary basis.”
Directed by Abbas-Mustan, 'Baazigar' remains a timeless crime thriller, with its intense climax being a major reason it's still so well-loved.