Sonam Khan reveals she wore bodysuit in Ajooba bathtub scene, defied Shashi Kapoor
Synopsis
More than 30 years after Ajooba released, Sonam Khan has finally addressed the film's most talked-about bathtub scene — revealing she wore a skin-coloured bodysuit throughout, turned down requests to remove it, and that even Shashi Kapoor's personal persuasion didn't change her mind. It is a candid on-set boundary story that 1990s Bollywood rarely told in public.
Key Takeaways
Sonam Khan revealed on Monday that she wore a skin-coloured bodysuit during the bathtub scene in 'Ajooba' (1991).
She refused to film without the bodysuit despite attempts to persuade her, including a personal request from Shashi Kapoor .
A body double, also dressed in a skin-coloured outfit, was used for a separate multi-mirror sequence in the film. 'Ajooba' was co-directed by Shashi Kapoor and Soviet filmmaker Gennadi Vasilyev , and featured Amitabh Bachchan , Rishi Kapoor , Dimple Kapadia , Shammi Kapoor , and Amrish Puri .
Sonam Khan was among the prominent young actresses of the late 1980s and early 1990s , known for films like 'Tridev' and 'Vishwatma' , before stepping away from the industry after marriage.
Actress Sonam Khan has lifted the curtain on one of the most talked-about sequences from her 1991 fantasy adventure film 'Ajooba', revealing that she wore a skin-coloured bodysuit during the film's bathtub scene — and that she refused to do otherwise even when veteran actor-director Shashi Kapoor personally urged her to.
What Sonam Khan Revealed
Sharing a throwback video clip from the film on her social media account on Monday, Sonam offered fans a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the scene. In her post, she wrote: 'Late '80s throwback. Plot twist: That's me in a hamam...Fully clothed in my 'trust-me-it's-a-costume' skin-colour leggings + bustier. So please, stop that imagination right now. We shot this whole scene in 1 hour flat. Speed-run record. No Ajooba fantasies allowed.'
She further disclosed that a body double was used for a separate multi-mirror sequence that did not appear in the shared clip, adding: 'She got the full skin-colour onesie too. I refused. Even Shashi Kapoor sir tried. Still didn't do it.'
The Scene That Sparked Curiosity for Decades
The bathtub sequence had generated considerable curiosity among moviegoers when 'Ajooba' was released in 1991. The film, co-directed by Shashi Kapoor and Soviet filmmaker Gennadi Vasilyev, featured a high-profile ensemble cast — Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Shammi Kapoor, and Amrish Puri. Sonam's candid account now closes a chapter of speculation that had lingered around the film for over three decades.
Sonam Khan's Career in the Late 1980s and Early 1990s
Sonam Khan emerged as a prominent actress during the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing in films including 'Tridev', 'Vishwatma', 'Krodh', 'Mitti Aur Sona', and 'Fateh'. She was widely recognised for her screen presence and dance numbers, and was counted among the notable young stars of the era. She subsequently stepped away from films following her marriage and relocated abroad.
Why the Revelation Matters Now
Sonam's disclosure is notable not just as a nostalgic throwback but as a frank account of on-set boundary-setting at a time when such conversations were rarely had publicly. The post has drawn renewed attention to 'Ajooba' — a film that remains a cultural reference point for its ambitious scale and star-studded cast — while also highlighting the pressures actresses navigated behind the scenes during that era of Hindi cinema.
Point of View
But it is more usefully read as a rare first-person account of an actress asserting a boundary on a major 1991 set — and having that boundary tested by a director of Shashi Kapoor's stature. That she is sharing this now, in an era of heightened conversation about consent and working conditions in Hindi cinema, is unlikely to be coincidental. The detail about the body double being dressed identically suggests the production found a workaround rather than accepting the refusal cleanly. Mainstream coverage will focus on the celebrity angle; the more durable story is what it says about the negotiating power — or lack of it — that actresses held in that era.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Sonam Khan reveal about the Ajooba bathtub scene?
Sonam Khan revealed that she wore a skin-coloured bodysuit — leggings and a bustier — during the bathtub scene in the 1991 film 'Ajooba', and refused to film without it despite being urged to do so. She shared this in a post accompanying a throwback video clip from the film on her social media account.
Did Shashi Kapoor really ask Sonam Khan to remove the bodysuit?
According to Sonam Khan's own account, Shashi Kapoor did personally urge her to forgo the bodysuit during filming. She stated clearly in her post: 'Even Shashi Kapoor sir tried. Still didn't do it.'
Was a body double used in Ajooba?
Yes, according to Sonam Khan, a body double was used for a separate multi-mirror sequence in the film. She noted that the double was also dressed in a skin-coloured outfit.
When was Ajooba released and who starred in it?
'Ajooba' was released in 1991. The fantasy adventure film was co-directed by Shashi Kapoor and Soviet filmmaker Gennadi Vasilyev, and featured Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia, Sonam Khan, Shammi Kapoor, and Amrish Puri.
What films is Sonam Khan known for?
Sonam Khan was a prominent actress in the late 1980s and early 1990s, appearing in films including 'Tridev', 'Vishwatma', 'Ajooba', 'Krodh', 'Mitti Aur Sona', and 'Fateh'. She was known for her screen presence and dance numbers before stepping away from the industry after marriage.
