Aamir Khan Broke His Own Rule for Legendary Dev Anand
In Bollywood, Aamir Khan stands out as a meticulous perfectionist. He famously scrutinizes every script before committing to a project. This careful approach has defined his career for decades. However, early in his journey, he made one striking exception. That exception involved the late screen icon Dev Anand.
The Unusual Signing for Awwal Number
Dev Anand's close friend Mohan Churiwala recently shared a fascinating story. He recalled how Aamir Khan agreed to star in the 1990 film Awwal Number. Remarkably, Aamir signed on without even reading the script. He did not discuss the story. He did not negotiate the payment. This was completely against his usual working style.
"Aamir Khan mentioned in an interview that Awwal Number is the only film where his father gave specific instructions," Mohan said. "His father told him, 'Don't ask about the story. Don't ask about the script. Don't even talk about the money. Just go and say yes to Dev Saab.' The stature of Dev Saab commanded that level of respect from the very start."
Dev Anand's Reputation as a Generous Professional
Mohan Churiwala also highlighted Dev Anand's professional integrity. He was known as an excellent paymaster in the industry. His assistants often noted that Dev Anand personally ensured timely payments. He would call people himself to settle dues. Late payments were unheard of with him.
One anecdote involved comedian Birbal. Birbal worked in Dev Anand's film Lootmaar, which performed poorly at the box office. Despite the commercial failure, Dev Anand did not forget his commitments. He contacted Birbal and insisted he collect his pending cheque immediately. This act demonstrated his strong ethical standards.
The Clash with SD Burman Over Hare Rama Hare Krishna
In the same conversation, Mohan recalled another significant incident. Legendary composer SD Burman was initially set to score music for Dev Anand's Hare Rama Hare Krishna. Burman Dada was very close to Dev Anand. However, after hearing the film's story, he reacted strongly.
"When Burman Dada heard the story, he stood up and said, 'Don't make this film. This is a disgusting story. What is wrong with you to even plan such a story?'" Mohan recounted. Dev Anand felt shaken by this criticism. He realized he might have crossed a line. To address the concern, he decided to introduce an additional character. This created a romantic subplot and removed any inappropriate angle involving the sister.
Even with this change, SD Burman remained firm in his opposition. He repeated, "Don't make this film. I don't want to do it, and you shouldn't either." Dev Anand, however, stood by his vision. He proceeded with the film, eventually getting RD Burman to compose the music instead. The film went on to become a notable success.
These stories paint a vivid picture of old Bollywood dynamics. They show deep respect between generations and unwavering professional principles. Aamir Khan's singular deviation for Dev Anand underscores the legendary actor's immense influence. It remains a unique chapter in Hindi cinema history.
