Mumbai, July 28 — Veteran actor Ashok Saraf has revealed a harrowing on-set experience from the 1992 film Jaagruti, in which he played a rare villainous role opposite Salman Khan. In a recent interview with Radio Nasha, Saraf recounted a near-fatal incident during the filming of a scene involving a real knife, describing it as one of the most dangerous moments of his career.
The scene required Salman Khan to hold a knife to Saraf’s throat while delivering intense dialogue. However, the knife used was not a prop but a real one, and the pressure applied during the take caused a deep cut on Saraf’s neck. “He was holding my throat with a knife, and it was a real knife. As soon as we started saying the dialogues, I tried to escape from his hands. Salman was pressing hard and I said, ‘Dheere se dabaao, katt raha hai yahan par,’” Saraf recalled.
Despite Saraf’s suggestion to adjust the grip for safety, the camera angle restricted changes, and the scene was completed as planned. It was only afterward that Saraf noticed the severity of the injury. “When I saw later, there was a deep cut on my throat. Agar yahan ki nass katt jaati toh hum udhar hi… Main kabhi nahi bhoolunga,” he said, adding that he’s unsure whether Salman Khan remembers the incident.
Jaagruti, directed by Suresh Krissna, featured Salman Khan and Karisma Kapoor in lead roles and received a mixed response at the box office. Saraf and Khan have since collaborated on several films, including Karan Arjun, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, and Bandhan.
The actor’s recollection has sparked renewed interest in the safety protocols of Bollywood sets during the 1990s, highlighting the risks actors often faced in pursuit of cinematic realism. Saraf, known for his comic timing and versatility, emphasized that the incident remains etched in his memory as a cautionary tale from his long and storied career.
