Veteran actor Satish Shah initially found his iconic ‘spitting professor’ role in ‘Main Hoon Na’ ‘disgusting,’ preferring the principal’s part. However, Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan’s persuasion convinced him. Shah revealed the challenging process of spitting on screen, often requiring multiple takes due to Shah Rukh’s laughter, even leading to an insert shot of Zayed Khan.
Veteran actor Satish Shah’s passing has left the film industry in shock. Known for his comic timing and memorable roles, he had a career spanning 50 years. He once revealed that he initially refused his iconic role as the spitting professor in Main Hoon Na, calling it ‘disgusting,’ but was convinced to take it on by Shah Rukh Khan and director Farah Khan.
Shah Rukh convinces Satish to take the role
Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, Satish said, ‘I thought, what a disgusting role! I wanted to play the principal, which Boman Irani did. Shah Rukh told me, “Satish bhai, you’ve done many such roles before, and anyone can do them. I think you should do this one because we can’t imagine anyone else playing it.”’Satish added, “Woh aur Farah dono ne mil ke mujhe chane ke jhad pe chadha diya (Both Shah Rukh and Farah flattered me a lot). That’s how I ended up doing that role, but it was not easy.”
The challenges of spitting on screen
“It was not easy. I used to take in a gulp of water and keep it around my mouth and I used to accentuate certain words and syllables in a way that it comes out like a spray,” he shared.Although spitting on a superstar’s face was challenging, Shah Rukh made it even tougher by laughing every time Satish did it. “I used to work so hard on it, but Shah Rukh would laugh, and we had to do retakes,’ he recalled.
Eight retakes and Zayed’s insert shot
“So once we had 8 retakes, and then I got upset. I said I’ll not do it after this. Everybody was laughing and falling off their chairs on the set. Then I gave the eighth shot and Shah Rukh laughed again. They had to use Zayed’s insert shot here,” he concluded.
