The making of ‘Jumma Chumma De De’ from Amitabh Bachchan-starrer ‘Hum’ was far more intense than what audiences eventually saw on screen. Decades after the song became a Bollywood classic, choreographer Chinni Prakash recalled the difficult conditions under which the elaborate number was filmed and revealed how one sequence left Kimi Katkar injured.In an exclusive conversation with ETimes, Chinni Prakash revisited the 15-day shoot at Mumbai’s Mukesh Mills and spoke about the scale of the production, Amitabh Bachchan’s determination and the unexpected risks involved in filming the song.
The water sequence turned dangerous
One of the most memorable portions of ‘Jumma Chumma De De’ features Amitabh Bachchan pulling Kimi Katkar’s skirt before spraying her with water. What appeared to be a playful moment on screen became a serious challenge during filming.Chinni Prakash revealed that the equipment being used was much more powerful than he had anticipated.“That was not an actual nozzle. It was a fire engine nozzle. I also didn’t know that this would put so much pressure because 15-20 boys, Amit ji, and all the junior artists were holding it. On the other side, only Kimi was there. When we did it for the first time, she was literally thrown off by 20 feet. She fell off the bloody cliff. It hurt her. She started crying. There was a stoppage of shooting. But that girl didn’t leave. She was bloody fighting her way with that force.”The choreographer also remembered the unusual scale of the shoot, with thousands of people involved in the sequence. “Kimi Katkar was a good dancer, but when there are around 2,000 men and you’re the only girl, you will feel awkward,” he said.
Shooting the sequence came with its own logistical problems
The location itself made the situation even more complicated. Chinni explained that the fire engine supplying the water was positioned below the shooting area, while the performers were on the third floor of Mukesh Mills.“We were shooting on the third floor. The fire engine was downstairs. Somebody had to operate it from below, and we didn’t know when the water would come out. There were no walkie-talkies, and the water wouldn’t stop immediately after you said ‘Cut.’ Somebody had to rush downstairs to turn it off. There was no elevator, so you had to walk down the stairs.”The absence of modern communication equipment meant that even stopping the water required someone to physically run downstairs, adding to the chaos of the shoot.
Amitabh Bachchan kept asking for another take
Despite the demanding schedule, Amitabh Bachchan remained committed to getting the choreography right. Chinni Prakash recalled that the actor was not at his best physically at the time but never used his health as an excuse.“Even though he had undergone an operation and wasn’t in his best health, he never said, ‘I can’t do this.’ We did 15 takes for some shots, and every time, he’d look at me after a take. I’d say, ‘Sir, one more.’ He’d say, ‘One more? Let’s do it.’”That persistence became an important part of the song’s creation, particularly as the choreography demanded considerable energy from the veteran actor.
Jaya Bachchan immediately recognised something special
Before the song reached audiences, a preview at Sumit Studio in Juhu gave the team an early indication of its impact. Chinni Prakash recalled Jaya Bachchan’s reaction after watching the footage.“Jaya ji started clapping, ‘Amit, what a dance! This is iconic.’ That’s when Amit ji realized what we had created. The next day, he performed every step with full conviction.”The response reportedly gave Amitabh further confidence in the number and its choreography.
Chinni Prakash joked about being the biggest crack
Looking back at the collaboration, the choreographer credited producer Romesh Sharma with assembling the team responsible for the song.“It became an iconic song. Everybody reacts to it. People know me by Jumma Chumma. Hats off to Romesh Sharma for getting all these cracks to work together. I was the biggest crack of them all,” he joked.He also remembered Amitabh asking director Mukul Anand about him during the process.“Mr. Bachchan even asked Mukul, ‘This guy is also a crack, no?’ I could hear him. I knew I was a big crack.”
Fifteen days of chaos ended with an emotional farewell
After spending 15 intense days filming at Mukesh Mills, the team finally wrapped up the song. What had been a physically demanding and chaotic experience had also brought the entire unit together.“On the last day of the shoot, all of us almost cried while exiting Mukesh Mills,” Chinni Prakash shared.‘Jumma Chumma De De’ eventually became one of the defining songs associated with Amitabh Bachchan, while the behind-the-scenes memories reveal just how much effort, risk and determination went into creating the iconic number.
✍️ Vikrant Kharwar
Vikrant Kharwar is the Founder and Editor of News Us Media. He writes about trending news, sports, entertainment, technology, and viral stories. His goal is to make news simple, informative, and easy to understand for readers across the United States and around the world.
