More than two decades after a party spat with Salman Khan, filmmaker Subhash Ghai has revisited the altercation while recalling how the two eventually moved past it and went on to work together in the 2008 film Yuvvraaj.

Ghai recalled how a spat at a party escalated into verbal abuse and a brief scuffle between him and the actor. “We were at a party, and Salman was high. He had an issue with me and asked why I did a certain thing. When I explained it was my call as a director, he started abusing me. I asked him to stop, and we had a spat right there,” the 81-year-old told Times Now.

Ghai further shared how the situation eventually required intervention from Salman’s father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan. “Salim saheb called me and said Salman had confessed everything to his mother. He told me, ‘I have scolded him,’ and sent Salman over to my house to apologize,” he added.

When Salman later apologized, Ghai said that seeing the respect he had for his father made him appreciate the actor’s character and move past the incident.

“After that, we began visiting each other regularly and eventually worked on a film together,” Ghai added.

The rocky start eventually gave way to a lasting friendship. Over the years, Ghai has often praised Khan’s conduct, most recently sharing a photo with the actor on Instagram from Jackie Shroff’s birthday celebrations earlier this year.

Sohail Khan recently opened up about a painful chapter from his childhood during the latest episode of Alliance. The Maine Dil Tujhko Diya actor revealed that he had faced sexual harassment as a young boy and kept the experience to himself for several years. Sohail shared this personal account while discussing his strong stance against bullying and ragging. He explained that his own past has shaped the way he guides and supports his sons, Nirvaan and Yohan.

While interacting with fellow contestants, Sohail spoke about the importance of creating an environment where children feel safe to share their concerns. He said he often encourages his sons to openly talk to him if they ever face bullying, discomfort or any situation that troubles them.

The actor said, “I am strongly against ragging. I have always told Yohan and Nirvaan, ‘Beta, don’t feel shy or embarrassed to come and tell me if someone is bullying you,’ because I have experienced this myself.”

“In fact, I was sexually harassed by someone when I was young, and I kept it to myself for years. When I grew up and became an adult, I finally confided in my father. I told him, ‘Daddy, this happened to me.’ He asked me, ‘Son, you kept this inside you for so many years?’ I said, ‘I am sorry, but I was too embarrassed to talk about it.’ It was not my fault, but at that time, you still feel the shame. So, I just keep on telling my children, “Boss, kuch bhi ho jaye, always share,” added Sohail.

Sohail Khan had earlier opened up about his marriage with Seema Sajdeh and reflected on the reasons behind their separation. The Tubelight actor admitted that his own actions and behavior played a role in the relationship falling apart.

“At that time, kaam theek nahi chal raha tha, so I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. Because of my behaviour, I lost someone I really loved.”

Saturday evening saw actor Shah Rukh Khan visit veteran screenwriter Salim Khan at Mumbai’s Lilavati Hospital, extending support to the Khan family after the 90-year-old’s recent health scare.

Salim, father of actor Salman Khan, has been admitted since February 17 after suffering a minor brain haemorrhage. Pulmonologist Dr Jalil D Parkar had earlier told the media that Salim’s condition is stable and he is under observation in the ICU following a medical procedure that did not require surgery.

SRK spent over an hour at the hospital before leaving late in the evening. Soon after, actor Malaika Arora, former wife of Salim’s son, actor-producer Arbaaz Khan, was also seen arriving to check on the veteran writer. Zeeshan Baba Siddique, son of late politician Baba Siddique who was a close associate of Salman, along with photographer Avinash Gowariker, were also spotted visiting the same evening.

Hospital authorities have said that the veteran screenwriter is responding well to treatment. Meanwhile, the Khan family has requested privacy as Salim continues his recovery.

Mumbai: Noted film writer Salim Khan was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Bandra for an undisclosed ailment Tuesday morning. He is 90 years old.

His superstar son Salman Khan brought him to hospital from his home in nearby Bandstand which is located in Bandra suburb too. His other sons Arbaaz and Sohail Khan and daughters Alvira and Arpita were reported to be concerned and were preparing to visit him in hospital.

Born Salim Abdul Rashid Khan on November 24, 1935, in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, Salim Khan acquired a semblance of fame as a supporting actor in films like Baraat, Teesri Manzil -- and Sarhadi Lootera where he first met Javed Akhtar. Khan then struck gold as he went on to write stories, scripts, screenplays and dialogues for numerous movies.

He made a stellar combination with Javed Akhtar, and the Salim-Javed pair of writers achieved stardom with memorable blockbuster movies like Haathi Mere Saathi, Zanjeer, Sholay, Seeta Aur Geeta, Deewar, Trishul, Don and Kranti.

It was Salim-Javed who fashioned Amitabh Bachchan's image as the Angry Young Man.

