FILM · 1991 · INDIA
Lamhe
42 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (42)
- #001
Yash Chopra designed the film with Vinod Khanna in mind and promised him the role. By the time Chopra revisited the idea, however, Vinod Khanna could no longer look 20 years old, so Chopra told him he was not in the film, which upset Vinod. Jackie Shroff had just shaved his moustache for Diljale and sent his photographs to Yash Chopra; Chopra liked them but still did not think Jackie looked young enough. That was when Anil insisted on doing the film. Yash Chopra did not like Anil Kapoor's moustache; Anil then injured himself and stayed home for a month, and that was when he cut his moustache and won Yash Chopra's approval.
- #002
Sridevi lost her father, but as a professional she continued shooting the next day; the scene was a comedy scene with Anupam Kher.
- #003
Pamela Chopra read the book Daddy-Long-Legs and was inspired by the story, and Lamhe was born from that. Anokha Rishta (1986) was director I. V. Sasi's remake of his own Malayalam film Kanamarayathu (1984). The story P. Padmarajan wrote for the Malayalam film was adapted from Jean Webster's novel Daddy-Long-Legs (1912).
- #004
It was Yash Chopra's favourite film.
- #005
After the film's release, the British actress went to the media and made allegations of harassment against Yash Chopra and Anil Kapoor. Her claims stemmed from the role not being as it had been described to her and from Yash Chopra and Anil Kapoor expecting her to do "favors". She was upset at being left out of the film's promotion. Because she was not familiar with Hindi, she suggested that Kiron Kher dub her dialogues, but when she watched the film she thought Kiron Kher had done a terrible job. Dippy continued to attack the industry, saying no one in it had principles or morals. She left the film industry because of her bad experience after one film.
- #006
Yash Chopra wanted to release the film at Diwali. When he heard that Ramesh Sippy would be releasing Akayla on that date, he decided to postpone his film; he did not want to compete with Sippy and Bachchan. Believing Phool Aur Kaante to be a small B-grade film, Yash Chopra released his film against Ajay Devgan's debut.
- #007
Deepak Malhotra stated that he thought he was the film's main lead. Yash Chopra took him around and introduced him to people, saying he was his new hero. When Anil Kapoor appeared a day before the mahurat, Deepak got the shock of his life; he had no idea that Anil would be the main hero.
- #008
Sridevi lost her father during the London schedule, and she was planning to go to India. Anil Kapoor insisted on accompanying her. Yash Chopra, however, advised her not to leave, since the shooting schedule would be affected and they could shoot scenes without her.
- #009
Yash Chopra first wanted to make the film in 1982 with Amitabh Bachchan and Rekha. However, after Silsila failed and following Yash Chopra's bad disagreement with Amitabh Bachchan, all the plans fell through.
- #010
Released on the same day as Phool Aur Kaante (1991), the film was expected to break records. Unfortunately, the relationship between Prem and Pallavi/Pooja was judged as incest by purists and moralists and was completely rejected by Indian audiences. Its failure demoralised Yash Chopra, who complained about being rejected by Indian audiences. It was not a total loss, however; it became one of the biggest hits to date in the overseas Indian market.
- #011
It was writer Honey Irani's first film with Yash Chopra.
- #012
In the parody scene where Prem and Pooja try to cheer up the sullen Viren, Dai Maa joins in "Aaj Phir Jeene Ki Tamanna Hai". This was the hit song from Guide (1965), one of Waheeda Rehman's best films. She later felt that dancing to her own song from another film was unusual and regarded it as the greatest tribute to her.
- #013
Yash Chopra was advised to change the ending, in which Pooja persuades Viren to stop sleeping with her mother's ghost (in a manner of speaking). The director insisted, however, that if he changed the ending it would not be the film he had planned to make.
- #014
Yash Chopra initially wanted to cast a newcomer in the role of Viren, because he did not want any actor to be uncomfortable while playing the role.
- #015
The first choice for the role of Dippy Sagoo was the Pakistani actress Barbara Sharif.
- #016
Lamhe won many awards and earned a place on Outlook magazine's list of Bollywood's best films.
- #017
Boney Kapoor advised Anil Kapoor not to do the film.
- #018
The song "Kabhi Main Kahoon" was made from a melody used as background music in Yash Chopra's previous film Chandni (1989).
- #019
The film's premiere took place in Canadian theatres in 1992 with limited screenings, a year after its release. This happened because of great public demand to see the film on the big screen.
