Indian screenwriter, novelist, actor and filmmaker Ranbir Pushp has addressed long-standing speculation about a possible romance between Nana Patekar and Manisha Koirala while they were working on the 1996 film “Agni Sakshi”.
Speaking to Siddharth Kannan, Pushp acknowledged that the two actors were close and shared a strong understanding on the sets. However, he said he never personally viewed their relationship as romantic.
“Haan yeh hua hai, ab isko romance kahe ya dosti, that God knows. But dono kareeb the. Aapas mein understanding thi. Scenes discuss karke karte the aur performance screen pe nazar aati thi,” Pushp said. He added that their friendship was indeed deep.
Kannan then asked Pushp whether he felt the chemistry between Patekar and Koirala went beyond friendship. Pushp dismissed the idea, saying he had never thought about their relationship in those terms.
“Nahi, kabhi nahi. Main ne uss tareeqe se kabhi socha nahi. Dosti aur understanding thi. Aur scenes discuss karte the. Isse zyaada khayal bhi nahi aaya mujhe kabhi,” he said.
Pushp added that he only heard about the romance rumours later, after they appeared in newspapers.
“Baad mein sunne mein aayi, papers mein yeh baatein aayi, padhne ko bhi mila, par main ne kabhi observe nahi kiya,” he said.
Explaining why he did not notice anything beyond their professional rapport, Pushp said he was largely focused on his own work during the shoot.
“Zyaada mera kaam se matlab hota tha. Mera scene diya, chala gaya, aa gaya. Thodi der rukey, shooting dekhi,” he said.
Directed by Partho Ghosh, “Agni Sakshi” follows Suraj Kapoor, played by Jackie Shroff, who marries Shivangi, portrayed by Manisha Koirala. Her hidden past comes back to haunt the couple when Vishwanath, played by Nana Patekar, appears and claims that Shivangi is his missing wife.
