New Delhi. Veteran screenwriter Salim Khan is known for giving many superhit films. He has written many great films along with Javed Akhtar. The Salim-Javed duo has written ‘Zanjeer’, ‘Sholay’, ‘Deewar’ and many other films. Recently, Salim Khan told that at the beginning of his career, he used to work as an assistant with famous film writer Abrar Alvi, who has written most of Guru Dutt’s films. At that time, Salim Khan had predicted that a day would come when writers would get the same fees as actors.
In an interview with NDTV, Salim Khan said, ‘You will feel pity on hearing the way writers were treated earlier. Their fees were very low. They did not get any money. In those days, the producer used to decide how much money to pay the writer. To ask for money, one had to give reasons like he had to pay his daughter’s fees, he had to pay the electricity bill.’
Salim Khan had predicted
After this, Salim Khan changed this trend in the film industry. He said, ‘When I came into the industry and started working as an actor, I felt that the most important thing for a film is the script. If the script is not good and weak, then the film cannot work. All the films that were successful in that era had good scripts. One day I was talking to Abrar Alvi. I said that a time will come when the writer will take as much money as the actor. He asked – what did you say? He had heard it. I repeated the same thing again. He said that you are saying this in front of me, if you say it in front of someone else, then he will call you crazy.’
Dilip Kumar’s fee was Rs 12 lakh
Salim Khan said, ‘He told me that if Dilip Kumar charges Rs 12 lakh for a film, then the writer will get Rs 12 lakh. In those days, even the biggest writers used to get a maximum of 9 to 10 thousand rupees. I said that when people will know that the film has been successful because of the script, then money will be given. He said that I do not want to argue with you. Do not say all this in front of anyone else.’
Salim Khan charged more fees than the actor
The veteran writer said, ‘This happened in a film, I would not like to name it. I took more money than the actor. I immediately called Abrar sahab and said, do you remember when I said that a time will come when writers will get equal fees as actors. He said- yes I remember. I said that I was wrong at that time. I have taken more fees than the actor. I was talking to the producer. I asked how much fees the actor got, he said- 12 lakhs. Then I demanded 12.50 lakhs and he agreed to pay that much fee.’
Tags: Bollywood films, Entertainment news., javed akhtar, salim khan
FIRST PUBLISHED : September 7, 2024, 16:02 IST
