Veteran action director Sham Kaushal, who has crafted numerous high-energy action sequences over his decades-long film career, recently opened up about his experience working with Shah Rukh Khan on Farah Khan’s 'Om Shanti Om' (2007). In a candid interview, Sham recalled how the fire scene in the film almost gave him a heart attack.
Sham Kaushal on shooting fire sequence with SRK in Om Shanti Om
During the interview with Friday Talkies, Sham was asked about the most challenging sequences that required extensive preparation. He responded, “Honestly, bataun aisa easy toh kuch bhi nahi hota hai. Mai har din dara hua hin set pe jata hun ki sab tik se ho jaaye. (There’s nothing that’s easy. Every day, I go to the set with a sense of fear, hoping that everything goes smoothly).”
Sham Kaushal went on to explain that the fire scene in 'Om Shanti Om' was particularly strenuous. He shared that at the time, VFX technology was not as advanced as it is today, and so he and his team had to rely on live fire on set. The scene involved three cameras and a team of 60 people working inside, with everyone having to work in unison under extreme pressure.
Sham described how they had to be extremely precise with the timing of lighting and extinguishing the fire, emphasizing that even a delay of one or two seconds could have been dangerous. He said, “Those 4-5 days of shooting, which was mostly done using live fire, were incredibly difficult.”
Sham further revealed the emotional toll the experience took on him. After completing the shoot, he confessed that he went to a corner and cried. “These are the moments that kill you and you feel like you’re going to suffer a heart attack. I end up breaking down at times,” he shared, reflecting on the immense stress and pressure he faced while directing the high-risk sequence.
SRK's reaction to the fire sequence
Sham Kaushal, however, mentioned that despite the tense atmosphere on set, Shah Rukh Khan remained remarkably calm throughout the shoot. Shah Rukh would reassure him by saying, “Paaji tension na le, main aisa nikal jaunga (Paaji, don’t be tensed. I will come out like this).” Sham Kaushal has been an action director for over 40 years.