When Meenakshi Seshadri had a fall out with Subhash Ghai; 'He dropped me and started working with other actresses'

Actress Meenakshi Seshadri opens up about a "misunderstanding" with filmmaker Subhash Ghai, who gave her her acting break with Hero in 1983.

Meenakshi Seshadri, a super-hit actress of the 90s, had something to say about that unforgettable performance in Subhash Ghai's Meri Jung (1985). That performance proved how versatile she was. Along with that, she revealed untold stories about how that collaboration turned sour and it affected her acting career. Talking to Friday Talkies, Meenakshi said:“The role in Meri Jung, Geeta and her sister, both were supposed to be one person. But Subhash ji wanted to cast me, give me a dance sequence. The other aspect (of the role) was where she was a doctor and had a court case against her as she gives poison to a patient.”

She said that Ghai broke up the role into two characters and another actor was the doctor and Meenakshi became the sister who has a glamorous dance number.“So he (Ghai) said that he’ll cast someone else for it and give me the sister’s role so I can get the glamour element also,” she said.

Meenakshi appreciated Ghai's ability to integrate small roles into the story and make them look integral to the plot.“In reality, my role was not big in Meri Jung, but Subhash ji includes small roles so beautifully in the main story that people feel those characters are very important and valuable. That’s also what happened with me.”

Meri Jung had, however, established Meenakshi as an up-and-coming talent with many believing that she delivered on the promise seen in her debut Hero. Yet, her relationship with Ghai was brief due to a misunderstanding on the sets of the film shoot which she handled "badly". She said, “While shooting (Meri Jung) I had a misunderstanding with Subhash ji. He had big dreams of giving me big roles, make bigger films and give song sequences, but that couldn’t happen. I also handled the situation poorly. I was very young, didn’t understand much, didn’t know how to behave. It was a sad turning point in my life as Subhash ji dropped me and started working with other actresses.”
Despite the blow, Meenakshi, who is all set to make her acting comeback soon, said that she harbours no grudges against the filmmaker.“Even today, whenever possible, I meet him, and tell him that he should definitely make a new film and cast me in it,” she concluded.