Shaad Ali’s 2005 hit romantic comedy 'Bunty Aur Babli' marks its 20th anniversary today. It’s also been 20 years since the release of the iconic song 'Kajra Re,' one of the most popular item songs in Hindi cinema.

The song starred Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, and Abhishek Bachchan. It was composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, sung by Alisha Chinai, written by Gulzar, and choreographed by Vaibhavi Merchant. In an exclusive interview, Vaibhavi recalls her experience filming the song.In an exclusive interview with SCREEN, Vaibhavi said she was surprised when she was told that the filmmakers wanted to do a song with Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan. The song was meant to be a fusion of qawwali and mujra styles.

She also mentioned that being part of the song recording was very special, as it was one of the first to be done at Yash Raj Studio. While many thought 'Kajra Re' would be a slow-burn hit, Aditya Chopra and Shaad Ali believed it had the right mix to become a popular mass song.

After seeing the choreography, Aditya Chopra expressed his approval. “This is going to be a song revered for a long time. It’s going to be extremely popular and going to go down in history.”

And, he had the vision to predict it would be a chartbuster.Strong Bonds on SetShe shared how the choreography journey for the song began on a warm note. On the very first day of rehearsals, Abhishek Bachchan and Rani Mukerji, whom she considered her lucky charms, showed up to support her. Their friendship had grown during the making of Bunty Aur Babli, and they had become close. Off set, they often gathered at director Shaad Ali’s home, enjoying good company along with delicious kebabs and biryani.When I choreographed the beginning, “Aisi nazar se dekha uss zaalim ne chowk par,” Rani and Abhishek would go all “wah wah, wah wah!”.A Memorable Start to FilmingThe shoot for the iconic song began on a special note: it was Abhishek Bachchan’s birthday. As the team celebrated with cake, the choreographer reminded everyone of the tight schedule, saying they had only four days to complete the song. The shoot finally kicked off after lunch, and she encouraged the team by saying, “Let’s give Abhishek his best birthday shoot and make this song truly special.”First Time Father-Son Duo Together on ScreenIt was the first time Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan shared screen space in a song, and Abhishek was understandably nervous. The choreographer reassured him, promising to strike the right balance. On set, Amitabh Bachchan kept things strictly professional—never letting personal relationships interfere. He stayed in character throughout and even acknowledged the costume designer for the dancers’ outfits.

In contrast, Abhishek brought a lighter energy to the shoot, often joking around and pulling pranks, adding a fun vibe to the set.Aishwarya Rai Joins 'Kajra Re'About a month before the shoot, Aditya Chopra surprised the choreographer with big news—the female lead in 'Kajra Re' would be Aishwarya Rai. This felt like a full-circle moment, as the choreographer had worked with Aishwarya earlier on iconic songs like 'Dholi Taro Dhol Baaje' (Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam), 'Devdas', 'Kuch Naa Kaho', and 'Kyun! Ho Gaya Naa…'.Aishwarya was unsure at first, asking if she could pull off something as bold and different as 'Kajra Re'. But the choreographer had no doubts and confidently reassured her: “Of course you can!”Aishwarya's Grand Comeback with 'Kajra Re'The diva was on a sabbatical before 'Kajra Re', and this song marked her powerful return to the screen. She came back with fresh energy, and the choreographer focused on her expressions and grace, fine-tuning every detail to announce her comeback in style.In the pre-social media era, the buzz around 'Kajra Re' spread purely through word of mouth and theatre euphoria. Audiences danced in cinema halls, especially in single screens, feeling as if they were part of the film. The song not only won hearts but also caught the film industry's attention.Despite winning multiple awards for the choreography, the choreographer humorously admitted still being upset about not getting the Filmfare Award that year.

Instead, 'Kaisi Paheli Zindagani' from Parineeta took the prize.The choreographer didn’t receive a formal brief for the song initially, but a key scene was filmed before the shoot, where Aishwarya says “Aye handsome” to Amitabh Bachchan. That moment naturally set the tone for how the entire song would unfold.When Reel Meets RealThe choreographer fondly recalls how many actors began as friends on her sets and eventually turned into real-life couples.

She calls these moments “divine interventions” and feels lucky to have witnessed them firsthand.Laughing, she even says she could someday write a book about it. But at the time, no one expected such outcomes, everyone was simply focused on the work. The actors remained total professionals throughout, even as something more quietly blossomed behind the scenes.Why Rani Didn’t Dance in “Kajra Re”Rani Mukerji didn’t feature in the dance for 'Kajra Re', and for good reason.

In the film, her character was pregnant during that scene, making it impossible for her to join the performance.

But beyond that, Rani was fully supportive. Described as a true team player and almost like a co-director, she understood the significance of the song in the story. The idea of a cop dancing with the thief she’s chasing? Only in Indian cinema, she joked, and that’s what made the moment so iconic.