Yes, I said no to Oliver Stone: Raveena Tandon

Raveena Tandon turned down the Colin Farrell-Angelina Jolie starrer because she was uncomfortable about kissing on screen.

After ten years, Raveena Tandon has admitted that she turned down a strong supporting role of the Indian wife of Alexander in Oliver Stone’s Alexander (2004). The actor, who had just bagged the National Award for Daman (2001), was filming Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra’s Aks (2001) when she went to Hotel Grand Maratha where Oliver was staying with Mehra and a friend.

Raveena

Mehra had sent the internationally acclaimed director a copy of Raveena’s show reel, and in turn, Stone sent her Alexander’s script.

"For westerners, back then, India was the land of the Kamasutra and erotica, and there were some torrid lovemaking scenes that I wasn’t sure about doing," says Raveena. "I voiced my concern. They were okay about using a body double, but I had to do the smooching scenes. So, I turned down the offer."



Mehra was shocked by her decision and told her she was crazy to refuse Stone, who had come down specially to meet her. But Raveena has no regrets. "I haven’t kissed even once in my Hindi movies and they are my bread and butter. How could I do it for an international film? My father would have thrown me out," she says.



Raveena is still in touch with Stone: "We email each other. He is one of my favourite directors. Today when actors make so much noise about doing two or three scenes in a Hollywood film, I am amused."