Dahi Handi in Bollywood: From Shammi Kapoor to Hrithik and Sonakshi

Dahi Handi holds a special place in Bollywood’s heart. From A-listers climbing high to break the handi to special song sequences dedicated to the festival — the vigour is no less onscreen. We take a look at some popular sequences.

If you haven’t had enough of #DahiHandi on your social media timelines, here’s more. For the uninitiated, the Supreme Court has said that children below 18 years of age cannot participate in the upcoming Dahi Handi festival in Maharashtra. This, for a festival that’s celebrated with much vigour not just in every street of Maharashtra on Janmashtami (August 25 this year), but also in a big way in Bollywood films.

Sonakashi Sinha became the first female actor onscreen to break the dahi handi with the song Go Go Govinda.

Remember Shammi Kapoor grooving to the tunes of Govinda Ala Re in Bluffmaster (1963)? And Hrithik Roshan making an entry as Vijay Dinanath Chauhan in Agnepaath (2012)? Here’s a look at five popular Dahi Handi sequences in Bollywood that come to mind when one mentions the festival.

Read: Mandals threaten to discontinue Dahi Handi after SC verdict on curbs

Agneepath
Actor Hrithik Roshan’s character, Vijay Dinanath Chauhan, was introduced in filmmaker Karan Johar’s remake of Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Agneepath (1990) with the dahi handi shot.

Hrithik Roshan in the dahi handi scene in Agneepath (2012).

Oh My God
Sonakashi Sinha became the first female actor onscreen to break the dahi handi. She made a guest appearance in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Oh My God (2012), for the special Dahi Handi song, Go Go Govinda, also featuring Prabhu Deva.

Read: Children below 18 years of age can’t participate in Dahi Handi, says SC

Bluffmaster
No one can beat late legend Shammi Kapoor’s moves in Govinda Aala Re Aala from the 1963 film, Blufmaster. The song still makes it to every Dahi Handi playlist.

Vaastav
Actor Sanjay Dutt’s simple, likeable character climbs atop a tall pyramid to break the dahi handi in the song, Har Taraf Hai Shor, in the 1999 film. He later goes on to become the kingpin of the underworld.

Hello Brother
Another hit song that’s played every year has to be Chandi Ki Dal Par from the 1999 film starring Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan. We know it’s playing in your head now!