Casting decisions in cinema often involve unexpected turns, and the 2005 family drama Waqt: The Race Against Time was no exception. Actress Shefali Shah portrayed the pivotal role of a mother to Akshay Kumar, despite being noticeably younger than him in real life. At the time of filming, Shefali was only around 30 to 32 years old. In her book titled The Audacity of Being: A Sort-of Memoir, the actress has shared the behind-the-scenes sequence of events that ultimately led to her landing this memorable part.
Early Casting Choices Included Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini
The character of the mother, Sumitra or Sumi, served as the emotional foundation of the narrative, standing as a quiet pillar of strength between father and son. Director Vipul Shah originally intended to cast Jaya Bachchan in the role, but the plan did not materialize. Following this, veteran actress Hema Malini was also considered for the part. However, Amitabh Bachchan and Hema Malini had recently appeared together in the 2003 release Baghban, and the filmmakers were keen to present a fresh on-screen dynamic rather than immediately repeating the same pairing.
Roots in Gujarati Theatre and Career Concerns
The cinematic project was adapted from Aatish Kapadia's Gujarati play titled Aavjo Vhala, Phari Malishu, which also featured Priyanka Chopra in a prominent role. Having watched the original stage production, Shefali was deeply moved by the depth of Sumi's character and directly expressed her desire to play the part to Vipul Shah. Nevertheless, the director initially turned down her request. He cautioned her that accepting a mother's role at the young age of 30 carried a serious risk of being permanently typecast into older maternal parts across the film industry.
The Turning Point Prompted by Amitabh Bachchan
The deadlock regarding the casting finally broke when Amitabh Bachchan stepped in with a recommendation. Having always been the undisputed first choice for the father's role, Amitabh Bachchan directly suggested Shefali Shah's name to Vipul Shah after other casting discussions did not work out. The director could not overlook this strong recommendation from the senior actor. For Shefali, securing the role turned into an extraordinary opportunity, allowing her to collaborate closely with both Amitabh Bachchan and director Vipul Shah on a significant project.
