Even Amitabh Bachchan Got Nervous! Indian Stars Who Were Starstruck By Their Co-Stars
From Vidya Balan’s shaking hand opposite Rajinikanth to Jaideep Ahlawat forgetting his lines with Shah Rukh Khan, these stars revealed their nerves around cinema legends.
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An actor can face a crowded set, deliver a difficult monologue and survive a dozen retakes. Then a cinema legend walks into the frame, and suddenly the dialogue they knew perfectly has disappeared. Working with an idol comes with a peculiar challenge: the professional has to perform while the fan inside wants to keep watching. Sometimes that means avoiding eye contact; sometimes it means an unsteady hand or a response that arrives several seconds late. These encounters are especially endearing because they reveal something audiences rarely see. Even the people we watch in awe can feel exactly the same way about somebody else.
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The latest example involves Vidya Balan, whose first day on ‘Jailer 2’ required her to confront Rajinikanth with considerable attitude. Director Nelson Dilipkumar has now recalled how her nerves complicated the shot. With the sequel scheduled to release on October 15, the anecdote offers a reminder that experience and acclaim do not necessarily make an actor immune to the superstar effect.
From forgotten lines to a much-needed conversation between takes, here are the encounters that turned accomplished performers into nervous fans.
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1. Vidya Balan - Rajinikanth In ‘Jailer 2’
Director: Nelson Dilipkumar | Scheduled release: October 15, 2026
Playing a character who can stand her ground against Rajinikanth is one thing. Blowing cigarette smoke into his face on your very first shooting day is quite another. According to Nelson Dilipkumar, Vidya Balan was already apprehensive about portraying such a formidable personality; the instruction to smoke and direct it towards Rajinikanth made her more anxious. Watching the monitor, the director noticed her hand shaking as she held the cigarette. He recalled that the shot came together around the third take, and said a trace of that tension remained visible in her eyes.
The contrast is irresistible: a character required to project control, played by an actor briefly overwhelmed by her co-star’s presence. Vidya joins an ensemble that includes Rajinikanth, Ramya Krishnan, S. J. Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Yogi Babu. The sequel brings back Rajinikanth’s retired jailer, Tiger Muthuvel Pandian, with Nelson Dilipkumar again directing.
2. Shriya Saran - Rajinikanth In ‘Sivaji: The Boss’
Director: S. Shankar | Released: June 15, 2007
Shriya Saran wanted to deal with her nerves before the camera did. Recalling ‘Sivaji’, she said she asked Shankar to arrange a meeting with Rajinikanth ahead of rehearsals because she feared she would freeze while working with him for the first time. The project had also come with an extraordinary surprise: she recalled arriving for its launch without knowing who her co-star was, then discovering that the man she would be acting opposite was Rajinikanth himself. That is a rather dramatic way to find out who has been cast alongside you.
Fortunately, the intimidation did not define the shoot. Shriya Saran said Rajinikanth made her comfortable, treated people across the unit with equal respect and encouraged her to keep learning. His humour helped, too. In the film, which also features Vivek, Suman and Raghuvaran, she plays Tamizhselvi opposite Rajinikanth’s reform-minded Sivaji.
3. Raghav Juyal - Shah Rukh Khan In ‘King’
Director: Siddharth Anand | Scheduled release: December 24, 2026
Raghav Juyal had spent years watching Shah Rukh Khan deliver dialogues in single-screen cinemas. Having that same voice deliver a line directly to him was an entirely different proposition. Discussing his first scene with Shah Rukh on ‘King’, Raghav admitted that he forgot his own dialogue when the superstar began speaking. Memories of watching his films five or six times flooded back, leaving him briefly stuck on a very understandable thought: how was he supposed to answer SRK?
He eventually pulled himself together and reminded himself to perform well. ‘King’, directed by Siddharth Anand, also features Suhana Khan, Rani Mukerji, Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan among its ensemble. Its theatrical release is still ahead, but Raghav has already supplied one of its most relatable behind-the-scenes moments. Sometimes getting your dream opportunity also means remembering to say your next line.
4. Jaideep Ahlawat - Shah Rukh Khan In ‘Raees’
Director: Rahul Dholakia | Released: January 25, 2017
Jaideep Ahlawat’s account comes with a wonderful distinction: he managed the rehearsal, then became starstruck during the actual take. Speaking about ‘Raees’, he recalled being prepared when Shah Rukh arrived and rehearsing their lines together. Once the camera rolled, however, watching Shah Rukh perform made him feel like an audience member. He forgot that he, too, was supposed to be acting, and his reactions began arriving late. The face he had watched countless times on screen was suddenly right in front of him.
SRK recognised what was happening and called for a short break. That pause stretched into roughly 15 minutes of conversation about the story and scene, giving Jaideep time to settle. The scene was then completed in one take, followed by Shah Rukh teasing him over the next few days about using his reaction shots whenever necessary. Jaideep plays Nawab in the crime drama, whose main cast includes Shah Rukh, Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Mahira Khan. For an actor associated with such commanding performances, the temporary transformation into an awestruck spectator is particularly charming.