Khan won six Filmfare Awards as part of the Salim-Javed duo. In 2014, he was awarded the Padma Shri but he declined to accept saying that he deserved a higher honour.

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Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan, 90, father of actor Salman Khan, was admitted to Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre in Bandra, Mumbai on Tuesday. The development was first reported by a paparazzi page on social media.

A video shot outside the hospital, located near the family’s residence at Galaxy Apartments, was posted by the page with caption, “Salim Khan admitted to Lilavati Hospital.” In another clip that surfaced soon after (inset right), Salman was seen leaving the hospital, appearing visibly concerned and surrounded by tight security.

Subsequent visuals showed other members of his family, including wives Salma Khan and Helen; and children Arbaaz Khan and Alvira also making their way to the hospital.

The reason for Salim’s hospitalization was not disclosed and the family was yet to release an official statement till the time of going to press.

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Mumbai: Screenwriter Salim Khan remains stable in Lilavati Hospital, Bandra, after being admitted on Tuesday morning.

Dr Jalil Parkar, senior consultant at Lilavati Hospital, released a health bulletin around 1 pm that read, "At 8.30 am on February 17, Mr Salim Khan was brought to the emergency dept. After initial assessment, he was treated there and shifted to the ICU on the 1st floor for further management. After due diligence by a team of doctors... a consensual modality of treatment was initiated. The patient was intubated for better-managed care and further investigations. On February 18, a procedure called DSA was performed by Dr Nitin Dange, which was uneventful and successful. No surgery was involved. The patient is haemodynamically stable and shall be weaned off the ventilator as per medical norms (the process was initiated). No further bulletin shall be released, respecting the family's wishes."

Meanwhile, apart from Khan's family, film industry colleagues, including Javed Akhtar and Sanjay Dutt, arrived at the hospital to enquire after his welfare.

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Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan is under medical care at Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai after being admitted earlier on Tuesday, with doctors confirming that he is stable and out of immediate danger.

Dr Jalil Parkar, spoke to Bombay Times, after sharing a medical bulletin earlier in the day. Parkar told us, "Patient is hemodynamically stable and shall be weaned off the ventilator as per medical norms (the process has been initiated). With all due respect, no further bulletin shall be released respecting the family wishes."

He also added, "Discharge is not something to be discussed at this juncture. No prophecy. He is sedated. Yes, he had minimal brain haemorrhage but he is out of danger."

Earlier in the day, while sharing the updates with media, Parkar said, "Yesterday (Tuesday) morning he was admitted in the hospital. He was brought in by his family physician. After seeing him in the casualty, we realized he needed ICU hospitalization. He was having jerks. His blood pressure was high. We had to put him on ventilator as we had to do certain investigations. The ventilator was as a safeguard. He was not critical. We did the investigations as required.”

A digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed by a neurosurgeon. “We did a small procedure DSA, by a neurosurgeon. The procedure has been accomplished,” the doctor said, adding that doctors are optimistic about the next step. “He will be off the ventilator tomorrow.”

The bulletin also acknowledged that recovery may be gradual given Khan’s age. “Age is a factor, which is why the recovery process takes time.” Doctors further confirmed, “He did have a small haemorrhage in the brain.”

Khan, part of the legendary Salim-Javed duo with Javed Akhtar, is credited with writing some of Hindi cinema’s most influential films including Sholay, Deewaar and Zanjeer. News of his hospitalization has led to an outpouring of concern and good wishes from across the film industry and fans.

Days after calling him “ugly as f**k”, singer-songwriter Lucky Ali ‘apologized’ to veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar. Ali (67) wrote in an X post that his words were not meant to offend. He wrote on Wednesday, “what I meant was that arrogance is ugly... it was a mistaken communique’ on my part... monsters may have feelings too and I apologize if I hurt anyone's monstrosity... (sic)”

This comes after his post on October 20, “Don’t become like Javed Akhtar, never original and ugly as f***,” over Akhtar’s (80) interview with India Film Project from last year that resurfaced online. Citing a scene from Sholay (1975), which he co-wrote with Salim Khan, Akhtar had said, “There was a scene where Dharmendra hides behind Shiv ji’s idol, and he speaks from that place. Hema Malini thinks Shiv ji is talking to her. Is it possible to have a scene like that today? No.”

Akhtar also remarked, “(Filmmaker) Raju Hirani and I were in Pune, and I said that don’t become like Muslims. Make them like yourselves. You are becoming like Muslims. It’s a tragedy.”

Akhtar did not publicly respond to Ali’s comments till the time of going to press.

As Sholay celebrates 50 glorious years, Hema Malini, who played the iconic Basanti, looks back at the film that not only became a landmark in Indian cinema, but also changed her life forever. “We never thought that Sholay would become an iconic film. We never expected it at all. We thought it’s going to run for 25 weeks or 75 weeks. Those days, a film’s success was based on how many weeks it ran. But Sholay went beyond all that,” says Hema Malini, in a conversation with us.

