Sonam Khan on shooting 'Zindagi Har Janam' with Rishi Kapoor in one day
Synopsis
No rehearsals, a cable car, and a lost suitcase — Sonam Khan's account of shooting 'Zindagi Har Janam' for her debut film 'Vijay' in Switzerland is a masterclass in Bollywood improvisation. The single-day shoot with Rishi Kapoor and Yash Chopra, where a local market swimming costume became her on-screen outfit, is one of Hindi cinema's more charming behind-the-scenes stories.
Key Takeaways
Sonam Khan revealed that the song 'Zindagi Har Janam' from her debut film 'Vijay' was shot in a single day in Switzerland .
The shoot involved Rishi Kapoor and director Yash Chopra , with no prior rehearsals — the cast was simply told to go with the flow on a cable car.
It was Sonam's first-ever trip outside India; she recalled eating snow, which made Yash Chopra laugh.
Sonam lost her luggage — including the costumes for the song — and the team shopped at a local market, resulting in a swimming costume and short skirt as her outfit in the song.
Sonam had previously shared the luggage loss episode in April , with the latest Instagram post adding fresh detail about the cable car shoot conditions.
Veteran actress Sonam Khan has shared a vivid behind-the-scenes memory from the making of her debut Bollywood film 'Vijay', recalling how the iconic song 'Zindagi Har Janam' was filmed alongside Rishi Kapoor under the direction of Yash Chopra — all in a single day, with no rehearsals, on a cable car in Switzerland.
The Cable Car Shoot
Sharing a glimpse of the song on her official Instagram handle, Sonam described the shoot as an exercise in spontaneity. 'My first trip to Switzerland! We shot this song in a single day! No rehearsals, We were just asked to go with the flow and enjoy the song before the cable car would reach the bottom of the mountain as instructed by Yash Chopra Ji, there was just about enough space for Rishi Sir, Me, Yash Ji and the Cinematographer...Memories to last forever,' she wrote.
Her First Time Outside India
The Switzerland schedule was also Sonam's first-ever trip abroad. She recalled being so overwhelmed by the sight of snow that she ate some — a moment that reportedly had Yash Chopra in splits. 'Yash Chopra ji started laughing so much; he truly saw the kid in me,' she wrote, adding with characteristic self-deprecation, 'As you can tell, I definitely had two left feet when it came to dancing!'
Lost Luggage, Local Market Rescue
The shoot came with an unexpected complication: Sonam lost her luggage during the Switzerland schedule, along with the costumes earmarked for the song. The team improvised by shopping at a local market. Since it was summertime in Switzerland, the only suitable outfit available was a swimming costume paired with a short skirt — which, she noted, is exactly what viewers see her wearing in the final cut of the song.
A Debut to Remember
This is not the first time Sonam has revisited memories from 'Vijay'. In April, she had also disclosed the luggage loss episode, offering fans a candid look at the unscripted chaos behind a professionally polished song sequence. The recollections paint a picture of a young debutante navigating her first international shoot under one of Hindi cinema's most celebrated directors, alongside one of its most beloved leading men. The nostalgia, shared decades later, continues to resonate with fans of the era.
Point of View
Location over studio, and trust in his cast. The detail that an entire iconic song was filmed in one take-it-or-leave-it cable car descent, with a borrowed swimsuit as costume, cuts against the mythology of elaborate Bollywood productions. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that these stories also quietly underscore how debut actors — especially women — were often dropped into high-pressure international shoots with minimal support infrastructure. The charm of the anecdote should not entirely obscure that subtext.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the song 'Zindagi Har Janam' from?
'Zindagi Har Janam' is a song from the Bollywood film 'Vijay', which marked Sonam Khan's debut in Hindi cinema. The song featured Sonam alongside Rishi Kapoor and was directed by Yash Chopra.
Where was 'Zindagi Har Janam' shot?
The song was filmed in Switzerland, entirely in a single day on a cable car. According to Sonam Khan, the cast had no rehearsals and was instructed by Yash Chopra to enjoy the song before the cable car reached the bottom of the mountain.
Why is Sonam Khan wearing a swimsuit in the song?
Sonam Khan lost her luggage during the Switzerland schedule, including the costumes planned for the shoot. The team improvised by shopping at a local market, where — it being summertime — the only suitable option was a swimming costume paired with a short skirt.
What was Yash Chopra's reaction during the Switzerland shoot?
Yash Chopra reportedly laughed when he saw Sonam eating snow out of excitement, as it was her first time seeing snow. Sonam recalled that he 'truly saw the kid in me' in that moment.
When did Sonam Khan first share memories from the 'Vijay' shoot?
Sonam had shared an earlier account in April, disclosing the luggage loss during the Switzerland schedule. The latest post, shared on her Instagram handle, added new details about the cable car shoot and the no-rehearsal format.
