30 years of HAHK: Two dogs played the pet Tuffy in the Salman Khan-Madhuri Dixit starrer

This year is significant for Rajshri Productions’ classic Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! as the film completes 30 years (it was released on today’s date in 1994). Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, the movie is loved and admired the same way even after three decades. It had an ensemble cast of Salman Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Renuka Shahane, Mohnish Bahl, Anupam Kher, Laxmikant Berde, Alok Nath, Reema Lagoo, Satish Shah, etc.But despite the long list of known actors, the pet dog shown in the film, named Tuffy, also had a significant role. In fact, after the release of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, there was a high demand for this breed of pet dogs amongst the general public.It would come as a surprise to many that the makers used two dogs to play the single character of Tuffy. This trivia was shared with Bollywood Hungama exclusively by three individuals from Rajshri Productions – Managing Director Kamal Kumar Barjatya, Director Ajit Kumar Barjatya and General Manager PK Gupta.“The person (who supplied the dog) used to stay in Pune,” said Ajit Kumar Barjatya. “His name was CG Shelar. Those were two dogs. He used to breed and train them. They looked the same. He used to bring them from Pune for the film’s shoot.”Sooraj Barjatya’s earlier film Maine Pyar Kiya had a pigeon who had a significant role, especially in the song ‘Kabootar Ja Ja Ja’. Interestingly, for that film, the makers had used not one but several pigeons. The same person had supplied the pigeons as well. “We had also taken his service earlier for the pigeons in Maine Pyar Kiya. He used to bring the dogs and pigeons in taxi from Pune. There was not just one pigeon but many more. It was as per the requirement. We had to have a standby,” added Ajit Kumar Barjatya.Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! is a remake of Rajshri Productions’ own 1982 film Nadiya Ke Paar. Directed by Govind Moonis, it starred Sachin Pilgaonkar and Sadhana Singh in lead roles. “There was a Bhojpuri touch more in Nadiya Ke Paar,” said Kamal Kumar Barjatya. “So, it did well only where this language was spoken. In smaller centres, it did better than Sholay. But the film didn’t do well in other places. So, we thought why not try out this subject since it is so powerful? So, it was re-modelled by Sooraj ji.”Before the release of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, the makers asked the theatres that they need to upgrade their sound system to ultra stereo if they wish to showcase the film in their theatre. The entire Liberty cinema in Mumbai went through a technical upgrading process and also renovation specially for this film. “We released it in one cinema in Mumbai in Liberty for 2-3 weeks. Then we started adding after a few weeks,” said Ajit Kumar Barjatya.Kamal Kumar Barjatya added, “Liberty had agreed for that (to upgrade sound system), and it cost them Rs 10-12 lakhs at that time. Before our film, only two theatres in India had ultra-stereo – Sterling in Mumbai and Priya in Delhi. Later, we did away with the restriction about the sound. We let it screen in normal cinemas.”Speaking about the box office triumph of Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, Ajit Kumar Barjatya said, “We started with one cinema in Mumbai city. But in the 25th week of the film, we had the film running in 25 cinemas. Just imagine! Normally, a film is released in a lot of cinemas initially and then the theatres start reducing in the subsequent weeks. But our film kept getting increased. In fact, it ran for 100 weeks in four cinemas of India, including Liberty.”Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Himani Shivpuri recalls Salman Khan’s prankster attitude on sets of Hum Aapke Hain Koun when he lifted her in his arms: “I reacted and I gave him a slap”