- #020
When Anil Kapoor showed interest in doing the film, Yash Chopra told him he would have to look older for the character in the first half. The next day Anil Kapoor shaved off his signature moustache, walked into Yash Chopra's office and signed on for the film.
- #021
Sridevi also took on a double role as mother and daughter in Khuda Gawah (1992).
- #022
Sanjay Dutt was the first choice for Deepak Malhotra's role.
- #023
Lamhe was far ahead of its time. The film's climax was perfect, but audiences of the time could not accept it.
- #024
It was the last film written by Masoom Raza, who died a few months after its release.
- #025
Yash Chopra always made two kinds of films, such as Deewar, Trishul and Vijay, and the other kind, such as Kabhi Kabie, Silsila, Faasle and Chandni. Lamhe belongs to the latter category.
- #026
The film was shown at the Robson Square Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, due to heavy public demand. Lamhe had already been released on home video in October 1991. Its premiere was later held at the Robson Square Theatre in November 1992. The films were to be shown there every weekend until May 1993. From May 1993, Indian films were screened in Vancouver, British Columbia, at a renovated theatre at 3215 Kingsway. It would now be known as the Regal Theatre until May 1997.
- #027
In the same year, Sridevi took on a double role as mother and daughter in the film Khuda Gawah (1992).
- #028
It was Sridevi's second and last collaboration with Yash Raj Films before her death on 24 February 2018.
- #029
It is loosely based on Feroz Khan's film "Sharafat Chod Di Maine".
- #030
Boney Kapoor was offered the role of Deepak Malhotra, but it did not work out.
- #031
Kimi Katkar was signed for the girlfriend's role in the second half. She eventually left the film when she decided to get married. Dippy Sagoo was signed later.
- #032
Morni had a remix cover version on 2Kool's album Bollywood Fever. This was in 1995.
- #033
After delivering a blockbuster like Chandini (1989), Yash Chopra collaborated with Sridevi for Lamhe (1991). However, this film failed at the box office. It later became quite popular on television.
- #034
It is the only film director Yash Chopra worked on together with Dr. Rahi Masoom Reza.
- #035
The piano at 0:14 in Lamhe's song "Kabhi Main Kahoon" was sampled by DJ Taral and DJ Amit for the remix "Koi Roko Na Deewane Ko". The album was DJ's War.
- #036
Anil Kapoor stated that he found the first half of the film very slow. He felt its pace was unnecessarily slow. It did not hold the audience's attention.
- #037
Anil Kapoor warned Ajay Devgan and his father not to release Phool aur Kaante opposite Lamhe. He told them their film would be overshadowed. It would be best to postpone their film's release to another date. However, Phool aur Kaante became a hit and Lamhe failed.
- #038
Yash Chopra said: "My family insisted I become an engineer. I stubbornly refused and got past it. Dhool ka Phool was much appreciated, but I was still being tested. So of course I was discouraged by the failure of Dharmputra. But then I was also discouraged by the failure of Lamhe, which was romantic. I had a right to feel bad. For six months I could not work. Anyway, I direct a film when a voice comes from within me. Perhaps my failures were ahead of their time. Otherwise, my best-selling DVDs have been Dharmputra, Silisila and Lamhe. Moreover, our banner has always been and will be unpredictable. Fanaa (directed by Kunal Kohli) had just been released. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed (former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir) called me and said that with Veer-Zaara and Fanaa I had touched on progressive points regarding Indo-Pak relations. Fanaa was a strong statement against terrorism and for patriotism while preserving such elements in our Yash Raj films. It created 100 percent pure entertainment artistes like Hum Tum and Salaam Namaste."
- #039
Farhan Akhtar was working as an assistant to cinematographer Manmohan Singh. During a song sequence, Manmohan Singh noticed a stain on the floor and asked someone to clean it. Farhan Akhtar went to clean the stain and was working in coordination with Manmohan Singh. At the same moment, Sridevi walked in the same direction, slipped and fell to the ground. After this incident, Farhan Akhtar felt his career was over because everyone on set froze, but Sridevi was very kind; she smiled and said that this happens on sets.
- #040
Sridevi shot the song "Megha Re Megha Re" with a high fever.
- #041
Ila Arun appeared briefly during Sridevi's (Pallavi's) wedding, where Anupam Kher danced with her to the song "Resham Ka Rumal" from Ila Arun's 1990 folk album Chhappan Chhuri.
- #042
Yash Chopra shot the song "Megha Re Megha" during actual heavy rainfall. While shooting the song, it suddenly rained, and Yash Chopra decided not to use artificial rain.
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