On Neerja's first day of shooting, a chaotic mishap involving a gun and a startled Kapoor left the crew buzzing. Jim Sarbh, who had just stepped into the role of the menacing terrorist Khali, found himself jarring a prop gun into Sonam Kapoor’s mouth—an accidental moment that almost rewrote the day.
Kapoor, playing the fearless flight‑attendant-turned‑heroine, handled the blunder with the kind of calm that makes you wonder if she’s used to chaos. “I was a sport about it,” she told a post‑shoot interview, laughing as the crew tried to keep the scene’s energy alive. Sarbh, meanwhile, admitted he’d been trembling and felt the sting of real panic, a memory he says he’ll never forget.
The incident sparked a broader conversation that Sarbh seized on. With a theatre background, he felt the film set hierarchy was stifling, a “project‑based” system that often left actors and crew feeling undervalued. He warned that when the lines between hierarchy and collaboration blur, mediocrity can thrive. “If everyone is picked for what they do and how they contribute, we’ll have a healthier, more respectful environment,” he said.
Neerja, directed by Ram Madhvani, did more than just tell a gripping true story. It bagged two National Film Awards and six Filmfare trophies, with Kapoor earning a Special Mention at the 64th National Film Awards. Sarbh’s Khali, though a villain, earned praise for his chilling presence, making the film a benchmark for performance‑driven biopics.
Looking ahead, Sarbh is already eyeing roles that push his range further. The incident at Neerja might have been a blip, but it’s a lesson in the power of on‑set dynamics—a reality that keeps Bollywood both thrilling and unpredictable.