Actor Madhoo Shah has shared an incident from the making of the 1997 film Yeshwant, revealing that she and co-star Nana Patekar ended up slapping each other for real while shooting an emotionally charged sequence. Speaking in a recent interview, Madhoo said the unexpected moment occurred during a scene that required her character to break down in tears.

In an interview with Hindi Rush, the actress recalled that she had wanted to use glycerin to help portray the emotional sequence. However, according to her, Nana Patekar preferred a more natural approach and believed actors should experience emotions rather than rely on artificial aids.

Madhoo said that while rehearsals for the scene proceeded normally, Nana unexpectedly slapped her during the actual take. She claimed the slap was not part of what had been discussed earlier and caught her by surprise.

“He actually slapped me during the take. I was shocked because nothing like that happened during rehearsals. I got angry and instinctively slapped him back,” Madhoo said, describing herself as someone who reacted strongly at the time.

Scene Finished Earlier Than Planned

According to the actress, director Anil Mattoo had reserved an entire day to film the sequence, considering its emotional significance. However, she said the scene was completed much faster than expected because of the spontaneity and intensity captured on camera.

Madhoo said the sequence eventually appeared natural on screen and was wrapped up in half a day.

Despite the incident, the actress emphasized that Nana Patekar never treated her disrespectfully. She said his focus was always on performance and authenticity, adding that she learned several aspects of method acting while working with him.

Long Career Across Languages

Madhoo made her Hindi film debut opposite Ajay Devgn in Phool Aur Kaante (1991), which emerged as a commercial success. She went on to establish herself in Hindi and South Indian cinema with films including Roja (1992), Allari Priyudu (1992), Yodha (1992) and Gentleman (1993).

In Yeshwant, Madhoo played Ragini Lohar, the wife of Nana Patekar’s character, Inspector Yashwant Lohar. The film remains one of Patekar’s notable performances and is remembered for its gritty portrayal of a police officer fighting corruption.

‘Governor’ Set for Release

Madhoo is next set to appear in Governor, a film produced by Vipul Amrutlal Shah. The movie is scheduled to hit theatres on June 12, 2026.

Her comments about the Yeshwant shoot have sparked fresh interest among fans, offering a glimpse into the working styles of actors and filmmakers during an era when method acting and spontaneous performances often shaped memorable scenes on screen.