As the entire nation echoes with chants praising Lord Rama, in Mumbai, the film that has dominated discussions for the past few evenings is Salman Khan’s film ‘Ram,’ which began production nearly three decades ago. Released in 1987, ‘Ram,’ much like Manoj Kumar’s ‘Kalayug Aur Ramayan,’ aimed to present the narrative of Ramayana in the contemporary setting. The film intended to mark Sohail Khan’s directorial debut, but unforeseen events, including the evolving relationship between Pooja Bhatt and Salman Khan’s brother Sohail Khan, led to its premature closure.
Sohail Khan, who embarked on his directorial journey with the film ‘Auzaar’ in 1997, had initiated another film approximately three years prior – ‘Ram.’ The movie featured Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Pooja Bhatt, and Naseeruddin Shah in pivotal roles. According to senior film critic Ramachandran Srinivasan, “The film initially had Sonali Bendre as the lead actress, but for some reason, she opted out, and thereafter, Pooja Bhatt made her entry into this film.” Pooja Bhatt’s inclusion in the film marked the beginning of a new chapter.
The producer of ‘Ram’ was Mansoor Siddiqui, and the film’s shooting commenced with great enthusiasm. The title role was essayed by Salman Khan. Film critic Inder Mohan Pannu shared, “When the film was announced, Salman Khan was portrayed in publicity with a bow and arrow in his hand. The arrow’s tip was shown on fire. When I praised Sohail Khan for the design of the poster, he mentioned that the idea of a burning arrow in the poster was his.”
During the making of the film, the gossip mills in Mumbai were buzzing with speculations about the close relationship between Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt. Not only that, in an interview given for Stardust magazine, Pooja Bhatt allegedly discussed plans of settling down with Sohail Khan. It is said that Sohail’s father, writer Salim Khan, disapproved of the relationship. Despite Salman Khan’s efforts to mediate, Pooja Bhatt was not fond of this aspect. The film, after reaching 40% completion, was abruptly halted. Since then, Pooja Bhatt has not worked in any film with Salman Khan. Sohail Khan later married Seema Sachdev, and Pooja tied the knot with Manish Makhija, but both relationships did not last.
In a January 1995 interview that garnered attention, Pooja Bhatt mentioned, “I am aware that there are many discussions about our relationship, and I don’t want to waste my time responding to all of that. Marriage is definitely on my mind, but Sohail is starting an exciting journey as a director. I want to work for two more years, and then we will decide. We both want to see our future together, and we both have the desire to stay together.”
FAQs
1. Why was Salman Khan’s film ‘Ram’ halted?
The film ‘Ram’ was halted due to various reasons, including controversies surrounding the personal lives of key cast members, particularly the evolving relationship between Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt.
2. Who were the main cast members of the film ‘Ram’?
The main cast of ‘Ram’ included Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Pooja Bhatt, and Naseeruddin Shah. Initially, Sonali Bendre was supposed to play the lead role, but she later opted out.
3. Who was the director of the film ‘Ram’?
Sohail Khan, Salman Khan’s younger brother, was set to make his directorial debut with the film ‘Ram.’
4. What controversies surrounded the film’s making?
The film was surrounded by controversies, primarily related to the relationship between Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt. This led to discussions in the gossip circles of Mumbai and ultimately contributed to the film’s premature closure.
5. Did Pooja Bhatt and Sohail Khan get married after the film was halted?
No, Pooja Bhatt did not marry Sohail Khan. Following the film’s discontinuation, Sohail Khan later married Seema Sachdev, while Pooja Bhatt married Manish Makhija. However, both these marriages did not last.
6. Who produced the film ‘Ram’?
The film ‘Ram’ was produced by Mansoor Siddiqui.
7. What was the significance of the burning arrow in the film’s poster?
The burning arrow in the film’s poster was Sohail Khan’s idea, symbolizing intensity and passion. It was prominently featured in the initial publicity of the film.
8. Why did Sonali Bendre leave the film ‘Ram’?
The exact reasons for Sonali Bendre’s departure from the film are not clear. However, she opted out, leading to Pooja Bhatt taking on the lead role.
9. Did Salman Khan attempt to mediate in the relationship between Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt?
Yes, Salman Khan made efforts to mediate in the relationship between Sohail Khan and Pooja Bhatt. However, differences persisted, and the film eventually came to a halt.
10. Are there any future collaborations between Salman Khan and Pooja Bhatt in Bollywood?
As of now, there have been no collaborations between Salman Khan and Pooja Bhatt in Bollywood since the discontinuation of the film ‘Ram.’
