Isha Koppikar had to slap 14 times – the truth behind a scene from the film ‘Chandralekha’
Actress Isha Koppikar recently shared an old but very special memory from her 1998 film ‘Chandralekha’, which is not only emotional but also shows her professional dedication. This incident not only shook her physically but also made her stronger from within as an artist.
Isha told how to make an emotional scene look real, she asked co-star Nagarjuna Akkineni to slap her for real. And this happened not once or twice, but 14 times, so that she could really feel the emotions that had to be shown on camera.
When acting became a real experience
When the shooting of the film ‘Chandralekha’ was going on in the year 1998, Isha was doing only the second film of her career. Although new in the field, her commitment to acting certainly didn’t lack. The slap down in a scene where the character was slapped, according to her, had to be a real one, as for her it was the only way to capture the real expression.
Eesha requested Nagarjuna to slap her for real with no acting. Nagarjuna was taken aback and asked, “Are you sure?” Eesha insisted that she wanted to feel it, so her acting appeared real.
“It was important to feel, only then will I be able to play the character”
Eesha Koppikar said in an interview that she wanted to put herself completely into that scene. She believed that until she did not feel the pain of the slap, the pain and anger would not be visible on her face.
The first time Nagarjuna slapped her, it was light. With a smile and all confidence in herself, Eesha said that this smacking was an instance of a “love slap”. She said that this is such an emotional scene that when people could not feel the intensity in it then all the hard works would go wasted.
14 retakes, marks remained on the face
Eesha told that she could not react to anger and pain in one slap. So the scene had to be repeated again and again. Each time the slap became a little stronger, and each time Eesha kept trying to live that moment on herself.
In total the scene was repeated 14 times, and each time the slap was real. By the time the scene was completed, real marks had appeared on Eesha’s cheek.
The director also had to interrupt her and say, “You have to get slapped in the scene, but your reaction is not as it should be.” Eesha’s answer was – “I am trying, but I have to feel a little more.”
Nagarjuna said – “Sorry”, Eesha said – “Not at all!”
When the scene was over, Nagarjuna Akkineni became a little uncomfortable. After all, he had slapped a woman 14 times, even if only for acting. He apologized to Eesha.
But Esha immediately assured them that “I have no regrets, it was my wish. And if the scene turns out well, then everything is fine.” This shows her professionalism and dedication.
It has always been difficult for me to do angry scenes: Esha
Esha also admitted that she finds it most difficult to show anger on camera, while in real life she can express anger easily. This contradiction amazes her till date.
“When I am in front of the camera, showing anger or resentment seems a very difficult task. Whereas in real life I speak out quickly. Maybe the perfectionist in me becomes active in front of the camera,” she said laughing.
Example of “Method Acting” – Esha Koppikar
This experience of Esha can be considered a great example of ‘method acting’. Method acting means that the actor himself goes through the experience that his character is going through – so that the emotions do not look artificial.
Method acting is rare in Bollywood, and especially not expected of newcomers. But Esha showed at that time that “I can go to any extent for true acting.”
‘Chandralekha’ movie – a glimpse
The Telugu film ‘Chandralekha’ released in 1998 featured Esha Koppikar and Nagarjuna Akkineni in the lead roles. Ramya Krishnan also played an important role in this film.
It was a romantic-thriller, which was a great mix of drama, emotion, and action. In films of that era, women characters were not given much depth, but Esha’s role was different – she had to show a lot on an emotional level, and she left no stone unturned in that.
What does this experience teach?
This story of Isha teaches us a lot:
- Honesty towards profession – Whether the work is small or big, unless we do it with full dedication, it will remain incomplete.
- It is important to live the emotions, not to show them – The audience wants to see the truth on screen, and the actors have to bring that truth.
- Courage to bring change – New actors can also change things, provided their intentions are strong.
- Willingness to learn – There should be a place in the film industry not just for glamour, but also to learn and understand the art.
In the end…
This story of Isha Koppikar is not only an interesting anecdote, but also an example of the mental and emotional strength of an artist. The audience may not remember that scene, but the hard work and honesty behind this scene is definitely worth appreciating.
This experience shows that the real glamour in the film world happens behind the scenes – pain, dedication, practice and efforts of an artist.
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