5. Sanya Malhotra - Shah Rukh Khan In ‘Jawan’
Director: Atlee | Released: September 7, 2023
Meeting SRK socially had not prepared Sanya Malhotra for acting opposite him. She said she had encountered him at parties and was always a fangirl around him, but seeing him on the ‘Jawan’ set brought fresh nerves. Those feelings occasionally returned during filming. The difference, she explained, was that his professionalism helped everyone engage with the character in front of them: on set, he became Azad or Vikram Rathod, rather than an intimidating superstar whose presence swallowed the scene.
Sanya plays Dr Eeram in Atlee’s action drama, alongside an ensemble including Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Priyamani and Deepika Padukone in a special appearance. Shah Rukh also offered advice that stayed with her beyond the film, encouraging her to listen to her heart instead of overthinking every choice. She later said that guidance helped while shooting ‘Sam Bahadur’.
6. Rani Mukerji - Aamir Khan In ‘Ghulam’
Director: Vikram Bhatt | Released: June 19, 1998
There are several ways to cope with a romantic scene opposite your screen crush. Rani Mukerji’s early solution was to look at Aamir Khan’s shoelaces. Recalling ‘Ghulam’ on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’, she explained that watching ‘Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak’ had made her a fan of Aamir. When she eventually had to romance him on camera, she struggled to look into his eyes, joking that she was afraid she might fall in love. The romantic scene therefore had a small practical obstacle: its leading lady was concentrating on her co-star’s footwear.
Rani credited Aamir with helping her learn how to perform romance on screen, eventually joking that she could now manage it even with a tree as her scene partner. In ‘Ghulam’, she plays Alisha opposite Aamir’s Siddharth, with Rajit Kapur, Sharat Saxena and Deepak Tijori in important roles. The confidence audiences associate with her later performances makes this recollection all the sweeter.
7. Malavika Mohanan - Rajinikanth In ‘Petta’
Director: Karthik Subbaraj | Released: January 10, 2019
Malavika Mohanan’s first day on her first Tamil film came with an unusually large challenge: her first scene was with Rajinikanth. In a recollection shared on Petta’s fifth anniversary, she described being nervous in an unfamiliar industry, without knowing anyone on the set. Rajinikanth’s arrival brought the unit into a respectful silence; his friendly introduction then left her starstruck. Instead of limiting their interaction to pleasantries, he kept talking to her between shots, asking about her family, schooling, ambitions and interest in spirituality.
That encouragement continued during the shoot. Malavika separately recalled feeling anxious about a long monologue because her Tamil was not particularly strong; Rajinikanth applauded after the scene. She plays Poongodi in the action drama, which also features Vijay Sethupathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Simran, Trisha and M. Sasikumar. Her memory is especially touching because she was one performer in a crowded ensemble, yet he made the effort to help her feel welcome.
8. Sai Dhanshika - Rajinikanth In ‘Kabali’
Director: Pa. Ranjith | Released: July 22, 2016
Playing Rajinikanth’s daughter did not immediately make Sai Dhanshika immune to his presence. Discussing ‘Kabali’, she acknowledged feeling anxious and described how watching him act could leave a co-star in “mute admiration”. When her own turn arrived, though, that admiration became motivation to give the scene her best. She also recalled conversations between takes and his efforts to keep people comfortable. As Yogi, the gangster’s formidable daughter, she had to carry action and attitude on screen while processing the fact that she was working beside Rajinikanth.
Her memories include something more substantial than encouragement. During a night shoot in Malaysia, repeated landings for a stunt left her hurt; when she cried out after a fall, Rajinikanth was the first to reach her. She said he asked his makeup artist to help get her to a nearby car for first aid. The film also stars Radhika Apte, Winston Chao, John Vijay and Kalaiyarasan.
9. Ganesh Venkatraman - Amitabh Bachchan In ‘Kandahar’
Director: Major Ravi | Released: December 16, 2010
Ganesh Venkatraman had an unusual support system for his first scene with Amitabh Bachchan: Mohanlal. Speaking about ‘Kandahar’, he admitted that although he normally tried to remain within his character before the camera, his confidence deserted him when it came to acting with Big B. He confided in Mohanlal, who advised him to leave the nervousness outside and concentrate on the shot. Having one cinema legend reassure you about performing with another is a fairly extraordinary situation to find yourself in.
Amitabh Bachchan then made the work easier by discussing dialogue, movement and eyelines before filming. Ganesh recalled that they also improvised, helping their father-son scenes feel natural. In Major Ravi’s military drama, he plays Suryanath Sharma, while Amitabh Bachchan plays his father and Mohanlal reprises Major Mahadevan; Sumalatha is also part of the cast. Ganesh’s story captures the shift from fearing a famous presence to collaborating with an attentive actor.
