Renuka Shahane on being typecast After Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!: 'Didn’t mind it'

Pooja, played by Renuka Shahane, the "perfect girl next door," brought tears to everyone's eyes in the 1994 smash hit Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! Finally, she has opened up about the period when people unfairly labelled her for the role.

No regrets, but industry perceptions were limiting

Renuka stated in an interview with Filme Shilmy that the part never made her feel restricted. The actor did reveal, though, that many in the film industry had trouble seeing her in parts beyond them.

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Renuka revealed that the people who cast actors would never believe she could portray anything with nuanced tones or anything cruel. As an actor, she wishes she could play any number of roles, so it was severely limiting in that regard. Even her television parts were typically of relatable females who were deeply ingrained in the Indian value system, thanks to the profound effect of that role. Renuka only received such parts. However, she had no problem accepting the stereotypes.

Emotional reactions on the film set

Renuka reflected on her time on Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! and saw that the cast and crew were really moved by the photo of her. Each and every one of them was dead serious, as the actor recalled. She checked in with the set to see how things were progressing, and all she could do was watch with a smile on her face while everyone sobbed their eyes out. They remarked that she is sitting here and laughing at them upon spotting her. They told her that she leave the set; they are attempting to do their job, as they shoved her out of the way.

In addition, Renuka shared that the hospital scene was a particularly difficult one for her late co-star Reema Lagoo, who played her mother; as in the movie, she meets her demise. Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, which was directed by Sooraj Barjatya, had Madhuri Dixit and Salman Khan as the main characters.

Renuka Shahane’s upcoming project: Dupahiya

Dupahiya, a web series conceived and written by Chirag Garg and Avinash Dwivedi and directed by Sonam Nair, is Renuka's upcoming outing. The Prime Video series also features Gajraj Rao, Bhuvan Arora, Sparsh Shrivastava, Shivani Raghuvanshi, and Yashpal Sharma. It is set to premiere on March 7, 2025.

Meanwhile, Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! is currently streaming on Prime Video and ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium).

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