Danger at the waterfall

Randeep Hooda and Rashaana Shah went ahead with the scene despite the danger involved

Rang Rasiya has been shot in several exotic locations in India. The Allapuza waterfalls in Kerala was one such location recalls Deepa Sahi, the producer of the film. Describing the scene, Sahi says that the director wanted to create an ‘on the edge feeling’ about painter Raja Ravi Varma’s rebellious nature when it came to social norms. The scene was planned with Randeep Hooda and his muse, played by Rashaana Shah, getting romantic on rocks at the edge of the gigantic waterfalls. It was an ambitious shot with a jimmyjib (camera) swooping down on the lovers just as the sun began to set. “We had just completed one rehearsal when we suddenly noticed that the water had risen up dangerously. The local co-ordinator panicked as someone had opened up the sluice gates, ignoring the instructions. No cell signals were working and this meant that the rock where the actors were sitting would get completely submerged in 20 minutes.
“ The DOPs from Bulgaria began shouting in their broken English ‘Deepa, we make too much danger… too much danger!’ I told them, “Nothing will happen, trust me”. I then told Ketan (director Ketan Mehta) that we should not wait for the perfect light but must can the scene and move out. I could see the disappointment on his face but we had no option as it was the question of the safety of the entire unit. As Ketan tried to take the shot, I asked the rest of the unit to start shifting all the stuff except the bare minimum equipment necessary. We had barely managed one take and the water had already risen almost up to the actors. Just as Randeep hooped over, the water gushed submerging the entire rock! Ketan was really upset as he wanted another take. However, later when everyone saw the scene, it looked so spectacular that they started clapping,” said Sahi.
Rang Rasiya releases on November 7.