Veteran actress Waheeda Rehman once opened up about an incident from the early phase of her film journey that left a lasting impression on her. The actress recalled how a disagreement over a costume during the making of 'Solva Saal' resulted in a tense situation on set.
Speaking during a 2023 interaction with Radio Nasha, Waheeda looked back at the episode and shared how she chose to remain firm about her comfort despite pressure from the filmmaking team. The actress explained that the incident occurred while filming a scene that required her character to change clothes after getting drenched.
Why Waheeda Rehman objected to the costume
According to Waheeda, the costume selected for the sequence did not align with her comfort level. She felt the outfit was more revealing than necessary and decided not to wear it. Instead, she appeared on set in an alternative costume that she believed suited both her comfort and the character. However, her decision reportedly upset the director and led to a heated reaction.
Recalling the moment, she said, “I was given a costume that I did not want to wear. The director said if you are not comfortable then don’t wear it but when you come on the set, you should be happy. So when I came on the set, I wore what made me comfortable. The director was furious. He said this your second or third movie, and it will be your last one because you have too many conditions. The director was so angry that he packed up for the day.”
Dev Anand steps in
The situation eventually drew the attention of her co-star Dev Anand, who decided to intervene. Waheeda revealed that the legendary actor understood her concerns and believed her argument was justified.
According to the actress, Dev Anand felt the proposed costume did not suit the personality of the character she was portraying. His support came as a major relief during a difficult moment in her career.
Speaking about his reaction, she said, “Dev was sweet. He took my side. He told the director that what she is saying is absolutely right. Her character is a shy girl. Her name in the movie is Lajwanti. She shouldn’t be wearing revealing clothes in this scene. What she was saying was right and you got angry for no reason. I was very relieved that Dev was in my corner. I was so happy that after that day, I felt like whenever there would be a problem, I would go to Dev and he would sort it out.”
Waheeda explained that the incident strengthened her faith in Dev Anand. She felt reassured knowing that someone on the set understood her perspective and was willing to speak up when necessary.
Over the decades, Waheeda Rehman established herself as one of Indian cinema's most admired performers. Even in recent years, the actress has remained connected to cinema through projects such as 'The Song of Scorpions' and 'Skater Girl'.
