Veteran actor Satish Shah, known for his comedic timing and memorable roles, particularly as Professor Rasai in Farah Khan's directorial debut, Main Hoon Na, once shared a hilarious anecdote about filming the movie with Shah Rukh Khan. Shah revealed that the unique demands of his character, who suffered from a peculiar condition causing him to spit while talking, led to numerous retakes, largely due to SRK's uncontrollable laughter.
Shah reminisced about how Shah Rukh Khan convinced him to take on the role of Professor Rasai. According to Shah, SRK presented him with a choice between playing the principal or Professor Rasai. When Shah inquired about the latter, SRK described the character's spitting habit, saying that "every time he speaks, he spits so much that you know it comes out in the form of espresso". Initially, Shah was reluctant, considering it a "disgusting role" and preferring the role of the principal, which was eventually played by Boman Irani. However, SRK cleverly convinced him by saying that anyone could play the principal, but only Shah could pull off the role of Professor Rasai.
To prepare for the role, Shah had to practice a lot to create the desired spitting effect. He revealed that it wasn't achieved through trick photography. Instead, he would gulp water and then accentuate certain words and syllables to create a spray. "I used to take in a gulp of water and keep it around my mouth and I used to accentuate certain words and syllables in such a way that it sprays," Shah explained.
During the classroom scene where Professor Rasai had to scold Major Ram, played by Shah Rukh Khan, the actor's hard work was often undone by SRK's laughter. Shah recalled, "I used to work so hard on it but Shah Rukh would laugh so we would have a retake". This happened repeatedly, leading to a frustrating situation for Shah. After eight retakes, Shah, growing increasingly upset, declared that he wouldn't do it again. Despite his ultimatum, SRK laughed again during the eighth take. Ultimately, the filmmakers had to use an insert shot of Zayed Khan to complete the scene.
Following his experience in Main Hoon Na, Shah humorously began referring to himself as the "spitting cobra". He also found himself carrying the spitting habit onto other sets. He recalled an incident where he was shooting with Govinda and accidentally spat on his face. Shah apologized and explained that he had been practicing so much that his saliva now came out involuntarily. Govinda, understanding the situation, simply smiled and wiped his face.
Satish Shah's portrayal of Professor Rasai remains one of the most beloved comedic performances in Main Hoon Na. His dedication to the role, combined with the amusing challenges he faced while filming, has become a cherished anecdote in Bollywood lore.
