New Delhi: Salman Khan and Karan Johar took a trip down memory lane on Koffee With Karan Season 9, revisiting everything from their fathers’ friendship to an unusual mishap in the making of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.
The first episode of the popular chat show’s last season featured Salman Khan on the couch, where he recalled an anecdote about Karan’s father, Yash Johar, whom he fondly called “Tom Uncle”. The filmmaker once flew all the way to Mauritius to secure the necessary permissions for shooting Salman’s film Hello Brother (1999).
“Sohail and I called Tom Uncle because he was close to the government in Mauritius. We needed access to the airport or an airstrip for Hello Brother. We spoke to him on Tuesday, and on Wednesday night, he called Sohail and me and asked, ‘What all did you want from here?’” Salman said.
“We asked, ‘From where, Tom Uncle?’ He said, ‘From Mauritius. I am in Mauritius, sitting with government officials. Tell me what all do you want.’”
The actor added that Yash Johar had flown to Mauritius the very next night to secure all the necessary clearances and permissions.
Visibly touched by the story, Karan, beaming, said, “They don’t make them like that anymore.”
Salman also recalled that whenever Yash Johar visited his father, Salim Khan, he would always arrive “with a bottle of alcohol”. Salim Khan and Yash Johar last collaborated on the 1980 film Dostana.
How Salman came on board Kuch Kuch Hota Hai
Karan Johar’s first professional meeting with Salman happened at a party at Chunky Panday’s house, after several actors had turned down the opportunity to work with him.
“I tell you who all rejected you… Saif Ali Khan rejected you. Chandrachur Singh rejected you. And I think some three-four more people,” Salman said.
Karan recalled standing at the party, feeling rather dejected, when Salman walked up to him and asked, “You been shopping? Come narrate the film to me tomorrow.”
The next day, they discussed the script for Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) in which Salman played Aman, a cameo role. The film starred Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Kajol.
Karan revealed that Salman agreed to do the film after just listening to the first part of the script, before his character had even been introduced.
“Alvira had already told me, and you know how I felt about your and dad… so even before you had come, I had decided in my mind, no matter how bad it is, I would do it,” Salman admitted on the show.
Also Read: Salman Khan brings up his Shah Rukh feud on Koffee With Karan
The ‘48 frames’ mishap on the sets
The behind-the-scenes anecdotes from Kuch Kuch Hota Hai did not end there. Karan recalled a chaotic mishap on the film’s final day of shooting, when the team was filming the climax and the song Sajan Ji Ghar Aaye.
Salman, who had to leave for Switzerland that very night for the outdoor schedule of Jab Pyaar Kisi Se Hota Hai (1998), was preparing to wrap up. The entire cast, including Reema Lagoo, Rani Mukerji, Kajol, Shah Rukh Khan and Anupam Kher, had spent the day shooting the climax. Then, the crew discovered that something had gone terribly wrong.
The cinematographer had accidentally left the camera running in slow motion throughout the day, forgetting to flip the lever.
Recalling the panic that followed, Karan said he rushed to Salman’s house, only to find the actor ready to leave for Switzerland.
“I said, ‘Salman, please stay back one more day. We have shot an entire day in slow motion.’ You laughed and said, ‘I’ll see you tomorrow,’” Karan recalled.
Thankfully, Salman agreed to stay, and the team reshot the entire day’s footage. But the actor wouldn’t let the mishap go unnoticed.
Every time he faced the camera during the reshoot, he would look at the director of photography and say, “48 frames.”
(Edited by Maryam Hassan)