10. Priyamani - Mammootty In ‘Pranchiyettan & The Saint’ And Mohanlal In ‘Grandmaster’
‘Pranchiyettan & the Saint’ - Director: Ranjith | Released: September 10, 2010
‘Grandmaster’ - Director: B. Unnikrishnan | Released: May 3, 2012
Priyamani’s answer to being asked whether Mammootty and Mohanlal initially intimidated her was refreshingly direct: “Of course! Who wouldn’t be?” In a 2025 interview, she explained that their larger-than-life presence could be daunting, but that working with them revealed considerable warmth. Both helped with dialogue, delivery and nuances. One memory from ‘Pranchiyettan & the Saint’ involved a scene requiring Mammootty to kick her. He discussed how to simulate it safely; she recalled some contact during the take and his repeated apologies afterwards. The comedy stars Mammootty and Priyamani alongside performers including Biju Menon.
‘Grandmaster’, featuring Mohanlal, Priyamani, Narain and Anoop Menon, gave her a different lesson. She recalled Mohanlal travelling between work and the hospital while his mother was unwell, yet maintaining his focus on set. When she asked how he managed, he explained that he kept his responsibilities as an actor and son distinct. Priyamani has also described how carefully a co-star must watch his subtle improvisations. Her encounters combined initial intimidation with a close-up education in the discipline behind apparently effortless performances.
11. Fahadh Faasil - Kamal Haasan In ‘Vikram’
Director: Lokesh Kanagaraj | Released: June 3, 2022
Even Fahadh Faasil could feel the pressure of a first day with Kamal Haasan. Recalling ‘Vikram’ during a media interaction, he said he became tense when he learnt that his first day involved acting with Kamal Haasan. What followed helped turn that anxiety into ease: conversations about films, life and other subjects, and a senior actor who made him feel valued. Fahadh said Kamal Haasan’s presence gave him a sense of safety. For someone celebrated for holding the camera with the smallest shifts of expression, the admission is a lovely reminder that composure on screen does not tell the whole story.
Their bond grew beyond the shooting experience. Fahadh said he felt comfortable enough to approach Kamal Haasan’s production company if he ever needed a producer for one of his Malayalam films. In ‘Vikram’, he plays intelligence officer Amar in an action thriller also starring Vijay Sethupathi, Narain and Kalidas Jayaram, with Suriya making a special appearance.
12. Emraan Hashmi - Amitabh Bachchan In ‘Chehre’
Director: Rumy Jafry | Released: August 27, 2021
Emraan Hashmi dealt with the prospect of acting beside Amitabh Bachchan by doing some serious homework. During Chehre’s promotions, he described feeling both excited and nervous, having grown up watching films such as ‘Sholay’ and ‘Mr. Natwarlal’. He was particularly concerned about getting the first shooting day right and remembering his dialogue, so he learnt his lines thoroughly. An actor with years of experience was suddenly confronting the possibility that one very familiar screen presence might make everything feel unfamiliar.
The experience ultimately proved enriching, and Emraan singled out Big B’s complete commitment to a film. Amitabh Bachchan’s own response was revealing: rehearsing was part of respecting the makers and doing the job properly. Their thriller, which also features Annu Kapoor, Krystle D’Souza, Rhea Chakraborty and Dhritiman Chatterjee, places Emraan’s character inside a sinister gathering where a supposedly playful trial becomes threatening.
13. Rekha - Amitabh Bachchan In ‘Do Anjaane’
Director: Dulal Guha | Released: November 26, 1976
Long before their screen pairing became famous, Rekha found acting opposite Amitabh Bachchan intimidating. Recalling that phase on ‘Rendezvous with Simi Garewal’, she described the difficulty of standing before him and the nervousness that could make her forget her dialogue. Amitabh Bachchan’s response, delivered in his unmistakable voice, was practical: “Suniye... zara dialogue yaad kar lijiyega”. It is a wonderfully human detail from a collaboration that audiences now tend to view through the much larger mythology surrounding its stars.
‘Do Anjaane’ also exposed Rekha to Amitabh Bachchan’s discipline and attention to his work, qualities she said influenced her own approach. Dulal Guha’s drama casts her as a woman whose rise as an actress is bound up with betrayal, opposite Big B and alongside Prem Chopra, Utpal Dutt and Pradeep Kumar. The recollection adds another dimension to their performances: before the confidence associated with those famous scenes, there was an actor trying to overcome nerves and remember what she was supposed to say.
14. Amitabh Bachchan - Dilip Kumar In ‘Shakti’
Director: Ramesh Sippy | Released: October 1, 1982
The most reassuring example may be the legend who made others nervous admitting that he had felt the same way. Dilip Kumar recalled that during ‘Shakti’, Amitabh Bachchan told him how nervous he had been about their initial scene together. From Dilip Kumar’s perspective, that anxiety had not been visible in the performance: he remembered an actor whose measured movements and expressions conveyed commitment and control. Big B separately spoke about how difficult it was to stand before somebody he had admired for years and disagree with him in character.
Ramesh Sippy’s drama casts Dilip Kumar as a principled police officer and Amitabh Bachchan as his estranged son, with Rakhee, Smita Patil and Amrish Puri in important roles. Their confrontations demand that admiration give way to conflict whenever the scene requires it. The anecdote makes a fitting final stop: even Amitabh Bachchan had to work through the experience of sharing a frame with his idol. Being a legend yourself does not stop somebody else from leaving you awestruck.
