Kohram wasn’t just a title – it was a prophecy. Released on August 13, 1999, director Mehul Kumar’s action-packed thriller, which starred Amitabh Bachchan, Nana Patekar, Jaya Prada, Danny Denzongpa, and Tabu, did more than just entertain; it ignited a firestorm that scorched the peaceful city of Shimla. And no, this wasn’t a fictional plot twist – this was real life.
Kohram’s fiction turned reality: How a 1999 film sparked real-life chaos in Shimla and you won’t believe the reason
Way back in 1999, the quiet hills of Shimla were shaken by a series of events that felt like they were ripped straight from the reels of Kohram itself. It all began innocently enough, with the film airing on local cable. But as the story of corruption and political drama unfolded on screens across the city, it triggered a real-life uproar that no one saw coming.
At the centre of the storm was Danny Denzongpa’s character, Virbhadra Singh – a corrupt minister who was as ruthless as he was powerful. The twist? Virbhadra Singh also happened to be the name of a well-known Congress leader and former Chief Minister of the state. To make matters even more incendiary, the on-screen villain was affectionately called ‘Raja Saheb’ – a title that the real Virbhadra Singh was also known by. Talk about art imitating life!
The timing couldn’t have been worse. As the film played out, members of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) in Shimla couldn’t believe what they were seeing. To them, this wasn’t just a movie – it was an insult, a blatant attack on their leader’s reputation. And they weren’t going to take it lying down.
Fired up and ready for action, a group of NSUI activists marched to the cable operator’s office with vengeance in their hearts. What followed was nothing short of a full-blown rampage. Equipment was smashed, employees were assaulted, and the once-quiet office was reduced to a war zone. By the time the dust settled, the cable operator’s premises looked like a set piece from Kohram – complete with destruction and chaos.
But the drama didn’t end there. In solidarity with the cable operator and in protest against the violence, shops across Shimla shut their doors on August 21, 1999 bringing the city to a standstill. For a day, Shimla lived and breathed the very turmoil that Kohram had depicted – a perfect if unintended, example of life imitating art.
Looking back, it’s hard not to marvel at the sheer coincidence – or was it fate? – that a film named Kohram would cause such a storm in real life. It’s a story that has become a part of Bollywood folklore, a spicy tale of how a movie didn’t just entertain, but also stirred the pot in ways no one could have predicted. If there’s one lesson to be learned, it’s that cinema has the power to influence—and sometimes, to ignite a fire that burns far beyond the screen.
More Pages: Kohram Box Office Collection
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