SUNEEL DARSHAN RECOLLECTS HOW RAAKHEE WOULD BE FREED FROM SHOOT EVERY NIGHT BETWEEN 9 & 10 PM TO ENABLE HER TO WATCH KBC ON THE SETS OF EK RISHTAA WHICH COMPLETES 20 YEARS TODAY

Jyothi Venkatesh

Today, Suneel Darshan’s magnum opus Ek Rishtaa enters its 20^th year of release and yet continues to be a top favorite on not only TV but also satellite as well as digital platforms along with his other films like Jaanwar, Andaaz, HMBPK, Barsaat, Dosti, Lootere, Ajay, Talash etc. Ek Rishtaa starred Amitabh Bachchan, Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Raakhee and Sunil Shetty (Special Appearance). Says Suneel Darshan humbly, “I hereby take this opportunity through your portal bolly.com and weekly Mayapuri all my viewers for their limitless patronage.

Suneel continues. “Ek Rishtaa-the bond of love was destined to happen & succeed. Mr. Bachchan offering to lead the cast was a Godsend, Akshay Kumar was keen to do his next with the makers of Jaanwar, Karisma Kapoor & Juhi Chawla were on board & Nadeem Shravan had composed the songs at just one marathon go. In fact, believe it or not, we were ready with the sets when I was informed that Juhi was pregnant & playing a pivotal role, and would need to be replaced which was absolutely unacceptable to me”

“I had a word with the key members of the team & it was resolved that the filming that was to stretch through a year would now be shot within 4 months & before Juhi's bump became obvious. Mr.Bachchan whose dates were locked with KKKG daily from 9-6pm came in the evening every day & shot till 2am to keep the work on track. However, the understanding with Raakheeji was that she would be freed daily from 9-10pm as she insisted not to miss out on viewing Kaun Banega Crorepati, so the TV & cable connection was facilitated to keep her comfortable & enable the progress. That's how warm & supportive actors enabled the movie's release 6 months ahead of schedule”.