Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain’s Saxena ji, actor Saanand Verma, is known for his quirky character being slapped on the show. However, in a recent interview, he revealed that during the shoot of his web series First Copy, veteran actor Gulshan Grover slapped him in reality and without asking his permission or speaking to him. Saanand also expressed that while he felt extremely angry, he didn’t say anything to anyone and continued the scene.
During a conversation with Siddharth Kannan, he opened up about his intended slap and said, “Gulshan Grover actually slapped me tightly in First Copy, for real. From the inside, I felt like slitting that man’s throat, but I didn’t say anything. I haven’t said anything till date, I’m revealing this for the first time here. He did it intentionally, that wasn’t acting.”
The actor further added, “It was not acting wala thappad. And you didn’t event tell me that you’re going to slap me really. At least if you mentioned before, I would have been prepared for an actual slap. Felt nothing, I was in the scene, in my character. I completed it and left, didn’t say anything to anyone.”
When the host asked if it is mandatory to give a disclaimer before a real slap, Saanand replied, “It is important to state that before. But, he didn’t say that and slapped me aggressively. It is wrong. I was feeling very angry, but didn’t say anything because I wanted to stay away from negativity. I felt like picking up a chair and beating him. I kept smiling though.”
Recounting his experience, he shared, “I have been slapped thousand times as an actor. I don’t think any actor would have been slapped more than me. I am known for getting slapped. I have been slapped so many times in Bhabhi Ji Ghar Par Hain, but there’s a certain way. Real mein nahi maara jaata hai.”
He also recalled that during the shoot of Rani Mukerji-starrer Mardaani, he was supposed to get slapped in a scene but the director was unhappy with the way it was translating onscreen. He asked his co-actor to slap for real. “My co-actor Digvijay came to me and asked whether he can slap me as the director was clear. I also agreed. There is a process to be followed,” he said.
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Saanand Verma mentioned that even actor Anil Kapoor has the courtesy to apologise after slapping, but not Gulshan Grover. “I have heard that Anil Kapoor also slaps for real, but he apologises and extends his sympathies. But, Gulshan ji didn’t even do that. He is a self obsessed man. He is tied to an image of being a bad man. He does all this to maintain that image,” he concluded.
