The 1999 crime thriller Shool was a breakthrough film for Raveena Tandon, that showcased her ability to take on serious, realistic roles beyond the glamorous characters she was known for in films like Akhiyon Se Goli Maare. In an exclusive interview with ETimes, Raveena reflected on the transformative journey through the Ram Gopal Varma directorial Shool, which recently completed 25 years since its theatrical release. It also featured Manoj Bajpayee in the lead.
Recalling the early days of working on Shool, Raveena revealed how it took a lot of convincing to persuade filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma that she could pull off a role with such depth. “Yes, Shool was a turning point in my career because it was when I really had to convince RGV to believe I could do something realistic. It took some convincing,” she shared with us.
Raveena also shared a humorous memory from the film’s shoot, “In fact, there’s a funny incident from that time. I was ready for a shoot at Rakesh Reshta’s studio, where we were filming posters. Ramu (Ram Gopal Varma) walked in, and I greeted him warmly, but he replied with a very cold, icy ‘hi.’ I thought, ‘Okay, he really doesn’t want me in this film. He’s not convinced at all.’ But then, as soon as I got in front of the camera and started emoting, I suddenly heard him exclaim from behind, ‘Oh my God, Raveena, that’s you!’ I turned and said, ‘Yes, Ramu!’ and we all burst out laughing. He admitted he hadn’t recognized me at first. That moment really sealed the role for me, and it’s a funny and fond memory.”
Raveena Tandon reveals she was called arrogant for this shocking reason
She also vividly remembered her time shooting in Bihar, which brought its own set of challenges. “I remember landing in Bihar and driving to Motihari at 1 a.m. We had a police convoy leading us because it was foggy—November or December, I think—and we couldn’t see anything ahead. We were in Jeeps, which made the ride even more exciting and thrilling. Thankfully, the police escorted us, so we felt safe, especially given that the film was about the lives of police officers in Bihar. In the early ’90s, times were a bit scary, and my father kept calling to check if I’d arrived safely or if I was at the hotel,” she explained.
One particularly memorable experience came when she and her co-star Manoj Bajpayee shot a sequence at a local railway station in Motihari. “We were at a railway station for a shot where Manoj gets off the train, followed by me. As he offered me his hand to help me down, a huge crowd erupted in cheers! Manoj was like a hometown hero there, and Dulhe Raja had been a massive hit in Bihar. The crowd was so overwhelming that they had to quickly get me out of there. But that moment, when I took Manoj’s hand and the crowd went wild, is one of the sweetest memories I have,” Raveena said, describing the overwhelming response.
Shool not only earned critical acclaim for its hard-hitting portrayal of police officers but also won Raveena a National Award for Best Actress. “Winning the National Award for that film was a proud moment. It truly deserved the recognition. The film touched on issues still relevant today—bureaucracy, red tape, and the struggles honest cops face, getting transferred and shunted around due to political games. Shool remains a special and memorable film in my career,” she said.
“Shool was one of the turning points on my career because the film got a national award and my character got a lot of critical claim. I think it was a film before time as well, and it’s something that is so relevant even today today,” Raveena concluded.
