We’ve had a few issues in the past but whenever we met, we took up from where we’d left off: Sanjay Leela Bhansali on working with Salman Khan

By Vandana Srivastawa

on March 20, 2019

Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a director par excellence, having got another award last night which proves this. He was adjudged Best Director for Padmaavat at the Zee Cine Awards 2019. Now, the director and acclaimed filmmaker is back in the game has pulled off a casting coup of sorts getting Salman Khan and Alia Bhatt to star in his film Inshallah that will be talked for months. The director is also looking to expand his production house and is backing several projects with young promising talent and diverse subjects. In a recent interview with a leading tabloid, Bhansali spoke about his first hero Salman with whom he is reuniting after twelve years having last worked together in Saawariya.

Bhansali made his directorial debut with Khamoshi: The Musical which also starred Salman and went on gain prominence with Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam which again had Salman as the main lead. Interestingly, it’s been twenty years since Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam released. Talking about when Salman gave his nod for Inshallah, Bhansali said, “It was a beautiful, breezy evening. We were sitting in the lawn of his home, and as soon as the narration ended, Salman turned to me, saying, “When do we start?” It took me back to my two-and-a-half-hour narration of Khamoshi: The Musical. We were in his bedroom then and he kept looking at himself in the mirror. I was wondering if he’d even heard me, but when I finished, he told me exactly what he’d liked in the story, making me realize that he is very sharp, and one shouldn’t presume anything with him.”

[caption id="attachment_231931" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Alia Bhatt and Salman Khan[/caption]

Talking about the rift that they presumably had, he said, “We’ve had a few issues in the past but whenever we met, even sporadically, we took up from where we’d left off without dwelling on the past and the difference of opinions we might have had. My fondness for him is pure, and Salman, once he offers his friendship, even if you don’t meet or talk in five years, he’s there waiting for you. He’s never told me that he’s liked a shot, a song or a film I’ve made but has expressed his appreciation for my work to others when he didn’t need to.”

[caption id="attachment_219886" align="aligncenter" width="647"] Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Salman Khan[/caption]

He was further asked how Salman has changed over the years, to which Bhansali said, “Oh yes, today he’s a mega-star, totally inaccessible, with the cult status of Rajinikanth sir, yet deep down he’s still a simple guy with a pure heart and a noble soul. After Khamoshi, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Saawariya, he and I needed to make one film together, if not 10 more. I’m glad Inshallah happened. From my understanding of him, as a man, an actor and a superstar, I know this is the right film for us to come together. I’ve been working on it for the last year-and-a-half, starting three months before Padmaavat released, to take my mind off things that were happening at the time. I wrote and reworked till I felt it was ready, then, went to him. It’s my 10th film, I want it to be my best.”

Well, we’re sure Bhansali and Salman will make the film magical as their past collaborations have been great too. We can’t wait to know more details about Inshallah. Watch this space for more updates on the film.