In 2003 Bollywood witnessed a storm called Tere Naam. Made on a modest budget of Rs 10 crore the film went on to earn a whopping Rs 24 crore becoming one of the most talked-about romantic tragedies of the decade. Directed by the late Satish Kaushik this heartbreaking love story starred Salman Khan and Bhumika Chawla in the lead roles. The film’s music by Himesh Reshammiya and lyrics by Sameer Anjaan struck an emotional chord with audiences making Tere Naam an unforgettable chapter in Hindi cinema. Salman Khan’s intense portrayal of Radhe a man driven by obsessive love became a cultural phenomenon. However while the film cemented Salman’s image as a tragic lover it did not bring the same fortune for its leading lady Bhumika Chawla. The story behind Tere Naam The film’s screenplay was penned by Jainendra Jain and was based on a real-life incident from the life of writer Bala’s friend. Bala who had originally made the Tamil version of Sethu inspired this Hindi remake which retained the same raw emotions and tragic undertones. While Tere Naam went on to become a massive hit it also became a turning point for Bhumika Chawla—just not in the way many expected. What went wrong for Bhumika Chawla? In a recent interview Bhumika opened up about her journey after Tere Naam. She confessed that despite the film’s blockbuster success her career didn’t soar as predicted. “Many big films that I had signed never got made” she revealed. “Some were delayed some teams changed or perhaps those films were never meant for me.” The actress who played the soft-spoken and graceful Nirjara in the movie added that she’s at peace with how her career shaped up. “I’ve always been careful while choosing films. I believe every project has its own destiny” she said reflecting on her choices over the years. On choosing quality over quantity While she may not be a constant presence in Bollywood Bhumika remains content with her journey. Talking about her interest in digital platforms she said “I would love to do more work on OTT but I’ll always choose my roles carefully. For me quality matters more than quantity.” Her focus she added has always been on playing meaningful characters rather than chasing fame or numbers. What’s next for the Tere Naam star? Bhumika is now gearing up for her next project titled Kesar which also stars Arbaaz Khan and Deepshikha Nagpal. As for the much-discussed Tere Naam sequel she shared that she has no confirmation yet. “I don’t know if Tere Naam 2 is being made. If I’m offered the role I’ll think about it. Sequels are tricky — sometimes they work sometimes they don’t. It all depends on the story” she said. She also pointed out that audience tastes have evolved and stories need to reflect those changes. Highlights Tere Naam made for Rs 10 crore collected Rs 24 crore at the box office. Bhumika Chawla revealed that many of her signed films never got made. The actress will next be seen in Kesar alongside Arbaaz Khan.