The Unforgettable Slaps of Bollywood

Recently I was watching the movie Thappad of Tapsi Pannu in which  Taapsee plays the role of an educated, upper-middle-class woman who is forced to take stock of her relationship after being slapped by her husband. The impact of the slap scene could leave the audience in shock.

Our films are melodramatic, We love drama and emotions, whenever we have a dramatic scene that too ending with a slap, it resonates the entire cinema house. even the dialogues like ‘Jab Ye Dhai Kilo Ka Haath Padta Hai Na, to Aadmi Uthata Nahi Hai Uth Jata Hai’ have made the audiences whistle and clap. 
In 1942, as a part of a scene in the movie Jung-E-Azadi, actor Bhagwan Dada was to slap her hard. Being a new actor, he accidentally slapped her very hard, which resulted in facial paralysis and a burst left eye vein. Three years of treatment later, she was left with a defective left eye; thus she had to abandon lead roles, and switch to character roles, which won her much of her fame later in life
Let's look into the most impressive slap scenes of Bollywood.
In 1949 film Andaj, starring Dilip Kumar, Raj Kapoor, and Nargis. There was a confrontation scene. In the scene, Raj Kapoor was supposed to slap Kumar. He lands a heavy slap across Kumar's face. Not content he whacks him with a tennis racket 

A scene from Andaz 1949

The other onscreen slap that comes to my mind was from the 1951 film Awara. Bollywood superstar Raj Kapoor slapped Nargis in a scene not once but many times. This was his way of venting out his frustration of loving the unattainable

Clip of Awara 

There was a story about a slap scene in the Navketan film Aandhiyan, directed by Chetan Anand. In the script, there was a scene where character actor Akhtar Hussain had to slap Dev Anand. This was not shot because Dev Anand refused to shoot for this scene and insisted to remove this from the script. Dev felt that this scene will spoil his film image, so this scene was never shot.


In the 1952 film, Anhonee Raj Kapoor once again slapped Nargis. Nargis played a double role in the film. She was highly appreciated for enacting both the roles and her performance garnered critical acclaim.

Slap Scene from Anhonee 1952

There are many types of slaps. In Aar Paar (1954), A Parent slap, for example( Baap Ke Gusse wala slap), when Nikki’s (Shyama) father disapproves of her relationship with Kalu (Guru Dutt), he slaps her. 

Slap scene from Aar Paar 1954

Sometimes the expressions are totally opposite but mean the same thing. The slap from Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham showed the love of a father and how much he misses his son. Unable to express otherwise sometimes howsoever hard you try, feelings find a way to express themselves.

Slap of Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gum

Recall the slap of Raj Kumar to Dilip Kumar in the 1959 film Paigam. This scene was so impactful that the audience still remembers.

A scene from Paigam 1959

 There was a scene in which Salim was supposed to slap Anarkali. Kumar slapped Madhubala so hard that the latter had tears in her eyes.

A scene from Mughal e Azam 1960

In 1960 film Sarhad, starring Dev Anand and Suchitra Sen, there was a slap scene in which Dev Anand slaps Suchitra Sen

A scene from Sarhad 1960

Recall the scene of Guide when Rosie visits the site of Marcos she tells him that she has decided to dance, this makes Marcos angry and there is a long confrontation between them. Rosie slaps Marcos in a scene.

A Scene from Guide

There was a scene in 1969 film Ram Aur Shyam where Pran asks Dilip Kumar to sign the papers thinking that he is Ram but he does not sign, he slaps Dilip Kumar who in return also slap him.

A Scene from Ram Aur Shyam 1969

During the film, Reshma Aur Shera where Amitabh Bachchan was playing the younger brother of Sunil Dutt Bachchan got a tight slap from Waheeda Rehman 

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Recall the scene from Ketan Mehta's film Mirch Masala.  Sonbai played by Smita Patil Slaps the newly arrived village subedar played by Naseeruddin Shah as he chases her across the river and woos her to agree to his proposition. Sonbai blatantly refuses his advances and slaps him hard!

A Scene from Mirch Masala

Shatrughan Sinha slaps Jaya Bachchan on the wedding night to take revenge in the 1973 film Gaai Aur Gori

A Scene from Gai Aur Gauri 1973

In the 1974 film Aap Ki Kasam, Rajesh Khanna slaps Sanjeev Kumar out of anger and sheer doubt

A Scene from Aap Ki Kasam 1974

There is a very intense scene from the Mafia Movie, Satya.  In this movie, there is a scene in which Manoj Vajpayee comes to his home along with his friend, his wife confronts him, he slaps her.

 

A Scene from Satya

Another memorable slap was from Dilip Kumar to Amrish Puri in the 1984 film Mashal

 

A scene from Mashal 1984

Another memorable slap by Dilip Kumar in 1986 film Karma. this time to Dr Dang played by Anupam Kher

A scene from Karma 1986

In 2002 film Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, Shahrukh Khan starts doubting Salman Khan & Madhuri Dixit, due to which he overthinks things. He slaps Salman. This slap can be said Dosti Todne wala slap.

A scene from  Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam 2002

A similar slap was seen in Dil Chahta Hai. This slap changed the relationship of friends. It came in the movie when the audiences were not expecting a high-end drama. Akshay Khanna slaps Amir Khan who is a friend

Slap scene from Dil Chahta Hai

Raanjhana, a 2013 film Sonam Kapoor slaps the hero Dhanush 16 times separately in the film

A scene from Raanjhana 2013

DDLJ Slap

Slap Scene from Thappad 2020