Salman Khan’s rise: From Rs 5,000 to Rs 11 lakh for ‘Saajan’ – Director Lawrence D’Souza shares insights
In a candid revelation, film director and cinematographer Lawrence D’Souza opened up about the early days of Salman Khan’s career and his journey to stardom. Speaking to Friday Talkies, D’Souza reminisced about how Khan’s signing amount skyrocketed from a modest Rs 5,000 to an impressive Rs 11 lakh, marking his evolution from a promising newcomer to one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars.
The humble beginnings
D’Souza recounted how he and his producer friend, S Ramanathan, first noticed Salman Khan after watching a trial screening of Maine Pyar Kiya (1989) at Rajshri Productions. Initially unsure about Khan’s potential, D’Souza admitted that he wasn’t immediately impressed. However, as the film progressed, he found himself captivated by Khan’s performance. This prompted them to consider casting the young actor in their upcoming projects.
Following the screening, D’Souza and Ramanathan were convinced of Khan’s star potential. They called him to their office and offered him a signing amount of Rs 5,000—a significant sum for a newcomer at the time. However, despite their enthusiasm, the film they planned with Khan never materialized. Ramanathan, a seasoned filmmaker known for hits like Bombay to Goa (1972) and Mahaan (1983), seemingly lost interest after signing Khan, and the project was shelved.
A missed opportunity and the big leap
The story didn’t end there. As Khan’s popularity soared following the success of Maine Pyar Kiya, Ramanathan decided to sign him once again, this time offering Rs 5 lakh—an astronomical amount compared to their initial offer. Yet, history repeated itself, and this project, too, never saw the light of day. D’Souza humorously recalled Khan’s bemusement at being paid repeatedly without any films being made. The actor reportedly questioned, “What kind of a person is he? He pays me money and then he does nothing!”
Khan’s rise to stardom was meteoric, and by the time D’Souza was working on his 1991 blockbuster Saajan, the actor had already cemented his place in Bollywood. Saajan, starring Khan alongside Madhuri Dixit and Sanjay Dutt, became one of the highest-grossing films of the year, further solidifying Khan’s status as a leading man.
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The financials of ‘Saajan’
D’Souza disclosed that during the making of Saajan, Khan and Dixit were both paid Rs 11 lakh, while Sanjay Dutt received Rs 12 lakh. The director himself was paid Rs 8 lakh for his work on the film. These figures were significant at the time, especially considering that Bollywood was not as financially robust as it is today. D’Souza noted that in the 1980s and 1990s, the industry didn’t offer the kind of money it does now, making these sums noteworthy.
Salman Khan’s advice and D’Souza’s career choices
Reflecting on his career, D’Souza shared an anecdote about a piece of advice he received from Khan. The director, known for his emotional nature and willingness to help struggling producers and actors, often took on projects with new or lesser-known talents. However, after the success of Saajan, Khan advised him to raise his standards and focus on making even better films. “Salman once told me, ‘You don’t do all this now. You have made Saajan, now you have to do even better than that,’” D’Souza recalled.
Despite the advice, D’Souza admitted that his inclination to help others sometimes led him to take on projects that weren’t commercially successful. He explained that his desire to support his friends in the industry often came at the cost of his financial success. “I am an emotional person, I wanted to help people, and that’s why I didn’t earn much in this industry,” he reflected.
Conclusion
Lawrence D’Souza’s reflections on Salman Khan’s early career offer a glimpse into the actor’s journey from a promising newcomer to a Bollywood superstar. The story of how Khan’s signing fee increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 11 lakh for Saajan is a testament to his rising star power and the shifting dynamics of the film industry. D’Souza’s anecdotes also highlight the challenges faced by filmmakers in balancing artistic integrity with commercial success, a balance that Khan himself has mastered over the years.
