Actor Salman Khan offered work to film director Nikkhil Advani after he had a fallout with Karan Johar post the release of 2003 film Kal Ho Naa Ho.

Salman Khan offered work to Nikkhil Advani after Kal Ho Naa Ho. (Photo: Instagram/Nikkhil Advani, Salman Khan)

Filmmaker Nikkhil Advani started his journey as a film director with Dharma Productions’ 2003 film Kal Ho Naa Ho. However, after the film’s release, Nikkhil had a fallout with Karan Johar and was out of work for three years. During this time, the film industry’s “messiah,” Salman Khan, offered Nikkhil work.

In a recent interview, Nikhil shared how he was able to revive his career because of Salman. “Salman Khan prides himself on being the messiah of the industry, so the minute I walked out of the doors of Dharma Productions, I got a call from Salman saying, ‘Come and meet me,'” Nikkhil told Galatta Plus.

After Nikkhil met Salman, the actor told him, “Now you will work for me, you will make a film for me.” The filmmaker “appreciated” Salman’s gesture. Later, Nikkhil directed the 2015 film Hero, which marked the Bollywood debut of Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty, at Salman’s insistence.

“I did Hero because Salman called me up, even after I started D-Day. After D-Day, the next film I did was Hero. Hero and Katti Batti were two big flops, one week after another,” the filmmaker shared.

After Kal Ho Naa Ho, Nikhil Advani directed films like Salaam-e-Ishq, Chandni Chowk to China, and Patiala House. However, he failed to register a hit to his name.

He admitted that Salaam-e-Ishq was an outcome of “arrogance.” After people doubted him and said that Kal Ho Naa Ho was not directed by him, Nikhil took up Salaam-e-Ishq to prove to them that he was capable of directing a multi-starrer film.

“Salaam-e-Ishq was an outcome of arrogance that, ‘Okay, people feel that I have not directed Kal Ho Naa Ho, I’ll direct six love stories. One will be a Mani Ratnam-type love story, one will be a Gulzar-type, one will be a Karan Johar type, one will be a Kundan Shah type.’ So, I said I will direct six love stories. Sunil Manchanda (producer) gave me the option. He said, ‘Let’s make something like Love Actually’,” recalled Nikhil.

Salaam-e-Ishq starred Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra, along with John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Govinda, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, and Akshaye Khanna, among others. The film tanked at the box office and was panned by the audience.