Entertainment / Sun, 24 May 2026 News18

A Young Shah Rukh Khan Starred In This Bold 1993 Film That Later Won A National Award

Last Updated: May 24, 2026, 08:30 IST1 / 8 Released in 1993, Maya Memsaab remains one of the most talked-about films in Hindi cinema. More than three decades later, the film continues to generate curiosity, especially because it featured a young Shah Rukh Khan before he became Bollywood’s biggest superstar. The film also starred Shah Rukh Khan, Farooq Shaikh and Raj Babbar in important roles. In fact, the film won the National Film Award – Special Mention (Feature Film). Today, many film lovers consider Maya Memsaab one of the more experimental Hindi films of the 1990s that challenged mainstream storytelling norms.

Last Updated: May 24, 2026, 08:30 IST

1 / 8 Released in 1993, Maya Memsaab remains one of the most talked-about films in Hindi cinema. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ketan Mehta, the film was inspired by French author Gustave Flaubert’s classic novel Madame Bovary. Set in a more Indian social and emotional landscape, Maya Memsaab explored desire, loneliness, marriage and emotional dissatisfaction in a way Bollywood audiences were not used to seeing at the time. More than three decades later, the film continues to generate curiosity, especially because it featured a young Shah Rukh Khan before he became Bollywood’s biggest superstar. (Image: IMDb)

2 / 8 At the centre of the film was Maya, played by Deepa Sahi, a woman trapped in an emotionally unfulfilling marriage who seeks passion, freedom and escape outside conventional social boundaries. The film also starred Shah Rukh Khan, Farooq Shaikh and Raj Babbar in important roles. (Image: IMDb)

3 / 8 Unlike mainstream Hindi films of the early 1990s that focused heavily on romance, action or family drama, Maya Memsaab dealt with complex adult emotions and psychological conflict. Its storytelling style was artistic, layered and often symbolic, making it very different from commercial Bollywood cinema of that era. (Image: IMDb)

4 / 8 Unlike mainstream Hindi films of the early 1990s that focused heavily on romance, action or family drama, Maya Memsaab dealt with complex adult emotions and psychological conflict. Its storytelling style was artistic, layered and often symbolic, making it very different from commercial Bollywood cinema of that era. (Image: IMDb)

5 / 8 Much of the film’s long-lasting notoriety came from its intimate scenes involving Shah Rukh Khan and Deepa Sahi. At the time, such scenes were extremely rare in mainstream Hindi cinema, especially involving an actor who was quickly becoming a rising romantic hero. The scenes sparked major controversy after the film’s release. Reports, debates and media discussions around censorship followed, with many audiences shocked by the film’s boldness. Shah Rukh Khan later addressed the controversy in interviews and reportedly expressed discomfort over how heavily the intimate scenes were discussed publicly. (Image: IMDb)

6 / 8 Despite the controversy, Maya Memsaab received significant critical appreciation for its direction, performances and visual style. Ketan Mehta’s adaptation was praised for attempting something unconventional in Hindi cinema. In fact, the film won the National Film Award – Special Mention (Feature Film). (Image: IMDb)

7 / 8 The film was also screened at international film festivals and appreciated for bringing literary storytelling into Indian cinema with a modern interpretation. Today, many film lovers consider Maya Memsaab one of the more experimental Hindi films of the 1990s that challenged mainstream storytelling norms. (Image: IMDb)