Actress Mita Vashisht has reflected on her experience working on Subhash Ghai’s 1999 film, ‘Taal,’ revealing some less-than-positive encounters with both the director and co-star Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Vashisht, who considered ‘Taal’ her first major commercial Hindi film role, recounted her initial interactions with Ghai, noting she wasn’t overly impressed by his reputation. She mentioned a lighthearted dynamic where she would playfully challenge Ghai’s self-proclaimed status as a ‘star maker,’ asserting her own established identity. She also shared Ghai’s perspective on the ideal qualities of a mainstream heroine, highlighting a traditional expectation for beauty over intelligence or sensuality. Vashisht detailed her initial resistance to Ghai’s directorial guidance and how she eventually asserted her own interpretation of her character, Prabha. She also described the film as a significant experience in her career, coinciding with Ghai’s peak as a showman. Furthermore, Vashisht shared her initial hesitation to accept the role in ‘Taal’ and how she navigated the role’s scope through a direct discussion with Ghai. She also disclosed that the appearance of her character was influenced by her own personal style. Regarding Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Vashisht noted the actress was relatively new at the time. Vashisht observed a difference in their backgrounds and acting approaches. She also revealed an instance where scenes featuring both actresses had to be reshot because Ghai felt Vashisht’s strong presence overshadowed Aishwarya’s. Vashisht characterized the experience as a continuous learning process.
