15 Years of Love Sex Aur Dhokha: How It Launched Rajkummar Rao and Nushrratt Bharuccha

Love Sex Aur Dhokha Turns 15: The Film That Started Rajkummar Rao and Nushrratt Bharuccha’s Journey

As Love Sex Aur Dhokha completes its 15 years, it still stands as a milestone in Indian filmmaking. Directed by Dibakar Banerjee, LSD was the first full-length feature in India to be shot completely in digital format. It set a new standard for filmmaking techniques, introduced many talented newcomers like Rajkummar Rao and Nushrratt Bharuccha, who have since made their own successful careers in Bollywood.

Rajkummar Rao’s Entry into Bollywood

For Rajkummar, LSD was a turning point. He came across an audition notice while in Gurugram and the audition itself was far from smooth sailing. Recalling the experience on a podcast with Raj Shamani, Rajkummar said, “When I went to give my first audition, I wore atrangi clothes because that was the brief given to me. I was asked, ‘What are you wearing? Do you have anything else?’ I said, ‘No.’ I thought I was done for.”

Despite going through the test of time, Rajkummar finally got a callback, in which he was advised to lose some of the weight of his face. Undaunted, he went on to achieve what many felt was impossible: shedding a couple of pounds within the space of a week through vigorous running. He eventually won the part with an honorarium of Rs. 11,000. His performance was praised subsequently by the audience; however, his wife-to-be actor Patralekhaa was another story. “After watching LSD, I was asked to do a music video by a friend, but I refused because I thought Rajkummar was very creepy and I was scared,” she recounted in an interview with Humans of Bombay.

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Rajkummar’s Daring Performance

Over the years, Rajkummar has set boundaries regarding his choice of parts and performances, but these boundaries began to be tested on the very first day of filming for him. He had to go butt-naked for a scene in LSD, which, as he admitted to the India Today, raised hell. “Of course, it didn’t pass the censor board and was blurred, but I was scared to do it,” he said. “But I guess if I said no to it, I could have put my career in serious jeopardy.”

Thankfully, his parents stood right behind him. As he recounted, “My mom said that if this is a part of your job and the role truly demands it, then go ahead and do it.”

Nushrratt Bharuccha Worked for Free

While Rajkummar was paid Rs. 11,000 for LSD, Nushrratt Bharuccha was without a paycheck. The actress was keen to work with Dibakar Banerjee, having admired his work in Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! “I always wanted to work with Dibakar Banerjee. When I watched Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!, I told myself that I’d work for free if I ever got the chance, and that’s exactly what happened. I didn’t get paid a single penny for LSD,” she revealed in an interview.

Ektaa Kapoor: A Take on the Film

The initial screening of LSD caught producer Ektaa R Kapoor quite off-guard. Dibakar Banerjee stated there was shock not because of the themes of voyeurism and privacy invasion of the movie but because of its execution and format. “Her first reaction was, ‘Why is the camera shaking so much?’ and then, ‘Who is going to watch this film?'” he said.

Ekta’s initial apprehension, however, did not prevent the film from attaining cult status. She revealed later that LSD has left an impression on her. “When I came out of the movie, I was furtively looking for bugs and cameras everywhere,” said Ektaa, articulating how much the subject matter had affected her.

A Sequel Born on Bigg Boss

Last year, Love Sex Aur Dhokha 2 arrived with a fresh cast, but its conception digressed into the road to production with Bigg Boss 16. Ektaa Kapoor was on the show searching for the female lead of the film, who, in the end, was won over by actor Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia. However, Nimrit didn’t go ahead to do the film. While promoting LSD 2, Dibakar Banerjee stated that the Bigg Boss casting was just a publicity gimmick.

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A Film That Redefined Bollywood

Fifteen years later, LSD remains a cult classic that introduced innovative storytelling to Indian cinema. It launched the careers of actors like Rajkummar Rao and Nushrratt Bharuccha, who have since become household names. The film’s bold themes, unique narrative style, and digital format changed the way experimental films were perceived in Bollywood.

As LSD celebrates this milestone, it stands as a testament to the power of unconventional storytelling and the risks that pay off in the long run.

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