Janki Bodiwala, known for her role in the Bollywood film "Shaitaan" and its Gujarati original, "Vash," recently shared a surprising anecdote about her preparation for a particularly intense scene in "Vash". During a roundtable discussion with Filmfare, Bodiwala recounted how the director of "Vash", Krishnadev Yagnik, had asked her if she would be willing to urinate for real during the scene.
The scene in question involves Bodiwala's character, Aarya, who is possessed and urinates in a moment of distress to try and stop her father from worsening the situation. Bodiwala said that when the director asked her if she could do it for real to create a big impact, she was excited by the prospect. As an actor, she felt it was a unique opportunity to do something that had never been done on screen before.
Bodiwala explained that the director's unusual request was a key factor in her decision to take on the role in "Vash". She was drawn to the scene's raw realism and the opportunity to push her boundaries as an actor. "And because of that scene, I said yes to that film," Janki stated.
However, despite her initial enthusiasm and willingness, the practicalities of filming the scene as initially conceived proved too difficult. Bodiwala revealed that actually urinating on camera would have required numerous retakes and presented logistical challenges on set. As a result, the scene was ultimately modified, and an alternative approach was used to create the desired effect.
Even though the scene didn't unfold exactly as planned, Bodiwala remains proud of her work in "Vash" and considers it a valuable learning experience. She was happy she got to do things she couldn't in real life. She also said that the scene is literally her favorite scene.
"Vash," released in 2023, stars Hitu Kanodia, Niilam Paanchal, and Hiten Kumar alongside Janki Bodiwala. The film's Hindi remake, "Shaitaan," features Ajay Devgn, R. Madhavan, and Jyotika. Both films tell the story of a family terrorized by a malevolent entity.