When Hema Malini asked her costume designer to stitch her blouse tighter than usual during Baghban shoot, said, “Amitabh Bachchan’s touch would give me the look…”

When Hema Malini asked her costume designer to stitch her blouse tighter than usual during the Baghban shoot, said, “Amitabh Bachchan’s touch would give me…”

• Hema Malini requested a tighter blouse for an emotional scene in Baghban
• Tabu was first approached for the role but declined due to age concerns
• Baghban is remembered for its portrayal of enduring love and subtle gestures

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When Baghban released in 2003, it arrived quietly but stayed loudly in public memory. The film did not rely on spectacle or novelty. Instead, it leaned on something far more fragile and powerful: long-married love, lived-in emotions, and the unsaid spaces between two people who had grown old together. At the heart of it all were Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini, whose pairing felt less like casting and more like destiny.

Over the years, many scenes from Baghban have been dissected and remembered, but one quiet, intimate moment continues to stand out. Not for its dialogue, but for what happened behind the camera.

In an earlier interview, Renuka Chopra, wife of late director Ravi Chopra, revealed an unusual request Hema Malini made during the shoot. Speaking about a mirror scene involving Amitabh Bachchan, Renuka recalled how deeply thought-through the moment was.

“There was a scene where she was getting ready, standing in front of a mirror. At that time, Raj comes from behind and, upon seeing her, says, ‘Wow,’” Renuka shared.

According to her, Hema Malini asked the costume team to stitch her blouse tighter than usual for that particular scene. The reason had nothing to do with glamour and everything to do with emotional truth.

“Hema asked me to stitch her blouse a bit tight so that when Amit ji comes, he can fasten it tightly,” Renuka said.

The intention behind the request revealed how seriously the actress approached even the smallest gesture. Renuka further added, “She said, ‘That touch would give me the look I want’ — one that conveyed, ‘He’s touched me. After so many years of being married, it meant so much.’”

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It was not about sensuality. It was about familiarity. About how a simple touch, after decades of shared life, can still carry weight. Renuka summed it up simply: “She is a very romantic person in real life.”

Interestingly, the role of Pooja Malhotra almost went to someone else. In the same conversation, Renuka revealed that before finalising Hema Malini, the makers had approached Tabu. The actress reportedly declined, not wanting to play the mother of four children at the age of 36. The role eventually went to Hema Malini — and Hindi cinema gained one of its most tender portrayals of enduring love.