Calling the film directed by Ramesh Sippy and written by the legendary duo Salim-Javed, a rare piece of cinema, Hema Malini adds, “So many films are made in a year. But nothing is like Sholay. It was a film made with full conviction. It had such beautiful dialogues and performances by every artiste. Even an actor with one dialogue made an impact – that speaks volumes about the screenplay. It touched the entire nation’s heart.”

Sholay, often regarded as one of the most influential Indian films of all time starred Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan, Amjad Khan and Sanjeev Kumar in pivotal roles. Five decades later, her association with Sholay remains fresh across the globe. “Even today, when I travel to places like Georgia or Russia, people remember me as Basanti. A time came when my name almost became Basanti. People recognised me as Basanti,” she laughs.

On working with Dharmendra, she says, “We were already doing many films together. I must say, Dharamji’s role was definitely designed by the writers and director, but he added so much to it. He would say, ‘I’ll do this, I’ll do it like that.’ He made Veeru his own.”

Recalling memorable moments from the shoot, she recalls, “The railway station sequence was difficult to shoot. Basanti is taking Jai and Veeru from the station to the village, and she keeps talking. That was a sweet and interesting scene.”

Talking about what drew her to the part, she says, “I did not think Basanti would become so iconic, however, I did think it was very different as the character provides comic relief, but also had a strong sense of loyalty and love, especially in her relationship with Veeru. I was doing Seeta Aur Geeta then, which was a big hit. When I was offered this role in Sholay, I thought it was very small. But I agreed to do it because of the association with the director and producer.”

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Salman Khan cycling through the streets of Bandra was once a familiar and cherished sight. The Bollywood superstar has always preferred this eco-friendly and healthy mode of travel for short distances around his home. It wasn’t uncommon to spot him riding from Galaxy Apartments to Mehboob Studios. However, ever since the attack on his house last year, Salman has been under heavy security, which has brought his cycling routines in the city to a halt. When asked if he misses riding around Bandra, Salman admitted, “Of course! I do miss it, but I still manage it at the farm (in Panvel).”

Speaking to us at the unveiling of Season 2 of the Indian Supercross Racing League (ISRL), where he serves as the brand ambassador, the Bajrangi Bhaijaan actor reminisced about learning to ride from his father, Salim Khan – a memory that clearly holds sentimental value. It’s a skill he has proudly passed on to the next generation.

“I taught my nephews Arhaan (Arbaaz Khan’s son) and Nirvaan (Sohail Khan’s son) to bike at our farm. They used to take turns and do wheelies at a young age. Their turns were such that they would grind the footrest on the ground,” shared the actor.

Salman also raised concerns about the growing trend of reckless biking stunts on Mumbai’s streets, particularly those done without safety measures. “I have lost a friend of mine, Timmy, when this Bandra Reclamation was under construction. They used to have these races, and he won the race, but his helmet got stuck and he couldn’t apply the brakes in time. This resulted in a crash, and he passed away.”

He also spoke about one of the best bikers he knows, saying, “You know (Zaheer) Iqbal’s father Iqbal Ratansi, he was one of the most amazing riders I have ever seen,” he said.

Last year, Salman had shared a picture on Instagram, where he was seen posing with a vintage bike alongside his father. He captioned it: ‘Dad’s 1st bike, Triumph Tiger 100, 1956.’ Getting nostalgic, he told us, “He bought this bike when he was 16 years old for Rs. 4800.”

The legendary writer later parted with the bike, but he would often recall it in conversations with Sohail Khan. Salman shared, “Sohail sourced this bike. It was lying in a junkyard in Hyderabad. So, we got this bike from Hyderabad, sourced all the parts (that were missing) and restored it for him.”

Eid has been a special moment for Salman and his fans, who gather in huge numbers to catch a glimpse of him waving from his balcony. However, this year the moment came with a stark change as the actor was seen behind a bulletproof glass barrier.

Reacting to this, he said, “It is not because of any other reason, but we had to do something about the security because sometimes we would find some fan sleeping in the balcony. They used to climb up and sleep on the balcony, so we had to cover that place.”

When Arbaaz Khan read Maine Pyar Kiya Phir Se’s script, he knew he wanted to lead Sabir Sheikh’s directorial venture. If he needed another factor to reinforce his faith in the script, it was right there — Dharmendra was part of the cast.

“The story’s emotional depth connected with me. When I saw the names attached to the project, especially Dharam ji, it felt like the right film,” says Khan. It will mark Dharmendra and Khan’s reunion 27 years after Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998).

