Do you know Farah Khan scolded Sushmita Sen when she wore her iconic red saree in Main Hoon Na? Read what she said inside.
Published: November 17, 2025 8:50 AM IST
In the glitzy and glamorous world of Bollywood, we only see the final product i.e. the film on screen. However, what happens behind the surface, is a lot more than what meets the eye. One such example of this is an incident that happened on the sets of Main Hoon Na. This cult classic film, which still resonates with the pop culture, had some memorable behind-the-scenes moments that are timeless. While the film is remembered for Shah Rukh Khan’s charm and its vibrant music, Sushmita Sen’s portrayal of Miss Chandni, especially her iconic red saree look, remains unforgettable. Now, years later, Sushmita has opened up about the chaos and fun that happened when she wore that first saree.
Sushmita Remembers the BTS Story
Playing the glamorous role of chemistry teacher, Miss Chandni Chopra, in the 2004 Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Main Hoon Na. Sushmita Sen recalled the day she walked onto the set wearing the now-famous red saree and the unexpected reaction she received from Farah Khan.
Sushmita said, “That red saree I was made to wear… it was freezing cold. On top of that, Farah Khan put a massive storm fan because Chandni’s hair needs to fly all the time. If Chandni is in the classroom, her hair is flying; if she’s crying, her hair is flying; even if it’s raining, her hair is flying. It was a mandatory requirement for the character.”
Farah’s First Reaction
Sushmita then recalled the hilariously unforgettable moment when Farah first saw her in the saree. She said, “When she told me I would be in a saree for the entire film, I said, ‘Please don’t do this to me. This is my first film with Shah Rukh; I want to wear 50,000 different costumes.’ But she was like, ‘Trust me, you’re in a saree and that’s it.’”
The real twist came when Sushmita stepped out in the red saree for the very first time.
Sushmita said, “The day I wore that red saree and walked out, the first change ever, Farah looked at me and said, ‘Kya lungi baandhi hai (Why have you worn it as a lungi)? Geeta, take her back.’ After that, Geeta tied it really low. I was worried the whole time—‘Bas yeh gir na jaye (It must not fall)!’ The pallu was kept very long.”
Main Hoon Na Legacy
Main Hoon Na marked Farah Khan’s debut as a director, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Suniel Shetty, Amrita Rao and Zayed Khan. Released on April 30, 2004, the film received positive reviews, becoming one of the most loved entertainers of its time.
