Renuka Shahane reveals Madhuri Dixit's HAHK prank left her in tears
Synopsis
More than 30 years after Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Renuka Shahane and Madhuri Dixit reunited on Kon Honar Crorepati — and the story that emerged was pure gold: a newcomer Shahane unable to pick out director David Dhawan from a group, Dixit's teasing reducing her to tears, and Dhawan himself stepping in to save the day. A rare, unscripted window into one of Bollywood's most beloved film sets.
Key Takeaways
Renuka Shahane shared the incident on the Marathi quiz show Kon Honar Crorepati , hosted by Madhuri Dixit .
Shahane, then a newcomer, could not identify filmmaker David Dhawan among a group on the Hum Aapke Hain Koun sets.
Dixit's teasing — 'You are in this industry, and you don't know who he is?' — left Shahane teary-eyed.
David Dhawan himself defused the moment, saying he was 'not such a big director', even though he already was one.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! , directed by Sooraj Barjatya , released in 1994 and starred Shahane as Pooja and Dixit as Nisha.
Actress Renuka Shahane recently shared a candid behind-the-scenes memory from the sets of the 1994 cult classic Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, recalling how co-star Madhuri Dixit reduced her to tears with a playful prank involving filmmaker David Dhawan. The revelation came during Shahane's appearance on the Marathi quiz reality show Kon Honar Crorepati, hosted by Dixit herself.
The Incident on Set
Shahane recounted that Dhawan had visited the film's sets during the shoot, at a time when she was still a relative newcomer to the Hindi film industry. Dixit summoned her over to make introductions, but with several people seated together, Shahane could not identify which one was the director.
'David Dhawan ji had come to our set once. I was a newcomer then, and Madhuri called out to me, 'Shahane, come here,'' Shahane recalled. Dixit, responding on the same show, confirmed, 'Yes, I used to call her 'Shahane.''
Madhuri's Teasing and David Dhawan's Reassurance
Shahane continued: 'Then she said, 'Greet him. He is a great director.' There were three or four people sitting there, and I was trying to figure out exactly which one of them was David Dhawan! Pointing towards him, Madhuri said, 'You don't know who he is? You are in this industry, and you don't know who he is?' I became teary-eyed.'
According to Shahane, it was Dhawan himself who diffused the awkward moment. 'David ji laughed and said, 'No, it's nothing like that. I am not such a big director.' But he was already a big director by then!' she added. Dixit then drew her close, clarifying with a smile: 'I wanted to introduce you to David Dhawan.'
About Hum Aapke Hain Koun and the Two Actresses
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, directed by Sooraj Barjatya, released in 1994 and remains one of Hindi cinema's most beloved family dramas. Shahane and Dixit played sisters on screen — Shahane as Pooja and Dixit as Nisha. The film also featured Salman Khan, Anupam Kher, Reema Lagoo, Mohnish Bahl, and Alok Nath in key roles.
Reunion on Kon Honar Crorepati
The story gained fresh resonance as it was shared on Kon Honar Crorepati, a Marathi version of the popular quiz format, with Dixit in the host's chair. The on-air reunion between the two actresses offered audiences a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the camaraderie — and the gentle ribbing — that defined the sets of one of Bollywood's highest-grossing films of the 1990s. The anecdote is a reminder of how enduring the bond forged during that production has proven to be, more than three decades later.
Point of View
Shahane serves up a story of genuine embarrassment — and Dixit cheerfully owns the tease. What it actually surfaces is how intimidating the inner circle of mid-1990s Bollywood was for newcomers, where not recognising a name-director was treated as a social failing. That Dhawan himself broke the tension speaks to a warmth the industry rarely credits him with publicly. Three decades on, the story lands on a show hosted by Dixit — making the reunion its own punchline.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What incident did Renuka Shahane recall from the Hum Aapke Hain Koun sets?
Renuka Shahane recalled not being able to identify director David Dhawan when he visited the Hum Aapke Hain Koun sets, as he was seated among a group of people. Madhuri Dixit's teasing — asking how she could not recognise such a prominent director — left Shahane in tears, before Dhawan himself stepped in to reassure her.
Where did Renuka Shahane share this story?
She shared the anecdote on the Marathi quiz reality show Kon Honar Crorepati, which is hosted by Madhuri Dixit. The two actresses appeared together on the show, more than 30 years after working on Hum Aapke Hain Koun.
What roles did Renuka Shahane and Madhuri Dixit play in Hum Aapke Hain Koun?
The two actresses played sisters in the 1994 film — Renuka Shahane played Pooja and Madhuri Dixit played Nisha. The film was directed by Sooraj Barjatya and also starred Salman Khan, Anupam Kher, Reema Lagoo, Mohnish Bahl, and Alok Nath.
How did David Dhawan react when Renuka Shahane did not recognise him?
According to Shahane's account, David Dhawan laughed off the incident and said he was 'not such a big director', which helped ease the tension. This was despite Dhawan already being a well-known filmmaker in the industry at the time.
When was Hum Aapke Hain Koun released?
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! was released in 1994 and is considered one of Hindi cinema's most iconic family dramas. Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, it became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of that decade.