A lot has changed in these 20-plus years. But Dharmendra is happy to note that his co-star has remained the same over the decades. Having met Khan at the film’s mahurat last week, the veteran actor shares, “It was lovely reconnecting with Arbaaz after so long. At the mahurat, we spoke about Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya. It brought back beautiful memories. Arbaaz hasn’t changed at all — he is still the grounded, respectful, and good-natured person he always was.”

Khan is equally enthusiastic about sharing screen space with the senior actor again, as he says, “His presence adds so much value to the film. We reminisced about the old days, and spoke about how cinema has evolved. Dharam ji’s warmth and energy remain the same. His passion for cinema is alive as ever.”

Maine Pyar Kiya Phir Se will roll on July 15 in Mumbai, with the makers eyeing a November release. What drew Dharmendra to the project was that it isn’t a run-of-the-mill family drama. He explains, “It’s a family drama with elements of thrill. The story combines emotions, relationships, and suspense. I’m playing retired Colonel Ajay Singh.”

Khan adds, “It’s a story about love rediscovered and second chances in relationships, with suspense woven in. At this stage, I’m drawn to well-written roles that have substance.”

The Deols and Khans have been family friends for years. It would be exciting to see a film that brings actors from both families together. Evidently excited at the idea, Khan says, “Absolutely! The Deols and Khans share a strong bond, professionally and personally. It would be iconic if someone like my father [Salim Khan] could pen a story that brings Salman, Sohail, Dharam ji, and his sons together in one film.”

There is no single path to success in the film industry. Some use connections, others rely on luck and hard work, while a few gain experience in filmmaking before facing the camera. As the nepotism debate continues, director-choreographer Ahmed Khan’s son, Azaan (23), is preparing for his acting debut in a yet-untitled revenge drama, which begins filming in November in a start-to-finish schedule.

While Ahmed is busy directing Welcome To The Jungle, he’s also focused on finding the right launch vehicle for Azaan. The actor has worked behind the scenes before stepping into the spotlight. “Aamir [Khan] learned direction as he was filmmaker Tahir Hussain’s son, writer Salim Khan’s son Salman [Khan] was an assistant director before becoming an actor. They all learnt filmmaking before becoming actors to reach where they are now,” says Ahmed.

Azaan started as a technician, learning the ropes of direction, production, choreography, and martial arts. “Azaan has grown up watching filmmaking at home. When he was 15 years old, he shot and featured in his own song. One day, he told me that he had learned all [about filmmaking] and now wanted to try his hand at acting,” Ahmed shares.

On sets, Azaan would stand in for actors, reciting dialogues and expressions under the DoP’s guidance between shots. “Only a technician’s son can understand the importance of this. He doesn’t wish to debut as a typical, chocolate-boy or dancing hero but as something completely unconventional,” Ahmed confirms.

Being a director, one would assume that Ahmed Khan will direct his son’s launch vehicle. However, he says that he “will direct Azaan Khan’s second film”. “It is a challenge to make a film on a technician’s son who is from the film industry but I know Azaan will make me proud,” he says.

Last year, veteran writer duo Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan (Salim-Javed) revealed that Zanjeer (1973) was originally offered to Dharmendra before Amitabh Bachchan stepped into the iconic role of Vijay Khanna. Now, actor Bobby Deol has shed light on why his father chose to walk away from the film that ultimately launched Bachchan’s stardom.

In a recent interview with Instant Bollywood, Bobby shared, “My father did Satyakam (1969) for my aunt’s husband. They were going through a financial crisis, and my dad gave them Rs. 25 lakh.”

He went on to explain how a family situation influenced Dharmendra’s decision to turn down Zanjeer: “When Zanjeer was offered, dad wanted to do it. However, humari ek cousin sister thi, unki shayad koi problem hogyi thi (director) Prakash Mehra ji se. She came to the house one day and said, ‘Aapko meri kasam, agar apne yeh film ki, toh aap meri dead body dekhoge’.”

Back in 2022, Javed briefly addressed Dharmendra’s refusal, saying, “The script was written for Dharmendra ji, but for some reason, he refused to work on it.”

Later, Dharmendra took to X with a poetic response: “Javed… dikhave ki iss duniya mein haqeeqaten dabi rah jaati hain… Dilon ko gudgudana khoob aata hai… kaash sar chad ke bolne ka jaadu bhi seekh liya hota.”

Earlier this week, former actor and Salman Khan’s ex-girlfriend Somy Ali hit headlines when she reached out to Lawrence Bishnoi on social media and expressed her wish to chat with him. What made her reach out to the incarcerated gangster, who has issued life threats to Khan and has claimed responsibility for NCP leader Baba Siddique’s murder? Her anti-violence stand, said Ali.

“I have always been anti-violence. While I want to have nothing to do with Salman, I would never want him hurt, let alone be murdered,” the US-based former actor told mid-day over an e-mail interview.

