Isha Koppikar Got Slapped 14 Times On Set—The Reason Will Leave You Shocked
Actor Isha Koppikar recently shared a surprising story from the early days of her film career. While shooting the 1998 Telugu film Chandralekha, opposite actor Nagarjuna, Isha revealed that she was slapped multiple times during a scene, and it was entirely her idea. The actor said she wanted the emotions to look real on screen and felt that method acting was the only way to achieve it.
“Nag, you really slap me.”
In a conversation with Hindi Rush, Isha recalled, “I got slapped by Nagarjuna. I was a fully committed actor, and I want to perform in a real, methodical way. So when he was slapping me, I couldn’t feel it. This was my second film, so I told him, ‘Nag, you really slap me.’ He said, ‘Are you sure? No, I can’t.’ I said, ‘I want that feeling. I am not feeling it right now.’ So he slapped me, but softly.”
Even after several takes, the camera was not capturing her expressions the way the director wanted. She explained that she couldn’t bring out the required anger for the scene, and that led to more retakes.
“I got slapped 14 times.”
To get the perfect shot, Isha ended up getting slapped around 14–15 times. She said, “In an attempt to look angry, I got slapped 14 times.” Though it was tough physically, she did not blame her co-star at all. In fact, she reassured him that it was her choice. “I literally had marks on my face. Bechara mujhe leke baitha, bola sorry. I said, ‘I asked for it; why are you saying sorry?’” she added.
Isha Koppikar on professional front
Isha’s experience shows the kind of commitment some actors bring to their roles, especially at the beginning of their careers. She wanted to feel the emotion for real so the audience could feel it too. Even though it left visible marks, she stood by her decision.
Isha Koppikar went on to star in many notable films like Krishna Cottage, Pinjar, Kya Kool Hain Hum, and Don. Her latest appearance was in the Tamil sci-fi film Ayalaan (2024).
