“Baat Nahi Karte The”: Rajkumar Santoshi Recalls Aamir, Raveena and Karisma’s Equation During Andaz Apna Apna

Rajkumar Santoshi has opened up about one of Bollywood’s most famous cult comedies, "Andaz Apna Apna", and the mood among the movie’s actors was completely different from what audiences were actually going to see on film. The director recalled his experiences of working with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor and why tensions and rivalries were there in the industry during the making of the 1994 comedy.

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"Andaz Apna Apna" did not get a huge hit when it first released. It had an extremely popular cast and Santoshi’s unique comic style; however, the film didn’t make big money in the early days. But its popularity grew ever more as television and later digital audiences came to know of the film’s eccentric characters, great dialogues and chaotic comic situations. Now it is recognized as one of the cult comedies in Hindi cinema.

Santoshi said that he never had any problems in contact with his actors professionally in the film. The filmmaker said he respected everyone in the film and never let rumours about the actors affect his work. Whatever was happening between the actors away from the camera was not something that bothered him as long as they delivered what was needed for the film.

Santoshi also addressed the widely reported friction between Aamir Khan and Salman Khan. During the years, stories about the two actors' rivalry during the movie making of "Andaz Apna Apna" have come to be part of the mythology of the film. But Santoshi recalled scenes in which they seemed very friendly and playful when shooting.

The director recalled times when Aamir and Salman would hold each other and laugh so much they would even break character during a scene. In Santoshi's eyes, such moments were part of the lively atmosphere behind the camera, regardless of what stories or industry rumours might have depicted them at the time.

The filmmaker also made a surprising revelation about Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor. Santoshi said Aamir, Raveena and Karisma didn't talk to each other on the sets. But instead of letting the situation affect the production, he simply concentrated on getting the scenes right. That’s one more layer to the backstory behind a film that is now remembered for the chemistry and comic timing of its ensemble cast.

Interestingly, Santoshi recalled that he intentionally placed Raveena and Karisma in the same situation at the end of the movie’s climax. The actresses’ characters were attached to the same pillar, one of the film’s many absurd and memorable comic situations. Whatever personal distance might have existed off camera did not deter the actors from completing their professional duties, the director said.

The contrast between the off-screen interactions reported and the final film is especially striking. "Andaz Apna Apna" required its actors to keep comic timing even with the exaggerated situations in it. Aamir Khan’s Amar, Salman Khan’s Prem, and Raveena’s Raveena and Karisma’s Karisma all were iconic in the film’s comic setting.

The movie’s transformation from a bad theater show to a cult hit has also been a factor that has kept it so popular. Bollywood movie dialogues, characters and scenes are still referenced decades after its release.

Meanwhile, Rajkumar Santoshi is currently associated with "Batwara 1947", his historical partition drama starring Sunny Deol. The film is a second collaboration with Santoshi and Deol after their work on "Ghatak" has been successful for them. The movie will be released on August 14, 2026, and also Aamir Khan Productions is connected with Aamir Khan.

In the same interview, Santoshi dismissed allegations that Aamir Khan meddled creatively with the production of *Batwara 1947*. Instead, the filmmaker spoke positively about his relationship with Aamir as a person, actor, director and creative professional. Santoshi pointed out that, while he directed the film, Aamir also contributed creatively to it.

Santoshi’s new revelations provide a great window into two very different phases of his relationship with Aamir Khan. From the chaotic comedy of "Andaz Apna Apna" to the more serious historical drama *Batwara 1947*, their working relationship has continued long after all. But for fans of the 1994 cult classic, the director’s memory of actors who reportedly barely spoke off camera yet created memorable moments on screen is a fascinating chapter in the film’s legendary behind-the-scenes story.