Jun 22, 2026 6:17pm IST
Aamir-Madhuri’s ‘Dil’ Turns 36, Director Indra Kumar Calls It His ‘First Love’
Film director Indra Kumar has given Hindi cinema some of its most enduring love stories – right from “Dil” (1990) to “Beta” (1992) and “Raja” (1995). As the industry debates what’s ‘going wrong’ with Hindi films today, Kumar, whose debut film “Dil” completes 36 years today, revisits the making of his biggest hits, his early bets on Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit, and why honesty, not imitation, is still cinema’s best formula.
How did ‘Dil’ happen?
There was a character in my father’s play that I used to love – a miser. I took that character, named him Hazari Prasad (played by Anupam Kher) and built this story around him. That was the origin.
Were Aamir Khan and Madhuri Dixit the original choices for ‘Dil’?
Aamir was the first choice. I signed him when “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak” (1988) was released, but then took a couple of years to make the film. By the time it released, his other films had come out but those didn’t work. But “Dil” worked. Every actor goes through a difficult phase.
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Did you and Aamir have any differences while making the film?
No, but we did have a discussion about one scene – the one where he breaks a stool in a room, creates a fire and gets married on the spot. He felt breaking the stool might look unreal and honestly, it was. But it was so nicely shot and performed that the situation became a showstopper. People clapped, even cried, when the scene unfolded. Aamir has a fair point logically, but I was sure about the audience I was dealing with and I knew they’d love it.
‘Khambe Jaisi Khadi Hai’ was a huge hit. Tell us about the song.
That was the last song we shot. It was fun and exactly what the youth of that time wanted. Saroj Khan choreographed it beautifully.
The youth really related to the lovers rebelling in the film.
Back then, the youngsters related to rebels. Take for example, “Ek Duje Ke Liye” (1981) and “Bobby” (1973). Our gurus set that template and we emulate it. In Dil, “the boy” marries the girl right in front of her father. That defiance is what people connected with.
What was also interesting is that your film clashed with Rajkumar Santoshi’s “Ghayal,” starring Sunny Deol, at the box-office.
Santoshi and I were practically born in the industry on the same day when “Ghayal” and “Dil” released in theatres on 22 June 1990. And both became superhits.
Apart from establishing a successful collaboration with Aamir in ‘Dil,’ you would go on to give successive hits with Madhuri Dixit with ‘Beta’ and ‘Raja.’ How did she come on board?
After “QSQT,” Aamir had become a heartthrob, but Madhuri’s films hadn’t worked. When I signed her for “Dil” and “Beta,” she was considered a jinx at the time. But I was confident about Madhuri. I told people I liked this girl and believed she had a great future. Soon after, I started working on both my films, her other films, “Tezaab” (1988) and “Ram Lakhan” (1989) released and she became a star!
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You also planned on making a film, titled “Rishta,” with Aamir, Madhuri and Amitabh Bachchan together, right?
Yes, but unfortunately it didn’t happen. The three of us never came together for another film again, though I worked with each of them separately. While I made “Beta,” “Raja” and,more recently, “Total Dhamaal” (2019) with Madhuri; with Aamir, it was “Ishq” (1997) and “Mann” (1999).
One of the highlights of the film was a’ lucky tree’ in Ooty. You also used it in ‘Beta’ and ‘Raja.’
That tree doesn’t exist anymore, somebody cut it down. From my very first film, I felt the tree brought me luck. Ooty was our favourite location, a hot spot, for shooting songs back then.
What is it about ‘Dil’ that still stands out to you today?
Honesty. We made the picture with complete honesty and love and that showed on screen. It’s my first love. After that, you become smart and somewhere along the way, that honesty fades. That’s just how it goes.
Why do you think films are not working as often as they did in the past?
I think people are confused. I make a film only when I'm totally convinced about it.
Do you think the industry is now trying to copy the ‘Dhurandhar’ films’ success?
“Dhurandhar” is an example unto itself. If you try to copy it, you’ll fall flat. Work on your subjects honestly. Believe in what you want to make and don’t try to please everyone else.
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