Sara Ali Khan’s debut film, Kedarnath, holds a special place in her heart, largely due to her first co-star, the late Sushant Singh Rajput. In a heartfelt interview with Mid-Day, Sara became emotional as she reminisced about her time on set with Sushant, crediting him for much of the love and acclaim she received for the film.
Reflecting on her experiences while filming Kedarnath, Sara shared several cherished memories. “There are so many,” she said. “One time, Gattu sir (director Abhishek Kapoor) was in a rush. Sushant had worked with him before, so I turned to Sushant and said, ‘I don’t know how to do this, there’s this line, just show me.’ He demonstrated, and I just copied him.”
Sara acknowledged Sushant’s influence on her, saying, “Being able to speak Hindi the way I do, being as curious as I am, so much of it is because of Sushant. Any love I’ve received for Kedarnath, and it’s a lot, is all thanks to him.” She struggled to hold back tears as she spoke. Sushant Singh Rajput tragically passed away on June 14, 2020, in Mumbai.
Kedarnath, released in 2018, featured Sushant as a ‘pithu’ at the sacred Kedarnath shrine and depicted the devastating flash floods in Uttarakhand in June 2013. Directed by Abhishek Kapoor, the film successfully combined romance and drama, earning significant box office success.
Looking ahead, Sara Ali Khan was recently seen in Ae Watan Mere Watan, where she portrayed Usha Mehta, a prominent figure in India’s freedom struggle. Her upcoming project is Anurag Basu’s Metro…In Dino, co-starring Aditya Roy Kapur and featuring an ensemble cast including Pankaj Tripathi, Ali Fazal, Fatima Sana Shaikh, Anupam Kher, Neena Gupta, and Konkona Sen Sharma. The film is set to hit theaters in November this year.
As Sara continues her journey in the film industry, her reflections on Kedarnath and her time with Sushant Singh Rajput remain poignant reminders of her beginnings and the indelible impact of her late co-star.