Salman Khan found his first movie, Biwi Ho Toh Aisi (1988), in the most surprising way long before Maine Pyar Kiya made him famous. Director JK Bihari has now disclosed that, without holding an audition or even requesting Salman’s name, he cast him the minute he saw him approaching his office.
“I was sitting in my garage and saw a boy walking across the road towards me with a file in his hand. In an interview with Siddharth Kannan, Bihari revealed, “I decided just by looking at his walk that I am going to sign him.” Salman played Farooq Sheikh’s younger brother in the movie, which starred Rekha and Farooq Sheikh in the lead roles. It was a little but significant role that marked the actor’s big-screen debut.
Salman never utilized his father’s name to land the part, Bihari said. “I said yes when he came to talk to me. It was unbelievable to him. His father’s name was not adopted by him. I might not have cast him if he had done that,” he remarked. Salim Khan was already regarded as one of Bollywood’s most renowned authors at the time, thus his son’s acceptance of such a small part revealed Salman’s humility and desire to learn.
Bihari was concerned that the young actor may back out after learning that Salman was the son of Salim Khan, but that never occurred. Bihari said that “Salim Khan said, you are a new director, he is also new,” and that the movie was made solely by chance.
The director further disclosed that Salman only agreed to a tight three-film deal with the producer for a nominal sum because he was eager to get started. Salman was willing to sign anything because he needed a break. So, for a very small sum, my producer signed a three-film deal with him,” he stated.
The young man who once entered a garage became one of India’s biggest stars when he was introduced as a starring man in Maine Pyar Kiya a year later.
Salman Khan, meantime, is presently filming Battle of Galwan. He is also regarded as Bigg Boss 19’s host. He also recently appeared in a cameo on The Ba***ds of Bollywood, a show hosted by Aryan Khan.
