Filmmaker Dharmesh Darshan'sHindustani King‘, starring Aamir Khan and Karisma Kapoor, first hit theaters on November 15, 1996, and became a massive commercial success in the 90s.
In an interview with Lehren Retro, the filmmaker opened up about Aamir and Karisma’s kissing scene from the film. Dharmesh revealed that Karisma’s mother, Babita Kapoor, was present on the sets for all three days. He also shared that Karisma Kapoor was enthusiastic and dedicated on set, recalling her excitement and sincerity.
The filmmaker noted that she had never done a kissing scene before, so he explained the setup, emphasizing that it wouldn’t be portrayed in a sensual way. Karisma assured him she didn’t need so much detail. He then brought her mother, Babita, into the discussion to describe the sequence, as Karisma was still quite young, and a mother’s perspective can be influential. He added that Babita stayed on set for the entire three-day shoot, and he chose not to ask her to leave.
Darshan went on to say that the producers of the film actually wanted the kiss to be featured on the poster in an effort to build buzz around it. However, he ‘didn’t allow it’.
In the same interview, Darshan described his collaboration with Aamir Khan as deeply supportive, noting that Aamir helped him through moments of vulnerability. Reflecting on the experience, he shared that despite having a major hit behind him, he was still very young—only 28 when Raja Hindustani was released—and working with a major star like Aamir while casting someone seen as a “non-actor” opposite him.
The film also starred Kunal Khemu, Archana Puran Singh, and Johny Lever in pivotal roles.