Ali, who runs the not-for-profit organisation No More Tears, didn’t think her post would be deemed controversial. As someone who holds a Master’s degree in psychology, she said she wanted to dig deep into Bishnoi’s psyche.

“As a psychologist, I watched his interview four times, and concluded that his family must have brainwashed him since [his young days]. That’s why I’d like to have a Zoom call with him and dig deep into his psyche. Lawrence is a dimwit, but an educated dimwit as he has a law degree.”

Asked what she would tell Bishnoi if she got a chance to talk to him, she said, “I will assess why he is so hell bent on attaining fame by having people murdered. He wants people to revere and fear him to an unimaginable level, like Hitler.”

Over the years, Bishnoi has issued threats to Salman, vowing revenge over the superstar’s 1998 alleged killing of two blackbucks, which are considered sacred by the Bishnoi community. The October 12 assassination of Siddique is being viewed as the gangster’s warning to him.

Recently, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan vouched for his son, stating that Salman would never hurt an animal. Her take? “I have far too much respect for Salim uncle and Salma aunty. The most decent people in that household were the parents, Arbaaz and Sohail. The rest were awful to me.”

However, Ali did not share the screenwriter’s confidence. She recalled that she used to stay at Salman’s Galaxy apartment with him when the 1998 incident took place.

“I had accompanied Salman many times on his hunting [trips] even though I hated it and would come up with some ploy so that the animal could run away. He didn’t know the deer was deemed as God by the Bishnoi tribe. I can say this because this was talked about in the [Khan] household many times. If Salman knew this fact, he wouldn’t have even thought of shooting the deer. As much as he enjoys hunting, which stems from a narcissistic trait of power and control, he loves animals and children.”

Khan and Ali dated for eight years. At the time, their relationship often made news—one infamous incident involved the superstar apparently pouring Thums Up on her head. “Manisha [Koirala] is the only friend who stood up for me when Salman poured Thums Up on my hair,” she recalled. After parting ways with Salman in 1999, Ali moved back to the US.

“I had completely disconnected from Hindi films because it took me back to an awful past. I never wanted to look back. I have not been in touch with Salman or his family. The last time I spoke to him was in 2012, about my NGO.”

What would she tell Salman if she met him today? “I don’t ever want to see his face again. We have both moved on. I can’t stand the man, but I don’t want him murdered.”

Veteran writer Salim Khan has clarified that his son, actor Salman Khan will not render any apology as demanded by gangster Lawrence Bishnoi in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. In an interview with ABP Live, the 88-year-old revealed that Salman had told him that he hadn’t killed the blackbuck and that he was not even in the car when the incident took place.

Salim said that apologising for something he hasn’t done doesn’t make sense: “They are asking him to apologise. Kyun maange maafi? Has he done anything wrong? Maafi maangna, ye accept karna hai ki ‘maine maara hai’. Salman ne kabhi kisi jaanwar ko nahi maara. Humne kabhi kisi coackroach ko bhi nahi maara.”

After NCP leader Baba Siddique’s assassination on October 12, fresh threats were made against Salman, allegedly by members of the Bishnoi gang, and they demanded Rs. 5 crore. The matter is under investigation.

Salim Khan. File Pic/Atul Kamble (right) Umar Aasif Shaikh, who was booked along with his girlfriend

A Sewri-based couple was booked after allegedly threatening screenwriter Salim Khan, 88, on Thursday morning at Bandstand in Bandra West, purportedly as part of a prank. The woman allegedly approached Khan and said, “Shall I send Lawrence Bishnoi” before fleeing on a bike along with the man, Umar Aasif Shaikh, 26.

An officer said, “Khan noted four digits of the scooter’s licence number before informing his security team.” An FIR was registered under Sections 353(2), 292 and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deal with spreading false information and creating a nuisance.”

The cops eventually traced the couple to the RAK Marg area in Sewri. The incident came a few months after the octogenarian’s son, Salman Khan, had a serious security scare when two men on a motorcycle, allegedly belonging to the Bishnoi gang, opened fire outside his residence, Galaxy Apartments.

During their interrogation, the couple said they resorted to the prank to become famous. The woman, Ashma Shaikh, 22, who was wearing a burqa at the time was told to utter, ‘Lawrence Bishnoi ko bheju kya?’

A police officer on anonymity said, “The couple doesn’t have a criminal history nor are they connected with any gang. Umar Aasif had planned the prank as he wanted to impress his girlfriend.” Meanwhile, security was beefed up at Galaxy Apartments. 

Raj Tilak Roushan, DCP, Zone IX, said, “We didn’t find evidence linking the accused to the Bishnoi gang. They committed the crime purely for fun. They admitted that it was all a prank. They did this for publicity. Still, we are checking their call records and investigating every angle.”

