As time went by we grew very, very close —- I was his only confidante, says Shabina Khan as she talks about her long and enduring friendship with Salman Khan
Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down
—- Oprah Winfrey
Friendship is one of the most precious gifts of life. It's a feeling of love, sharing and caring, feeling that someone understands and appreciates you for what you are. Good friends are like pillars —- they help you stand tall. It's not about how often you meet your friends it's about how much you care during the good times as well as the bad times.
In this edition, I'd like to introduce my friend, the heartthrob of millions of women and the envy of men —- the one and only, Salman Khan!
Salman and I have known each other since our school days. He was in the all-boys school opposite mine. I still remember him as the kid who had a silver 'BMX' cycle in the late '70s, which was a pretty cool thing those days. We would always cross each other's paths while going to school, but we finally got talking only during the SSC exams. We bonded over the infamous exam paper leaks that happened at night (of course we realised soon enough that the examination papers were fake and didn't help us at all!). After class X, we ended up going to the same college —- Elphinstone. I still remember those lazy, hazy days when we used to sit in front of each other in class during the exams since our initials were both 'S.K.' and Salman would be asleep in the first hour during the exams because he had to wait for me to finish writing my supplement of eight pages —- which he would take from me. I can't help but smile when I recall those auto rides to the station, the 9.36 BadaFast as it was called, which was the non-stop train from Bandra to Churchgate. You know, everyone who is someone today was on that train.
I went on to complete my graduation, but Salman dropped out after the second year. I got a job as a flight attendant with Saudi Airlines and had to train in Jeddah. However, the decision to join proved disastrous for me —- I hated it so much that I resigned on the first day of training and took the next flight back to Mumbai. Having given up a lucrative salary and with no form of employment, I was in a depression. Arbaaz (Salman's brother) who was a friend of mine suggested that he and I join Mazhar Khan as assistant directors on a new film titled 'Gang'. We started as rookies, but luck ran out and the film got stuck for financial reasons. Once again we were back to square one —- unemployed and frustrated!
We would hang around without jobs all day and that's when Salman —- who had started filming with Sooraj Barjatya for his debut film, suggested that I become his costume designer. Me! And even though I didn't know the ABC of designing, I took up the offer because Salman assured me that it would be a cakewalk. Maine Pyar Kiya was a humungous hit —- a star was born and I was baptised as a costume designer by the film industry.
Salman and I would spend most of our time together at shoots, at their fabulous farm house in Panvel, hanging about in each other's homes or just chilling on Bandstand in the evenings. Salman used to have an old, red, open dilapidated car that he would drive around Bandstand to impress the girls. And the funniest thing was that whenever a pretty young thing would walk past, his car would breakdown!
You know the biggest irony? We would often sit on a green, grassy patch outside a bungalow. That bungalow today is Mannat —- Shah Rukh's house and this was in the days SRK hadn't even come from Delhi to Mumbai!
During those days there was a very cool club called the Playmate Club at the Sea Rock hotel which we were all members of. Rekhaji, who was a superstar then, would conduct aerobic classes at the Mind and Body Temple in that club. Salman would come to class only to check Rekhaji out in her leotards and leg warmers! It was also at this club that Salman taught me how to swim —- even though I was petrified of water —- by throwing me into the pool! Every Sunday was spent swimming, followed by the buffet brunch.
By 1990, Salman had become the heartthrob of millions of girls. Every film of his was a huge success. The world tours and foreign outdoor location shoots were unreal —- we travelled all over the world. London was where we always had a blast. Shooting by day, partying by night, sleeping for just a few hours and then back on the sets, feeling sick and groggy… Now I wonder how we got all that energy. Today I need a whole day to recover from a night of partying! I remember this one time, we were in London shooting forJanam Samjha Karo and we went to a club that had a strict dress code comprising formals. Salman wasn't wearing a jacket that night and they refused to let him in. Salman being Salman just ran across to Planet Hollywood, the only store open at that unearthly hour and bought a really expensive leather jacket, wore it and was allowed inside the club! The story doesn't end here. As soon as Salman entered the club he took the jacket off, handed it over to the bouncer who'd refused him entry and said, "Keep it!" I still remember the look on the bouncer's face!
