We used to bully Kundan a lot during Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro, says Om Puri!

Many might not know that with a shoestring budget, every day of the shoot was a struggle for Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro team but everyone managed to complete the film, which has earned the cult status over the years. Actor Om Puri says he has some of the best memories of working in the 1983 satire classic and bullying its director Kundan Shah.

For those unaware, the film which is being re-released by NFDC and PVR cinemas after a gap of 29 years on November 2 had some of the best theatre and film artistes like Naseeruddin Shah, Ravi Baswani, Satish Kaushik, Pankaj Kapur, Satish Shah, Neena Gupta and Puri.

Puri, who played corrupt builder Ahuja, recalls how they sailed through despite budget problems by sleeping on the floor and eating lauki ki sabzi and dal every day. The Mahabharat scene of the film is almost as famous as the movie itself and Puri recalls how he convinced Shah to let him wear his character`s trademark black glasses.

"We used to bully Kundan a lot. I remember during the Mahabharat scene I am wearing goggles. Kundan was not happy. He said, ‘What is this? You are wearing goggles in Mahabharat scene’. I said, ‘Relax Kundan, look at the situation. We are hitting everyone that goes backstage and change into their clothes. I forgot to remove my glasses’. Finally, he let it be and that’s how my goggles remained in the scene."