Atul Kulkarni won a National Award for best supporting actor for Chandni Bar (2001). Talking about how he owes his popularity to the film, the actor says, “Hey Ram (2000) also got me a National Award, but Chandni Bar gave me a different kind of recognition.”

Sharing screen space with Tabu was also a memorable experience for Kulkarni, who was just a couple of films old in the industry then. “When a star works with a newcomer, it’s the star’s responsibility to bring a sense of comfort and friendship to the table. Tabu ji did so really well,” says the actor, who played the role of a gangster in the film.

As the film completes 20 years of its release, Kulkarni recalls a particular feedback that remains vivid in his mind till date. “We had a trial show for real-life bar girls, before the film’s release. After the show, I was standing outside the theatre when one of them came up to me. She didn’t look at me, but just took my hand in hers and said, ‘Shukriya, aap ne bar girl se shaadi kar li.’ And then she walked away,” he reminisces.