November 5, 2024: In a recent interview, Manisha Koirala opened up about a fascinating revelation regarding the ending of the 1998 film Dil Se, directed by Mani Ratnam, which starred her opposite Shah Rukh Khan. The film, known for its intense portrayal of love and sacrifice, had a climax where Amar (Shah Rukh Khan) and Meghna (Manisha Koirala) share a moment of redemption in each other’s arms before the bomb she is carrying explodes. However, Koirala revealed that the original ending for the film was quite different, and in fact, she preferred it over the final one seen on screen.
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According to Manisha Koirala, in the original script, Amar was supposed to let Meghna (Moina) die without trying to save her. This would have reflected a deeper sense of sacrifice and the idea that both the terrorist cause and Amar’s love for her were equal in magnitude. She explained:
“In the original script… both the guys, the terrorists and the hero, the cause is larger… in the original version, he lets her die.”
This ending would have made Amar’s act more poignant, as he would have seen her cause as greater than his own, symbolizing a tragic, unrequited love.
Although the final version of Dil Se ended with a more romantic conclusion — Amar’s love overcoming hate and the bomb going off tragically after they embrace — Manisha Koirala expressed a preference for the original ending.
She shared that she felt unrequited love would have been a more compelling theme, saying: “Unrequited love is far more interesting than the one that gets fulfilled in life or after death.”
Manisha emphasized that there is something more profound and bittersweet about love that remains unfulfilled, and she believed this would have been a more powerful narrative choice for the characters.
At the time of its release, Dil Se faced mixed reactions and didn’t perform as well at the box office as expected. However, over the years, it has grown in stature, gaining a cult classic status. The film’s poetic visuals and Shah Rukh Khan’s iconic dialogues have resonated with audiences, particularly as it explores themes of love, sacrifice, and terrorism.
The film’s cinematic beauty and emotionally charged performances have made it a beloved part of Indian cinema, and both Shah Rukh and Manisha’s portrayals are still widely appreciated.
Manisha, reflecting on her role and the story, revealed that she felt a deeper connection to the original version of the story where love and sacrifice weren’t about achieving a happy ending but about the beauty of a love that cannot be fulfilled. This perspective added a layer of tragedy to the film that she felt could have elevated its emotional depth.
She also mentioned that, at the time of filming, she personally preferred the darker, more tragic ending because it seemed more fitting for the characters and their circumstances.
Manisha Koirala’s revelation about the alternate ending of Dil Se provides a fresh perspective on the film’s emotional trajectory. While the final ending, where Amar tries to save Meghna, offers some closure and a sense of redemption, Manisha’s preference for the original version speaks to the complexity and depth of unfulfilled love, which often resonates on a more poignant level. Dil Se remains a classic, not just because of its powerful direction and performances, but also because of the intense emotions it stirs, whether through the love that is realized or the love that never gets fulfilled.
