Javed Akhtar Recalls Funny Anecdote About How Rajesh Khanna Didn’t Back Out Of Film Due To Money

Javed Akhtar remembered how Rajesh Khanna persuaded him and Salim Khan to work on his film just once so he could buy his 4.5 lakh Mumbai mansion. The late actor had told Javed and Salim that despite the film's bad second half, he couldn't back out. It was because the producer had promised him a large signing bonus - 2.5 lakh - which he needed to purchase the home. In a new interview, the lyricist-writer also praised Rajesh Khanna with making him and Salim Khan 'richer and richer'.

Javed described how he and Salim Khan were paid 750 each for their debut film as writers, and how they made 5000 each for writing Haathi Mere Saathi. Ramesh Sippy directed the film. Salim-Javed scripted it. In a new interview with Arbaaz Khan, Javed Akhtar spoke about how Salim landed Haathi Mere Saathi. He said, "The makers of Anzar were stuck because of the second half. We had become friends with Rajesh Khanna around 1969-70 when he told us he wanted us to work on the film's script as he needed the film to work. He said he was buying a home worth ₹4.5 lahks in Mumbai's Carter Road and needed money for the same. The producer had given him ₹2.5 lakh already, which he could not return. He could not leave the film, but was scared that the second half was so bad that he could be kicked out of the film industry". Javed further said, "After we read the script, we gave the makers two conditions. The hero will remain the same, and we will retain the elephants, but everything else will be changed. They liked what we wrote, even though we were joking most of the time while working on the script. This time Rajesh made sure were paid well. We earned ₹10000, with each of us making ₹5000. So, were becoming richer and richer." Screenwriters Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan worked on films such as Sholay, Don, and Deewaar, among others. In a recent interview with BBC Hindi, Javed discussed why he quit working with Salim Khan after several decades. Javed also discussed their effective collaboration. He also stated how Salim motivated him to become a screenwriter in the first place.