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Pankaj Parashar, the filmmaker behind Sridevi’s blockbuster ChaalBaaz, recently opened up about his experience of working with Salman Khan for the first time in their 2002 film Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge. By the time Salman approached him for the project, Pankaj had already directed four or five films. The Dabangg actor, who was also producing the film, wanted Pankaj to helm it.
In an interaction with Siddharth Kannan, Pankaj revealed that while he was elated about Salman wanting to collaborate with him, he initially wasn’t convinced by the script of Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, which Salman wrote himself. Salman, however, didn’t give up and urged him to listen to the narration again. Even after the second narration, Pankaj remained skeptical about the script. It was writer Rumi Jaffery who eventually persuaded him to seize the opportunity of working with Salman and assured him that the script could be improved. Pankaj agreed to direct the film and recalled how Salman generously paid him three times the amount he usually charged for a film.
He also shared an interesting anecdote about Salman’s generosity, revealing that the actor gifted Rolex watches to the cast and crew members. Pankaj said, “I did it for a very good amount. Salman was absolutely… It was three times what I would normally get. Salman knew that I would have done the film for just one-third of the amount, but he offered me more. Also, the types of expensive gifts he gives… Once I told him to stop drinking and come on set at 7 in the morning and he came before me after that day. Once he was late and when I showed him the time, he threw my watch.”
He added, “When we were shooting in Jaipur, we used to party every night and one day he declared that he will give gifts to everyone. He asked us to get in line… Cameraman and everyone was there. He gifted watches to everyone. He gave me a Rolex. He told me, ‘I threw your watch that day, you deserve a Rolex.'”
When asked if Salman was moody at that time, Pankaj said, “No. Once he wrote a scene and told us that he is the captain of the ship. You have to try and convince Salman at least three times and he will agree only after that. He won’t listen to you for the first time. He told us, ‘I am Salim sahab’s son. I know. This is correct.’ But he was convinced after I pursued him three times.”
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