Bollywood is full of interesting behind-the-scenes stories—some heartwarming, some dramatic, and others a bit spooky. Actress Raveena Tandon recently shared one such chilling memory from the sets of the film Laadla, which starred Anil Kapoor, Sridevi, and Raveena herself.
Divya Bharti Was First Cast in Sridevi’s Role
Not many know that the late actress Divya Bharti was originally chosen for the lead role in Laadla. She had even shot a few scenes before her sudden and tragic death. After her passing, the filmmakers had to find a new actress—and that’s when Sridevi stepped in.
A Scene That Brought Back Memories
Raveena remembered a particular scene she had done earlier with Divya and actor Shakti Kapoor. During the original shoot, Divya had trouble saying one line correctly, and they had to do several retakes.
Sridevi Faced the Same Struggle
Months later, when the shoot resumed, the same scene had to be filmed again—this time with Sridevi. But to everyone’s shock, Sridevi too struggled with the same dialogue line that Divya had found difficult.
Raveena said, “We all got goosebumps. It felt like Divya was still there.”
The Crew Prayed to Calm the Situation
The strange moment left everyone on set feeling uneasy. To bring peace, the cast and crew started chanting the Gayatri Mantra together. Raveena even held Sridevi’s hand and prayed with her. They also broke a coconut—a traditional ritual meant to remove negative energy and start fresh—before continuing the shoot.
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A Bittersweet Ending
Despite the emotional challenges, Laadla was finally completed and released on 25 March 1994. It became a big hit at the box office. Many people believe that Divya Bharti’s spirit and blessings stayed with the film and played a special role in its success.
