Bollywood’s classic horror film Raaz remains a memorable part of the genre, thanks to its chilling narrative and the palpable on-screen chemistry between its leads, Dino Morea and Bipasha Basu. However, what many fans may not know is the behind-the-scenes drama that unfolded during the film’s production. The real-life breakup between Morea and Basu significantly impacted the film’s shoot, particularly a key wedding song.
In a recent interview with News 18 Showsha, director Vikram Bhatt opened up about the challenges faced during the production of Raaz. Bhatt recalled a particularly tense moment when the couple’s deteriorating relationship began affecting their work. “I remember a tragicomic situation where we were shooting for their wedding song, ‘Main Agar Saamne’. There’s this line in the song – ‘Apni Shaadi Ke Din Abb Nahi Door Hain’ – and it was during this scene that they were both fighting. I remember Bipasha crying and Dino unhappy,” Bhatt revealed.
The irony of filming a wedding song while the couple’s relationship was falling apart created a surreal atmosphere on set. Bhatt shared that he had to manage the situation delicately to ensure the film’s progress. “I told them, ‘Guys, you can’t fight! We’re shooting a shaadi ka song. Why don’t you have a ceasefire for two days?’ And then we had lunch together. But yes, their relationship was falling apart. I’m not the kind of person who goes into the personal lives of his actors. So, I don’t know what had transpired. Soon after Raaz, it completely fell apart,” he explained.
Interestingly, Bipasha Basu was not the original choice for the female lead in Raaz. Lisa Ray was initially cast in the role but had to withdraw due to personal reasons. It was Dino Morea, who suggested his girlfriend, Bipasha Basu, as her replacement. Bhatt recalled, “Dino was someone who Mukesh (Bhatt; producer) ji had suggested. I remember editing Kasoor at that point in time and he came to meet me. At that time, Bipasha and Dino were dating. He said to me, ‘Why don’t you meet Bipasha? She might be good for the film.’”
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Before joining Raaz, Bipasha Basu was working on Ajnabee with Abbas-Mustan, which was written by Robin Bhatt, a senior colleague of Vikram Bhatt. Impressed by her work in Ajnabee, Bhatt decided to meet her. “I called him up and asked him about her and he told me that she’s really good. I narrated the script of Raaz to her and she came onboard,” Bhatt shared.
On the other hand, Dino Morea had faced a setback with his previous film, Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi, which did not perform well at the box office. “He was obviously a good-looking boy who had a career in front of him. It was Lisa who was supposed to play Bipasha’s role and we did one schedule with her and Dino. Unfortunately, she had some personal issues because of which she couldn’t continue the shoot,” Bhatt added.
Despite the personal challenges faced by the lead actors, Raaz went on to become a significant success, helping to revitalize Morea’s career and establishing Basu as a leading actress in Bollywood. The film’s success was a testament to the cast and crew’s dedication, despite the tumultuous circumstances surrounding its production.
