Onkar Kulkarni (BOMBAY TIMES; August 30, 2024)

When Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein (RHTDM) first hit the screens in 2001, the movie, which marked Dia Mirza Rekhi’s Bollywood debut, failed to create magic at the box office. However, even two decades later, the film continues to get love from the audience and is now being re-released in theatres. Dia, who shared screen space with R Madhavan and Saif Ali Khan in the film, speaks to BT about losing projects after the movie’s failure and how it eventually went on to find a deep connect with the audience:

‘I remember being dropped from many projects after the film released’
While Dia enjoyed shooting the film, she was devastated upon its release. The actress remembers, “We were all devastated! I remember being dropped from many projects.”

However, the film’s popularity grew once it was screened on television and, many years later, got a further boost on social media. This, Dia says, was a revelation for her.

“The film attained a cult status purely due to the extraordinary love the audience continues to give the film. It helped me discover how little box office matters to a film that genuinely connects with people. It’s a gift that keeps giving,” she says.

‘Madhavan was like a mentor on set’
Dia, who was new to the film world when she began shooting for it, says that her co-star Madhavan was like a mentor on set. “Maddy had already done the movie in the south (the Tamil film Minnale). He knew his character arc well. I often felt like he was a mentor on set, guiding, advising and generally being the gentleman he is. Today, we share a bond that has grown over the years,” she shares.

About her other co-star, she says, “Saif was always making me laugh. I loved spending time with him. He instantly put me at ease with his candour and humour.”

‘The fanbase insists a sequel should happen’
Fans of the film often chat on social media about how they want to see a sequel to the movie, and Dia is aware of it. She says, “A sequel would mean an extension of Maddy and Reena’s (the characters played by Madhavan and Dia) story. The fanbase insists it should happen. Maddy and Reena’s core values are sound. There are a few things they would definitely do differently. But what continues to connect with people is how rooted the story is.”