Bhagyashri Borse opens up on the slap scene with Dulquer Salmaan in Kaantha, ‘We really went…’

Here's how Bhagyashri Borse’s hesitation to slap Dulquer Salmaan in Kaantha turned into a powerful moment.

Bhagyashri Borse, who plays Kumari in the Tamil period drama Kaantha, recently shared a behind‑the‑scenes moment that left fans buzzing. In an interview with Sudhir Srinivasan’s podcast, she revealed she was extremely hesitant to deliver a hard slap to co‑star Dulquer Salmaan during a pivotal scene.

What did Bhagyashri Borse say?

During the chat, Bhagyashri opened up on all the ‘slapping’ that was involved in the film, and said, “Obviously behind the scenes, I was a little hesitant about doing the same but I think he (Dulquer) wanted that perfection. We really went for it, and he was ready to go through that to get that performance out of him and I respect that. But I was really, like, hesitant. It is the first time I ever did it.” After Bhagyashri, director Selvamani Selvaraj added that after the scene, Dulquer’s face was red, which underlined how intense the moment was on set.

More about Kaantha

Kaantha is set in 1950s Madras and follows the ego clash between a superstar (Dulquer) and his mentor/film director Ayya (Samuthirakani), spiraling into a murder investigation. The film features strong period visuals by cinematographer Dani Sanchez‑Lopez, music by Jhanu Chanthar, and editing by Llewellyn Anthony Gonsalves. Produced jointly by Wayfarer Films (Dulquer) and Spirit Media (Rana Daggubati), it opened on 14 Nov 2025 and has collected Rs 19.95 cr net in India so far, with positive word‑of‑mouth driving steady theatre presence.

The appreciation for Kaantha

The candid revelation has resonated with fans, adding a layer of appreciation for the film’s realism. Social media trends show #Kaantha and #DulquerSalmaan trending, while critics have praised Dulquer and Bhagyashri’s chemistry. Rana Daggubati also praised Dulquer, calling himself a fan after watching the performance. The film’s success at the box office and the buzz around this behind‑the‑scenes moment suggest Kaantha could become a notable entry in Tamil cinema’s period drama roster.

Story Highlights

1. Bhagyashri Borse confessed she was extremely hesitant to slap Dulquer Salmaan
2. After the take, Selvamani Selvaraj noted Dulquer’s face turned red, showing how intense the moment was.
3. Kaantha (2025) is a Tamil period drama set in 1950s Madras, starring Dulquer Salmaan, Rana Daggubati, Samuthirakani, and Bhagyashri Borse.
4. Opened on 14 Nov 2025, collected Rs 19.95 cr net in India, with positive word‑of‑mouth.

Bhagyashri’s candid confession highlights the lengths actors go to deliver raw, authentic moments, turning a simple slap into a memorable highlight of Kaantha’s emotional narrative.