A scene from Rani Mukerji's debut film, Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat (1996), has resurfaced and is drawing reactions, particularly from the medical community. The scene in question depicts Mukerji's character attempting to save her husband's life by sucking out snake venom after he is bitten. This dramatic portrayal, while common in cinema, has been met with skepticism regarding its medical accuracy.
Among those reacting is Dr. Sriram Nene, a cardiovascular surgeon and husband of actress Madhuri Dixit. In a recent YouTube video where he reviewed medical memes and cinematic scenes, Dr. Nene addressed the Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat snake venom scene. His reaction was one of amusement and professional disagreement. "I don't know the context of this," he said, "but I think what we are looking at is the old wives' tale that if a snake bites you, you suck out the venom and the patient does fine."
Dr. Nene clarified that this method is not medically sound. He explained that by the time symptoms of snake venom poisoning appear, the venom has already spread throughout the body, making the act of sucking it out ineffective. He stated, "Listen, by the time you start to exhibit neurologic effects and other effects, he's already got a systematic dose of the venom. So, I don't know that this is going to change anything."
Instead, Dr. Nene emphasized the importance of proper first aid and seeking immediate medical attention. He advised, "What you can do, though, if you are at the scene, is you can put a tourniquet on and then get the patient to help where they can give them an antivenom." He also noted the prevalence of snakebites in rural India, recalling how his family in the Konkan region kept mongooses and dogs to protect against snakes, as antivenom was not always readily available.
Concluding his review of the scene, Dr. Nene humorously remarked, "This scene is pure cinema for the most part. Not sure that it's realistic and wouldn't give you the best results. But I've seen it before in western films as well as eastern films so not a big surprise—just that it doesn't work."
The movie Raja Ki Aayegi Baaraat marked Rani Mukerji's entry into Bollywood. In the film, she portrays a woman who, after surviving sexual assault, is compelled by the court to marry her attacker. Over time, their relationship evolves, leading to the scene where she attempts to save his life from a snakebite. While the film has been criticized for its narrative choices and depiction of domestic violence, it has also become a source of memes and discussions on social media, particularly regarding the accuracy of certain scenes.
