Farhan Akhtar's Don: The Chase Begins Again has completed 20 years. The 2006 film, which starred Shah Rukh Khan in the lead, was a remake of Chandra Barot's Don (1978), which featured Amitabh Bachchan. Produced by Excel Entertainment, the action film also starred Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Om Puri, Boman Irani, Arjun Rampal and Isha Koppikar, and became a success at the box office.
In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, the film's cinematographer KU Mohanan looked back at the making of the movie. He recalled one chase scene in particular, where Shah Rukh Khan drove through fire himself.
Shah Rukh Khan's Fire Chase Scene in Don Had No Duplicate
Mohanan said there was no body double used for the sequence. The actor did the stunt himself.
"There was no duplicate. He will do anything you tell him." — KU Mohanan, Bollywood Hungama
The cinematographer's comment points to how far Shah Rukh Khan was willing to go for the film. According to Mohanan, the star did not step back from a scene that involved real fire.
Why Don's Twisted Climax Added to Its Success
Mohanan also spoke about the film's ending. He shared that the twisted climax played a big part in the movie's success. The film's visuals are often credited with helping it stay fresh even after two decades, and Mohanan was the man behind that look.
Interestingly, Don was the first time Mohanan worked on a mainstream commercial film. He revealed that there were apprehensions about this before he came on board. The film went on to become a major moment for mainstream Hindi cinema, at a time when sequels were not a regular feature.
Our Take: A Stunt Scene That Says a Lot About the Film
In our view, the story of Shah Rukh Khan driving through fire without a duplicate is more than a fun behind-the-scenes detail. It shows the kind of commitment that went into Don, and it explains why the film still holds up 20 years later. A star of his stature doing a risky scene himself is rare, and Mohanan's memory of it is a reminder that the film was built on real effort, not shortcuts.
To put it plainly, the twisted climax and the practical stunts are exactly why Don worked. Audiences remember films that surprise them and show them something real. Two decades on, this one still does both.