In another incident, a 21-year-old motorcycle-borne man, Uzar Faiz Moiyuddin, was briefly detained by the Bandra police for allegedly following Salman Khan’s convoy in a bid to approach his car early around 12.15 am on Tuesday. He was detained after a security officer promptly informed police officers stationed at Galaxy Apartments.

According to the police, the actor was heading home when the incident occurred. Moiyuddin, a Hyderabad resident, claimed he was unaware of whose convoy he was following while being questioned by the police. He was subsequently issued a notice and released.

They’ve weaved tales that have gone on to become evergreen cinematic classics, but it is their own story that has caught the attention of cinephiles over the years. Ardent admirers of writers Salim-Javed—comprising Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar—will witness the story of how two of Bollywood’s greatest writers came to be collaborators as the makers of Angry Young Men eye an OTT release.

The docudrama that was initially announced in 2021 is set to chronicle the lives of the duo that worked together on 24 films between 1971 and 1987. In their journey spanning several decades, they interacted with and influenced the lives of several artistes, many of whom fittingly contributed to the short. Khan’s son Arbaaz says the veteran’s friends and family found in their lives enough fodder for the making of the documentary.

“They are legends and need to be documented appropriately. They have never been documented, be it in books or autobiographies. [Without this film], their grandchildren would not know about their humble existence, rise to fame, or why they went their separate ways. The platform that [our family] has in the film industry today is due to the base that they built,” says Arbaaz.

The actor-producer shares that work on the documentary has wrapped up. “I believe it has been picked up by an OTT platform. It is expected to come out in the next two to three months,” says Arbaaz, who also filmed his father and Akhtar for his show, The Invincible Series with Arbaaz Khan.

A source close to the production says that the documentary’s title traces back to the character that the two created for Amitabh Bachchan in Zanjeer (1973).

“This film will showcase rare footage of them and their movies. It will also include interviews of people they worked with and their friends and family who have shared the stories behind their screenplays, and how some of their iconic characters came to be.”

Initially slated as a theatrical release, the makers felt the film deserved to unfold on the web platform owing to the “sheer volume” of content they planned to include. “Zoya [Javed Akhtar’s daughter] has been documenting them for a while because she knew she wanted to record their rise to fame.”

Directed by Namrata Rao, the film will be co-produced by the writer-duo’s children, Salman, Zoya, and Farhan.

Mumbai: In his police statement, actor Salman Khan (58) has alleged that he believes gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his gang members were behind the firing incident outside his Bandra residence on April 14. Khan said he believes the attack was carried out with the intention of killing him and his family members.

Observing that there is ample prima facie evidence on record to proceed against the accused, a special MCOCA court on Monday took cognizance of the chargesheet filed in the case earlier this month. On April 14, a biker and a pillion rider discharged several rounds at the balcony of Khan’s Bandra home and absconded.

In his statement made in June, which is part of the chargesheet, the actor said, “There had been attempts to hurt me and my family prior to this as well. I have learned from social media that Lawrence Bishnoi and gang have taken responsibility for the attack. So, I believe that it is the Lawrence Bishnoi gang who have carried out the firing at my balcony.”

As a result, Khan always advises his family members and those around him to stay alert. Khan has been provided with Y-Plus security from Mumbai police. He has weapon-trained policemen, bodyguards and private security for protection too.

Recalling the events of April 14, Khan said he heard a cracker-like sound when asleep. Later, at 4.55 am, his police bodyguard informed him that two people on a bike had fired at the first-floor balcony of his home in Galaxy Apartment.

Khan uses the balcony at various times, including while greeting fans gathered outside his home, socializing with family and friends during late hours, to get fresh air when he returns tired from work, and when he wakes up early.

In addition to the recent firing incident, Khan mentioned there had been previous attempts to harm him and his family. In 2022, his father filed a complaint at Bandra police station after finding a threat letter on a bench opposite their building. In March 2023, a case was registered based on an email threat from Lawrence Bishnoi. In Jan, two unidentified men using fake names tried to trespass Khan’s Panvel farmhouse, and an FIR was filed.

Khan’s brother, actor and film producer Arbaaz Khan, too provided a statement to the police. Arbaaz confirmed the incidents of threats and trespassing at their Panvel farmhouse, Arbaaz stated their father found a threat letter signed by “GB” and “LB’ during his morning walk, and their office received a threatening email from someone claiming to be Lawrence Bishnoi.

The chargesheet also includes transcripts of a conversation over Signal app between wanted accused Anmol Bishnoi and shooter Vikas Gupta. In the conversation, Anmol instructs Vikas to fire thoughtfully and in a manner that scares “Bhai” (referring to Khan).

