Subhash K Jha revisits Nikhil Advani’s Salaam-e-Ishq, which was released 18 years ago!

To be able to direct a film starring, hold your breath, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, John Abraham, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna, Govinda, etc etc for a sophomore director must have seemed like an ache-walk.

Recalls Nikhil, “It was a cakewalk. Every actor went out of the way to accommodate my film. Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra were there for me, and they were not only in their segment. Govinda was like a dream. He was on the sets on the dot and embarrassingly apologetic if he was a few minutes late.”

In fact, initially, the second-time director – who made his debut with Kal Ho Naa Ho – was petrified about how to handle the vast cast. “No actor gave me any grief. To watch these actors before the camera was an amazing experience. I...