‘It’s okay, it happens’: How Sridevi’s reaction saved Farhan Akhtar’s early career

Actor and filmmaker Farhan Akhtar recently revisited a pivotal moment from the very start of his film career, an on-set accident involving the late Bollywood icon Sridevi during the shoot of Yash Chopra’s 1991 romantic musical 'Lamhe'.

At 17, Farhan was working as an assistant to cinematographer Manmohan Singh on the film, which starred Sridevi and Anil Kapoor. During a dance sequence choreographed by Saroj Khan, Sridevi was rehearsing a passionate scene when Farhan, rushing to clean a stain on the wooden floor, inadvertently caused her to slip.

“Main kaun hota hoon Sridevi ko girane wala! (Who am I to make her fall?)” He then explained what actually happened: “Unfortunately, such an accident did occur. I was Man Ji’s seventh or eighth assistant on Lamhe. It was a typical Yash Chopra setup, a passionate dance sequence choreographed by Saroj Ji (choreographer Saroj Khan). Sridevi had to express her anger and pain through dance after she heard some bad news. The final shot was supposed to be a crane shot. While Sridevi was rehearsing, Manmohan Singh, who was checking the frame, noticed a stain on the wooden floor. He asked someone to clean it, and since I was the closest, I ran to wipe it off. I was bent down, cleaning the stain and coordinating with Man ji when she walked over, slipped, and fell. I still remember it in slow motion, Sridevi flying in the air and hitting the floor. The entire set froze. I thought, This is it, my career is over,” Farhan told Aap Ki Adalat.

Despite the fall, Sridevi laughed it off, telling Farhan, “It’s okay, it happens.” Her reaction eased the tension on set, allowing everyone to laugh and helping Farhan regain his composure. "Everyone followed her lead and started laughing. That’s when I finally breathed again," added Farhan.

Farhan later moved on to work in advertising before making his directorial debut a decade later with the critically acclaimed Dil Chahta Hai. Reflecting on his journey, he said, “I will always be thankful to Sridevi. I truly believe I owe my career to her.”