Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Himani Shivpuri Recalls Husband’s Death During DDLJ Shoot
Himani Shivpuri was supposed to appear in the ending of the film DDLJ.
Her character was also expected to have a romantic conclusion in that scene.
However, her husband, Gyan Shivpuri, died shortly before the climax was filmed.
He collapsed in their bathroom, and a doctor said he had died.
Himani then had to arrange the funeral and deal with hospital and police procedures.
At the police station, an officer talked excitedly about a character she had played on television.
Himani became angry because she was dealing with her husband’s death.
She could not attend the film shoot, although the filmmakers understood her situation.
DDLJ later became one of the highest-grossing and longest-running Indian films of all time.
Himani Shivpuri missed DDLJ’s climax shoot after her husband, Gyan Shivpuri, died two to three days earlier.
She said Gyan collapsed in their bathroom and a building-based doctor pronounced him dead.
Himani took him to a hospital, which led to postmortem procedures and additional formalities.
At a police station, a fanboying cop praised her Humrahi character while she was grieving, angering her.
DDLJ’s team proceeded with the climax because the other actors’ dates had already been scheduled.
- Who
- Actor Himani Shivpuri, her husband Gyan Shivpuri, and the DDLJ cast and filmmakers.
- What
- Shivpuri recalled missing DDLJ’s climax shoot after her husband’s death and described the difficult funeral and police formalities that followed.
- When
- Gyan Shivpuri died two to three days before the climax shoot; Shivpuri discussed the episode in a recent Nation One interview.
- Where
- The events took place at Shivpuri’s residence, a hospital, and a police station in Mumbai; the film’s climax was shot elsewhere.
- Why
- She could not attend the shoot because she was handling her husband’s death, funeral arrangements, and related procedures.
- Film
- Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ), directed by Aditya Chopra and released in 1995.
- Role
- Himani Shivpuri played Kammo Kaur, Simran’s aunt.
- Husband
- Gyan Shivpuri died after collapsing on a bathroom floor.
- Missed sequence
- Shivpuri was absent from DDLJ’s climax, where her character was expected to have a romantic culmination with Dharamvir Malhotra.
- Television role
- The police officer admired Shivpuri’s portrayal of Devaki Bhaujai in Humrahi.
- Production decision
- The filmmakers continued with the climax because the dates of Shah Rukh Khan, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, and other actors were already set.
- Later status
- DDLJ became one of the highest-grossing and longest-running Indian films of all time.