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We aren’t very different from each other, our core is the same,” says Sonakshi Sinha, as she sits down with hubby (a term she’s still getting used to), actor Zaheer Iqbal, in the same room where they exchanged vows, to share with us little known facts about their love story. The couple, who got married on June 23, have this lovely vibe about them – warm, easy, loving – and that reflected in their wedding celebrations, which they say was planned in all of 25 days.

Their big day was all about them, the people who love them and the simple things that matter to them. In an exclusive conversation with us, Sonakshi and Zaheer talk about their relationship, bonds with their family and how their wedding turned out to be just the way they’d imagined – perfect! Read on...

Sonakshi: It’s just the way we wanted it. And that’s just us, that is the kind of people we are, and we wanted our wedding day to reflect us. Right from sending out the invite, which a friend of ours quickly made for us, to the wedding afterparty – we wanted it to be chilled out. We didn’t want to have the whole rigmarole of multiple functions, and we were sure we wanted our wedding to be one big party. So, that is what it was – one day of having fun where everyone who truly loves us showed up to celebrate us.

Zaheer: The first time we met was at Salman bhai’s (Salman Khan) house. And strangely, we were both present at Salman bhai’s birthday parties (at his farm and Mumbai home, Galaxy) several times since 2013, but our paths never crossed. I didn’t know she was there, and she didn’t know that I existed. Then finally, we met at Galaxy one evening, when a few of us just chilled together, and that was our first interaction. But the first time we really spent a lot of time with each other was on June 23, 2017 (hence, we chose that date for our wedding). There was a screening of Tubelight and an afterparty, where we ended up spending five hours together. We kept chatting, and suddenly, we turned around and we were like…where did everyone else go? We knew that day there was something special here.

Sonakshi: I was always certain that I wanted to keep it simple and wear a red sari on my wedding day. I saw pictures of the red sari (on the store’s website), and my sister-in-law called for it. I saw how it looked on me, and I knew that was my bridal outfit. Over the years, I’ve done so many shoots decked in bridal outfits, so I was like…I can’t look like that on my wedding day. I wanted to be comfortable, be able to dance and have a good time. I wore my mom’s saree and jewellery for one of the functions, it felt perfect.

Zaheer: The reason why our relationship works is because we both are not superficial. So, for us, the day was about us getting married, it wasn’t about the clothes we were wearing or anyone or anything else. Very often, you hear about how couples are exhausted after their wedding. We wanted to make sure that we are not that couple, and we have a lot of fun on our special day.

Sonakshi: They did, but we told them this is what we wanted, and they were very supportive. In fact, my mom was very impressed that we planned the wedding entirely on our own and they didn’t have to fuss over it at all. We planned everything in 25 days. I was shooting, and one day when we were on set, we thought of it and quickly called dad and asked him if he was free on those dates (as prior to that he was busy, campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections). He told us to go ahead with it. Then after 15 days, we thought let’s make a list and start inviting people personally, so it was literally like that. The wedding happened right here, where we are sitting now, it was so personal. The beauty of it all was that the decor was underway, the food was being laid out, our friends were ordering pizza, walking in and out of our rooms, and all this while we were getting ready. It felt like a home party.

Zaheer: I went over to their house, and I was nervous, because until that moment, I had never had a one-on-one chat with him. The moment we started talking, we began discussing a million things and we became like friends. Of course, I also told him that I wanted to ask her to marry me. I know he’s got this image of being intimidating, but he’s so genuine, chilled out and he is the sweetest person I’ve met in a long time.

Sonakshi: When I told my father about us, even I was very nervous. I didn’t know how he would react. I was trying to play it really cool. I asked him, “Aren’t you worried about my marriage because you haven’t asked me anything about it?” He said, “I have asked your mom ki apni beti se pucho”. Then, I told him there is a guy called Zaheer in my life, and he said, “Haan, maine padha bhi tha.” (There was news about us in the media sometimes). He said, “You guys are grown-ups, miya biwi raazi toh kya karega qazi.” I was like, ‘Oh, that was easy!’ I realized how chilled out and cool my dad is. He was really supportive about our relationship.

Sonakshi: Both mom and dad were very emotional. Dad just appears strong about it, but from within, he’s a softie. He was standing right next to me, and I knew that he was feeling very emotional, so I held on to him and told him, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere (her eyes swell up as she says this). My mom broke down during the wedding when she realized that I was actually going to be moving out of the house. Now, we visit them very often, in fact, I speak to my mom a lot more now, at least twice a day.

Sonakshi: Absolutely! I think it will be beautiful. But genuinely, we’re not that very different from each other. Our core values are the same. Basically, our parents have taught us to be good human beings and believe in God, irrespective of whatever name you know him by. The most important thing in life is to be a good person – that’s the kind of values we have imbibed.

Zaheer: I know one thing for sure, that I could have 50,000 disagreements with Sona, but it will never have anything to do with religion. Salim uncle (Salman Khan’s father) had once shared with me that this is what he had told Salma aunty’s parents when they got married.

