It is Karisma Kapoor's birthday today, and the occasion brings back the memory of one film that was started but never finished. In her prime, Karisma delivered one blockbuster after another, and audiences loved her pairing with every leading man of the era. Yet her equation with Ajay Devgn always stayed in the headlines. First an affair, then a breakup, and finally a string of bitter disputes shelved a major film that fans had been eagerly waiting for.
This goes back to the 1990s, when the two stars were a popular on-screen pair. Audiences thoroughly enjoyed their chemistry in films like 'Jigar', 'Suhaag' and 'Shaktimaan'. The time they spent working together turned into closeness off-screen as well, and stories of their affair filled the pages of every film magazine of that time.
Prakash Jha's Big Dream: 'Kala Pani'
Around 1993, director Prakash Jha decided to mount a very big-budget film with the two of them. The film was titled 'Kala Pani'. It was meant to be a period drama, planned to be shot on a grand scale. The moment the film was announced, fans grew thrilled at the prospect of seeing this hit pair on the big screen once again.
Cracks Appear on the Set
Shooting on 'Kala Pani' had barely begun when reports of friction between Ajay and Karisma started leaking out from the set. It is said that the rift in their relationship began during this very film. By then, Kajol had entered Ajay Devgn's life, and that became the reason Karisma and Ajay's relationship reached the brink of breaking apart.
The breakup showed up directly on the film's set. The two who were once lost in each other's love now did not even want to look at each other's faces. Things reached a point where the dispute grew so severe that they flatly refused to shoot scenes together.
When the Two Stopped Talking
The situation worsened when the two stopped speaking altogether. Prakash Jha tried his best to talk them around, but the bitterness between them had grown so deep that neither was willing to back down. A large portion of the film had already been shot, but this cold war forced the shooting to be stopped midway.
In the end, faced with this love triangle, the bitter breakup and the ego clash between the two stars, the director was left with no choice but to shut the film down. The makers shelved 'Kala Pani' for good. And so a fine, big-budget film died without ever being released.
The Pair That Never Reunited
After this controversy, the relationship between Karisma Kapoor and Ajay Devgn ended for good. Both resolved that they would never work with each other again. Karisma went on to form her pairings with Govinda and Salman Khan, while Ajay Devgn took Kajol's hand.
Even today, whenever Karisma Kapoor's unfinished films are discussed, the name 'Kala Pani' comes up first. Had that bitterness never set in between them, Bollywood might well have got another memorable film. Many happy returns of the day to this beautiful actress from our side!
