Vikram Bhatt reveals vanity incidents between female leads on sets, “They would be like, ‘Achcha, yeh hai mera outfit? Woh kya pehen rahi hai?’

Bollywood often masks the intense rivalries simmering beneath the surface. Renowned filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, whose new venture ‘Bloody Ishq’ is currently streaming on OTT, has witnessed it all, and opens up about the intriguing on-set incidences between actresses.

Before helming his directorial debut with ‘Jaanam’, Bhatt cut his teeth as an assistant director, collaborating with industry stalwarts like Mahesh Bhatt and Shekhar Kapur. His journey included iconic films such as ‘Agneepath’, ‘Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke’, and ‘Junoon’. Along his journey, he gathered numerous experiences to narrate, about the cast of various films

Bhatt candidly shares his experiences, with News18 Showsha. “Are you asking me what I know about vanity? I had been an assistant for ten years before I became a director and that should answer this question (laughs)!” he chuckles.

Bhatt recalls the days when makeup vans were a luxury. His films often featured two leading ladies, and their obsession with each other’s appearance was interesting. He says, “There wasn’t any make-up van at that time. I have done a lot of films with two actresses and not one has been bothered about what she would be wearing in the scene because they are always bothered about what the other one is wearing. They would be like, ‘Achcha, yeh hai mera outfit? Woh kya pehen rahi hai? Uska hairstyle kya hai?’”

he says, “There wasn’t any make-up van at that time. I have done a lot of films with two actresses and not one has been bothered about what she would be wearing in the scene because they are always bothered about what the other one is wearing. They would be like, ‘Achcha, yeh hai mera outfit? Woh kya pehen rahi hai? Uska hairstyle kya hai?’”

Vikram says that incidences like these would discontinue the workflow on the set, “I’ve known actors who slyly changed their lipstick colours and shades of eyeshadow. We noticed everything but we let go because after a point of time, we realised as directors and producers that we need to make the actors comfortable in their skin and if they aren’t comfortable, they cannot act. And if it takes the right shade of lipstick to do it, so be it,” he says.

After the release of ‘Bloody Ishq’, talking about Avika Gor, Vikram said “What really impresses me about her is her lack of vanity when she’s working. In 1920, she had to wear the same costume covered in blood for almost the entire second half of the film.

He further adds, “I don’t remember her asking me even once if the costume can be changed. She never told me, ‘Sir, hairstyle change kar sakte hai? Thoda blood kam kar de face pe?’ She never cared about those things in 1920 or Bloody Ishq. And that to me is a sign of an actor before a star and that is rare.”

‘Bloody Ishq’ starring Avika Gor, Vardhaan Puri, and Jeniffer Piccinato, was released on OTT platforms on July 26.