Juhi Chawla and Rishi Kapoor first appeared together in the 1992 film ‘ Bol Radha Bol .’ Their final on-screen collaboration, ‘ Sharmaji Namkeen ,’ had an OTT release on March 31, 2022. This film marks Rishi Kapoor's last project, as he passed away in 2020 after completing a significant portion of the shoot.
The remaining scenes were finished by Paresh Rawal . Director Hitesh Bhatia described his debut film as a "roller-coaster" but assured that it contains a "mix of ingredients" making it a "good film." Juhi Chawla, reminiscing about the experience , expressed how the journey of ‘Sharmaji Namkeen’ was both enjoyable and bittersweet.
She praised the dedication of the makers to complete the film after Rishi Kapoor's demise. Juhi then shared in an interview that a few weeks after Rishi Kapoor's passing, Ritesh Sidhwani from Excel Entertainment assured her that they would complete the film ‘Sharmaji Namkeen’ despite his death. Juhi expressed her commitment to the project, highlighting her love for the film and her experience working with Rishi Kapoor.
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' She fondly remembered her experiences working with Rishi Kapoor, describing how she was initially in awe of him and often fumbled her lines. Over time, she became more comfortable, though it remained a learning experience. On the sets of the movie, she recounted how Rishi Kapoor would often scold her, a dynamic she found endearing and amusing, as his scoldings were always affectionate and made her giggle.
The actress further praised the script of ‘Sharmaji Namkeen,’ saying it was perfect for Rishi Kapoor and that she could hear him speaking the lines as she read them. She recalled a memorable moment on set when Rishi Kapoor chastised her for checking the monitor after every take, calling her an "insecure actor." Juhi found this amusing and explained that while Rishi Kapoor was effortless in his scenes, she would check the monitor to see if she had performed well.
Despite his scoldings, she found the experience fun and enjoyable. At the same time, director Hitesh Bhatia mentioned that Rishi Kapoor never watched his takes on the monitor, believing it was the director's job to review the footage. Even when asked, Rishi would refuse, saying, "It's your job.
I don't want to see anything." Hitesh highlighted his enjoyment of working with the legendary actor, appreciating Rishi's trust in the director's vision..
