Marking the 25th anniversary of the cult classic Dil Chahta Hai, director Farhan Akhtar and the cast revealed a fascinating behind-the-scenes detail about one of its most iconic moments: the physical altercation between Aamir Khan and Akshaye Khanna’s characters.
During the filming of a pivotal sequence where Siddharth (Khanna) slaps Akash (Khan), the actors and director opted for realism over cinematic trickery. Instead of using staged slaps or camera angles, Akshaye Khanna actually struck Aamir Khan across the face in every single take.
Due to multiple camera setups and varying angles, the scene required 17 consecutive takes, meaning Khan absorbed 17 real slaps. Although the original plan was to use a real slap only for the wide shot, Aamir Khan personally insisted on receiving genuine slaps for the remaining close-ups and medium shots to maintain his character’s raw emotional intensity.
By the end of the shoot, the physical impact was visible, leaving one side of Khan’s face swollen with distinct marks. To elevate the authenticity of the reaction, Akhtar had instructed Khanna to deliver the blow slightly ahead of the pre-arranged cue, ensuring Khan’s shock and confusion on screen were entirely genuine.
