Imran Khan wore smelly, unwashed t-shirts for Delhi Belly; Nawazuddin Siddiqui wore hawker slippers to Photograph: Every day he would be like please
Costume designer Niharika Bhasin has revealed some interesting behind-the-scenes details about two popular Bollywood films. In the 2011 adult comedy Delhi Belly, actor Imran Khan reportedly wore unwashed and horrible-smelling shirts for his role. Niharika shared this amusing tidbit during a conversation with actress Vidya Balan on the latest episode of Crew Cut. Delhi Belly, produced by Aamir Khan, featured Imran alongside Vir Das and Kunal Roy Kapur.
For the three-day film set in Delhi, Niharika explained how she aged the costumes to achieve the desired look. The characters were meant to be running in the streets, covered in cement, and sweating in the scorching summer heat of Chandni Chowk. Due to the specific treatments done on the clothes, washing them was not an option. Imran Khan would apparently request someone to perfume his shirt every day. It was horrible, but he did it and I really love him for it, Niharika revealed.
In another project, the 2019 romantic drama Photograph starring Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Sanya Malhotra, Niharika had Nawazuddin wear a hawker’s slipper throughout the film. Niharika had previously worked with Nawazuddin in the critically acclaimed film The Lunchbox. She shared how she took the slippers from a street vendor and offered to replace them with new ones. However, Nawazuddin insisted on wearing the original slipper.
We cleaned it, sprayed it, and carried it through the film, Niharika said. This unique decision added an authentic touch to Nawazuddin’s character, a street photographer.
Imran Khan, who last appeared in the 2015 film Katti Batti, recently opened up about his decision to step away from Bollywood after becoming a father. However, there are rumors of the actor planning a comeback to the industry in the near future.
The revelations made by costume designer Niharika Bhasin provide a glimpse into the dedication and attention to detail that actors and crew members put into creating believable characters on screen. Such behind-the-scenes anecdotes add an extra layer of depth to our appreciation of the films we love.
