Juhi Chawla refused retake of kissing scene with Sunny Deol in Lootere

Juhi Chawla’s stance on kissing scene

Producer Suneel Darshan revealed that Juhi Chawla firmly refused to reshoot a lip-to-lip kissing scene with Sunny Deol in the film Lootere. According to him, she had agreed in advance to do only one on-screen kiss and chose to strictly follow that condition.

“Mr. Darshan, as per contract, I was supposed to do one kiss. I’ve done that already,” Juhi reportedly told the producer when a retake was requested.

The scene was captured with multiple cameras so it could be done in a single take, and the filmmakers eventually kept that first take in the final cut. Suneel Darshan later described the episode as a sweet, almost childlike insistence on boundaries that he remembers fondly.

Background of Lootere and casting

Darshan considers Lootere one of the most important yet underrated films of Juhi Chawla’s career, noting that the story largely revolves around her character. He had earlier been associated with her launch projects and saw significant potential in her, which influenced the decision to cast her in this film.

At the time, Juhi was known for a “girl-next-door” image, so presenting her in a more glamorous and sensuous role involved some hesitation on her part. She reportedly had reservations about certain sequences, including a beach song and the boldness required for the kissing scene.

Juhi’s hesitation and missed shoot

The production team initially scheduled the kissing scene toward the end of the shoot on an outdoor set. On that day, however, Juhi did not show up, citing a clash with another film commitment in Udaipur. Darshan interpreted this as a sign of her discomfort with performing the intimate sequence.

Despite the delay, the makers insisted on filming the kiss later because they saw it as important to the emotional progression between the lead characters. They maintained that the moment was written as a key narrative beat rather than a purely sensational addition.

Producer’s view on the incident

Looking back, Suneel Darshan characterizes Juhi’s strict adherence to the one-kiss clause as innocent but endearing. In his view, the incident highlights how she tried to balance professional obligations with personal comfort during a transitional phase in her image.

He also emphasizes that Lootere stood out in that era as a heroine-centric film that still featured a prominent male lead, which made Juhi’s performance and choices on set especially significant. The kissing scene and her conditions around it have since become a small but memorable part of the film’s behind-the-scenes lore.

Author’s summary: The producer recalls how Juhi Chawla, shifting from girl-next-door to a bolder image in Lootere, insisted on her “one kiss” contract clause and refused any retake, turning a tense shoot into a fondly remembered boundary-setting moment.

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News18 News18 — 2025-11-30

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