Shekhar Kapur recalls unique filming in 'Mr India': says, 'We got a cockroach 'Drunk' for a scene with Sridevi

Shekhar Kapur, renowned for his directorial masterpiece 'Mr India' (1987), reminisced about the creative challenges and memorable moments from the film's production. In a recent interview, Shekhar Kapur delved into the iconic scene featuring Sridevi's character being chased by a cockroach, revealing a unique solution devised to make the insect 'act' on camera.

Speaking to the Daily Post, Shekhar Kapur disclosed the behind-the-scenes brainstorming with cinematographer Baba Azmi, pondering over how to elicit a performance from the elusive cockroach. The duo ingeniously decided to pour rum in front of the insect, speculating that it would imbibe the spirit and exhibit erratic behavior. Kapur humorously recounts, "We poured a small amount in front of the cockroach, thinking it would imbibe and perform (laughs). It genuinely seemed as though the cockroach had indulged. Perhaps it developed a taste for Old Monk?"

In addition to the cockroach escapade, Shekhar Kapur recalls another intriguing moment involving Amrish Puri, who portrayed the iconic villain Mogambo. Shekhar Kapur directed Amrish Puri to infuse his performance with elements of Shakespeare, envisioning Mogambo as a larger-than-life character delivering Shakespearean dialogue to an audience unfamiliar with the playwright's works. Shekhar Kapur explained, "When Amrish asked, 'How do you want me to play it?' I said, 'Play it like you are doing Shakespeare'... He did it that way."

Meanwhile, Boney Kapoor recently disclosed that a sequel to ‘Mr. India’ is in the works.