Karisma Kapoor on 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi': 'Film won't be a hit'
Synopsis
Karisma Kapoor has admitted she once told David Dhawan that a location continuity slip in the 'What Is Mobile Number' song — filmed at Madh Island, not Goa — could kill 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' at the box office. Twenty-five years on, she laughs: nobody ever spotted it.
Key Takeaways
Karisma Kapoor shared the anecdote on 'India's Best Dancer Season 5' .
She feared a continuity error in the 'What Is Mobile Number' song — set in Goa on screen but filmed at The Retreat Hotel, Madh Island Resort — would expose the film.
The song was reportedly shot in a single day and became one of the film's biggest highlights. 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' (1999), directed by David Dhawan , starred Sanjay Dutt , Govinda , Karisma, and Pooja Batra .
The film released on 25 June 1999 , Karisma's 25th birthday , and went on to be a hit.
Actress Karisma Kapoor has revealed that she harboured serious doubts about the success of her 1999 comedy 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi', confessing she once warned director David Dhawan that a particular behind-the-scenes continuity slip could sink the film — only to discover that nobody ever noticed it.
What Karisma Revealed on India's Best Dancer
Speaking during her appearance on the dance reality show 'India's Best Dancer Season 5', Karisma recalled feeling sidelined early in the shoot. 'First, all the scenes of the film were shot in Goa. Then I went to David ji and asked, 'David ji, where am I in this film?' she recounted. Dhawan reportedly reassured her, telling her two songs were lined up and asking her to wait and see what would happen.
One of those songs turned out to be the now-iconic 'What Is Mobile Number', reportedly shot in a single day. Karisma noted the song became a defining moment — both for the film and for her own confidence in the project.
The Continuity Gaffe That Worried Her
Karisma disclosed a continuity detail that had made her anxious at the time. While the film's story was set in Goa, the 'What Is Mobile Number' song sequence was actually filmed at The Retreat Hotel, Madh Island Resort — a location visibly different from the film's established setting. 'David ji, this has come in from the background. It's such a big shot — if someone notices it, our film won't be a hit,' she recalled telling the director. She then laughed, adding: 'But till date, no one has ever noticed it.'
About Haseena Maan Jaayegi
Directed by David Dhawan, 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' featured Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Karisma Kapoor, and Pooja Batra in lead roles, with Anupam Kher, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani, and Paresh Rawal in supporting parts. The film released on 25 June 1999 — coinciding with Karisma's 25th birthday — and went on to become a commercial success, vindicating Dhawan's confidence and putting Karisma's fears firmly to rest.
The Magic of Cinema, in Her Own Words
Reflecting on the experience, Karisma summed it up with characteristic warmth: 'This is the magic of cinema.' The anecdote underscores how much of what audiences experience on screen is shaped by decisions — and anxieties — invisible to viewers, even decades later.
Point of View
However glaring they seem to the people who made the film, almost never register with audiences swept up in the moment. What's more striking is the David Dhawan formula at work: reassure your star, shoot the song fast, and trust the energy to carry it. It did, and still does.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Karisma Kapoor think 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' would be a flop?
Karisma feared that a visible location continuity error in the 'What Is Mobile Number' song sequence — filmed at The Retreat Hotel, Madh Island Resort, despite the film's story being set in Goa — would be noticed by audiences and hurt the film's reception. She recalled telling director David Dhawan about it, but the detail went unnoticed by viewers.
Where was the 'What Is Mobile Number' song actually filmed?
The song was filmed at The Retreat Hotel, Madh Island Resort, even though the narrative of 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' was set in Goa. Karisma Kapoor revealed this discrepancy during her appearance on 'India's Best Dancer Season 5'.
When did 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' release and who was in it?
'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' released on 25 June 1999 — Karisma Kapoor's 25th birthday. The film was directed by David Dhawan and starred Sanjay Dutt, Govinda, Karisma Kapoor, and Pooja Batra, with Anupam Kher, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani, and Paresh Rawal in supporting roles.
What did David Dhawan tell Karisma when she felt invisible in the film?
When Karisma approached Dhawan after noticing that most of the early scenes had been shot without her, he reportedly told her not to worry and assured her that two songs — including 'What Is Mobile Number' — were yet to be filmed. The song went on to become one of the film's most memorable numbers.
Where did Karisma Kapoor share these behind-the-scenes memories?
Karisma shared the anecdotes during a guest appearance on the dance reality show 'India's Best Dancer Season 5', where she reflected on the making of 'Haseena Maan Jaayegi' and the magic of cinema.
