September 9 marks 20 years of the much-loved romcom, Salaam Namaste (2005). It also means that Siddharth Anand has completed 20 years as a director. The filmmaker brought freshness with his romantic dramas in the first phase of his career. Over the last decade, he switched to making slick action films and hasn’t looked back since. At present, he’s one of the biggest directors of Bollywood and is also helming one of the most anticipated films of Indian cinema.
20 Years of Siddharth Anand EXCLUSIVE: Blockbuster filmmaker thanks Aditya Chopra: “I was very comfortable being an executive producer; Adi told me, ‘You are going to be a director. Go and write your film’”
Bollywood Hungama exclusively spoke to Siddharth Anand on this joyous occasion. The filmmaker was busy shooting abroad and yet took time to speak to us. He gave credit to Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films for motivating him to turn director, though he hadn’t thought about it.
Siddharth Anand said, “Salaam Namaste was my first film and I give full credit to only one man – Adi (Aditya Chopra) – who saw a director in me. I was an AD (Assistant Director), but I was also an EP (Executive Producer) on Hum Tum (2004) apart from being a co-writer and the associate director. I was largely an EP on Hum Tum and also handled the production of the film.”
He continued, “I got very comfortable being an executive producer. But Adi was someone who said, ‘No. You are going to be a director. Go out there and write your film. Next, you’re going to direct’. He saw the director in me before I could see it. For that, I give full credit to him.”
He signed off by saying, “I’ll always be grateful to him for giving me that opportunity and allowing me to be who I am today.”
After Salaam Namaste, Siddharth Anand directed light-hearted films like Ta Ra Rum Pum (2007), Bachna Ae Haseeno (2008) and Anjaana Anjaani (2010). In 2014, he turned to action entertainers and began this journey with Bang Bang (2014). He followed it up with War (2019). His next film, Pathaan (2023), emerged as the record grosser of Bollywood. Fighter (2024) was his last film and at present, he’s gearing up for King, starring none other than superstar Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role.
Also Read: Siddharth Anand currently shooting Shah Rukh Khan starrer King in Poland, Arshad Warsi confirms role
More Pages: Salaam Namaste Box Office Collection , Salaam Namaste Movie Review
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