Sonakshi: In the seven years that we were dating, the fact that we are from different faiths has never come up in a discussion. We both respect other religions. It’s never been an issue for us or even a discussion. The only noise is from the outside and we have learnt how to shut it out because it doesn’t matter. We are two people who love each other, and no one else has a say in it. Also, we are actors. We belong to every person. We belong to the audience who come from different faiths.

It was nearly 12 years ago that Mahesh Manjrekar had written Juna Furniture—Try Stopping This Old Man. The film’s idea came from a deeply personal space. He recalls, “When I lost my mother, many thoughts went on in my head. One is full of regrets [at such a point]. That’s where the idea came from. Today, there are 1.7 million abandoned senior citizens in India. My story is about the child, who feels he is doing the right thing for his parents, but is he?”

That question forms the crux of Juna Furniture, Manjrekar’s upcoming Marathi movie. He has not only written and helmed the courtroom drama, but also played the protagonist, who questions society’s attitude towards senior citizens. He reveals that he had originally wanted to make it in Hindi.

“I had written the story in Hindi, but things were not moving fast enough [as I approached production houses and figured out the casting]. So, I decided to make it in Marathi. Producer Yatin Jadhav wanted to make it immediately. Since no actor could give me dates at such a short notice, I decided to play the central character.”

While he has directed himself in small roles earlier, it’s the first time he is fronting his own directorial venture. “This film is shouldered by my character. I was apprehensive that if this role falls flat, people will point fingers at me saying that I wanted to play the hero.”

Even as he has to wait for a few days to get the audience’s verdict, the National Award-winning filmmaker’s work has been praised by famed screenwriter Salim Khan. “Salim saab loved the movie. I had narrated the script to Salman [for feedback] and he had loved it. I might show it to him this week.”

From preparing sweets to packing gifts for her grandchildren, 85-year-old Helen enjoys celebrating Christmas with her family. She recalls how everyone in the family loves marzipan. “Salma, the children and grandkids relish marzipan the most. Salim sahab has a small piece so that he can be part of the festivities,” says Helen.

Speaking about this year’s Xmas plans, Helen adds, “Arpita (Khan Sharma) usually organizes our family reunions, and all of us enjoy Christmas lunch together. Our family’s favourite dish is Vindaloo Turkey; sometimes I make Burmese Khow Suey.”

Helen shares a close bond with yesteryear actresses Waheeda Rehman and Asha Parekh. Talking about their friendship, she says, “We still travel together and make great memories. We used to be a big group of friends from the film industry and would celebrate special occasions. Shammi and Nanda used to be part of our friend’s group as well, but they are no more.”

Helen shares a special connect with Bandra and attends midnight mass at St Andrew’s Church on Christmas Eve with her friends. “I love how every home is decorated with fairy lights at this time of the year. It’s truly a melting pot of cultures, and everyone comes together to celebrate the festival. I also send gift hampers to the local hospital for the less fortunate. I moved to different parts of Mumbai after coming to India and joining films but kept returning to Bandra, it’s a special connection. Especially after marriage Bandra became home and it’s where I’ve lived most of my life. Although the bungalows that existed in the past have gone and now the area is full of buildings,” says Helen.

Director Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri recently lashed out at film award shows for using actors’ pictures while nominating directors for films. The director, in a tweet, “politely refused to be part of these unethical and anti-cinema awards”.

Agnihotri feels that often, directors and writers lose out on recognition and public adulation to stars despite putting their heart and soul into films. “These awards are not at all a basis to recognize or define my work. In fact, these awards celebrate mediocrity and incompetence. They just call different artistes to attract the audience and these awards have got nothing to do with merit,” Agnihotri says.

Continuing his point about the use of actors’ faces instead of those of directors, he adds: “If filmmakers who are institutions in themselves have to be subordinate to a star, then it’s unfair. I’m surprised why no writer and director ever objected to it.”

The Kashmir Files (2022) director is disappointed with filmmakers who he feels fail to take a stand and readily get dictated terms to. He says, “Some people are dying to go everywhere with stars. When directors themselves are ready to become slaves to stars, take public humiliation [from the latter] with a smile, then how will you have any respect?”

This is an issue that has always lingered in his mind, and Agnihotri shares, “I once read in a newspaper that Salim-Javed (screenwriters Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar) would refuse to do films if their name was not featured alongside the stars of the film. Before that, in Bollywood, the writer’s name was always absent.”

The 49-year-old says he’s also fighting on behalf of all unsung professionals and specialists in the business, from costume designers and editors to VFX artistes. “All the technical awards (at award shows) are done before the show begins, so that nobody gets to see the so-called [non-glamorous] side of the film industry. I’m fighting for all these people,” he asserts.