I learnt so much from Salman, he taught me the nuances of designing. I would get loads of compliments for his look in the films he acted in —- be it his red lace shirt in Khamoshi, his open red jacket with dhoti pants in Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam or his bright coloured jeans in Judwa. Actually for me it was extremely easy, because anything and everything looked good on him.
From him I learnt the meaning of being large-hearted. After every outdoor shoot he would take the unit to any one store and buy them whatever they wanted. Once in Mauritius, the unit ended up emptying the store of its stocks!
I used to be in Galaxy Apartments (Salman's home) all the time. It is one of the most endearing homes ever. The front door is never ever locked. It's open 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. You can walk in without ringing the doorbell and you'll always be welcome. Salim uncle and Salma aunty are two of the warmest souls you could ever meet and I am so fortunate to have them in my life.
But stardom always comes with a price and life throws unexpected curveballs your way. Salman soon started going through a low phase in his career and his films began to flop. It was at this time that Shah Rukh Khan came to Mumbai to make a career in films after dabbling in television, and I met Gauri at a fashion show on the third day of their arrival. Soon Shah Rukh and Gauri started hanging out at Galaxy playing Pictionary, which was the rage in those days. Sometimes we would drive around town in Salman's white Gypsy. It may sound unbelievable now, but we went in that very Gypsy to watch the first show of SRK's film Deewana. Those were the days of simpler friendships.
Salman in the meantime was still struggling with his downswing and didn't know how to bounce back. Then came a film called Karan Arjun —- this film marked the era of body-hugging tees and toned bodies. Salman worked on his physique and I made him wear tee shirts that were for five-year-olds! The formula worked and he was back on top again. This time he made the transition from lover boy to action hero. I received many compliments for his looks —- Salman was back with a bang!
As time went by we grew very, very close —- I was his only confidante. However, after 15 years of professional togetherness and a deep friendship, we started to have loads of differences. Sadly, one day we had a huge fight as a result of which we didn't speak to each other for almost five years. Around this time I was down in the dumps, doing small jobs for television. I was also going through a rough time financially. But then just like that —- from nowhere —- Ajay Devgan and Shahid Kapoor asked me to design for them and I pulled myself out of the slump I was in. But life had bigger challenges in store for me. My father suffered a major heart attack and I was devastated. I still remember vividly how Salman was the first person to land up at Lilavati Hospital. He called the doctors and took charge of the situation completely. That's Salman and that's what makes him so special. After that we spoke casually whenever we met even though I don't frequent Galaxy anymore.
However, I have a deep bond with his entire family which will never break. Even though Salman and I were going through our ego battles, I continued meeting Arbaaz and Sohail and attended both their weddings. Today, Arbaaz, Malaika, Seema and Sohail are amongst my closest friends and I frequent their homes all the time.
When I got into production and made Rowdy Rathore, the first two people who came to see my movie after Akshay and I saw it were Salim uncle and Salma aunty. I had a special screening for the entire family and they were so happy for me. Salma aunty couldn't believe that I had done all this on my own. I remember sending Salman an emotional message one day before the release thanking him for having introduced me to the film industry. A few days later I bumped into him and he congratulated me warmly on the success of my film.
Love and affection in a friendship must be mutual if the friendship is to exist. I know that things are not the same between us, but I also know that this feeling of love and affection is real. I know that he will always think kindly of me and that he will always be there if I needed him. I can honestly write a whole book on him as I literally grew up with him —- my best memories are with him.
Today, I raise a toast to the biggest superstar in my life —- my friend Salman Khan and I hope and pray that success, happiness and good health remain his companions always.
Anupamaa
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