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The Salman Khan-starrer Dabangg’s item song ‘Munni Badnaam Hui’ became a massive hit and is still remembered for what it was. The dancing number featured his brother Arbaaz Khan’s then-wife, Malaika Arora. However, did you know that Malaika’s husband Arbaaz and brother-in-law Salman had concerns about her being cast in the track?Ahead of Dabangg’s 15th anniversary, the film’s director Abhinav Kashyap revealed that it actually took a lot of convincing to get Arbaaz’s approval to cast Malaika in ‘Munni Badnaam’. He also shared that while the Khan brothers may appear ‘cool’, they actually belong to a ‘conservative’ Muslim family.
During a candid conversation with SCREEN, Abhinav said, “Arbaaz wasn’t keen about Malaika doing it. He didn’t like the fact that his wife will be labelled as an ‘item girl’. Arbaaz and Salman, no matter whatever they say, are actually very conservative Muslims. Malaika also had her own differences with Salman over her outfits. They want their women covered up. So, they didn’t want her to do the item song.”
The director added, “But, Malaika is a strong and independent woman, she makes her own choices. When she was offered this, she said yes. It took some persuasion for Arbaaz to agree. She told him that it’s nothing vulgar, just dancing only, and it’s all family around in the song, what are you scared of? And of course, that song went on to break so many records.”
Abhinav Kashyap cast Malaika Arora in “Munni Badnam” because of her dancing skills. “Malaika was very famous her songs like “Chaiyyaa Chaiyyaa” and “Hoth Rasiley”. She didn’t do much acting roles. We needed someone who can carry the song well on her shoulders. She is a great dancer. Someone who is less on the camera, people get more curious to see them,” he shared.
Interestingly, Abhinav wanted Salman Khan to enter after the song ended, but the actor was keen on appearing in the number, which ultimately pushed Sonu Sood to the background. “The song turned out so well. When Salman heard it, he said that he also wants to be a part of it. He was initially supposed to arrive right after the song, Sonu would be partying till then. Just like how it was shown in Sholay’s ‘Mehbooba’, when Amjad Khan is enjoying. I had the same vision. It was a great opportunity to put a song. On one hand, the police is spreading a trap and the villain is enjoying on the other hand. But then, Salman insisted that this is the best song, I have to be in it. So, I made him arrive a paragraph before in the song,” he revealed.
During an interview with Shubhankar Mishra earlier, Sonu, who played the role of Chedi Singh in Dabangg, had revealed that Salman snatched away the track “Munni Badnaam Hui” from him as he was set to feature in it with Malaika. “Abhinav came with one good and one bad news. Good news about one of the scenes and the bad one was about Salman taking the song. I said, ‘It is my song, how will he come in between like that?’ He said that he would do it through a raid scene. I told them, ‘It’s wrong, I only had one song.’ But finally, whatever happened, happened for the good. People still remember the song,” he shared.
Arbaaz Khan and Malaika Arora got married in 1998 and welcomed their son, Arhaan Khan, in 2002. After 18 years of marriage, the couple separated in 2016, and their divorce was finalized in 2017. They continue to co-parent Arhaan.
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