The first week of January 1991 brought with it the feeling that one journey was ending and another was quietly waiting to begin. After months of traveling between outdoor schedules and studios, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin was finally nearing completion. Originally, two days of patchwork work remained, but a delay occur in the shooting that's why it got delayed till now. Today is the last day of the final remaining two days of shooting for Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin.
Months of traveling, endless retakes, and countless hours together had transformed the cast and crew into something resembling a family. The final scene to be shot was not a grand climax but a small patchwork sequence between Raja and Pooja. There were no dramatic confessions or emotional breakdowns, yet everyone on the set knew something special was coming to an end.
When Mahesh Bhatt finally shouted, "Cut! Perfect. That's a wrap!" applause immediately erupted around the set. Assistant directors clapped, technicians smiled, and spot boys who had worked tirelessly throughout the production came forward to congratulate the actors. Sweets were distributed, photographs were taken, and for nearly an hour nobody seemed interested in going home.
Mahesh Bhatt hugged his daughter before turning toward Adil. "When we started, I was worried whether Raja would work."
Adil smiled and asked. "And now?"
"Now I'm worried you'll become too expensive for me." Mahesh said. Which made everyone around them laugh.
Pooja Bhatt immediately added, "Papa, he'll still work for you."
"Of course i will. But stop rewriting scenes every night," Adil replied. Pooja burst out laughing. "That's impossible. He's addicted."
Mahesh shook his head dramatically. "Ungrateful children. Both of you."
The laughter continued, and as photographs were being taken, Mahesh quietly said to Adil, "You have a long career ahead. Never let success change you. People remember kindness much longer than stardom."
Adil simply nodded.
Three days later, January 11, 1991. The preparations for Saajan officially began. Costume trials were held at Mehboob Studios. Aman Verma's appearance was entirely different from Raja. Light sweaters, spectacles, plain shirts and elegant suits had been selected to emphasize his image as a poet.
Looking at himself in front of the mirror, Adil almost laughed.
He looked more like a literature professor than a film hero.
Lawrence D'Souza nodded happily.
"Perfect. Aman isn't flashy. His eyes should speak more than his clothes."
Just then the studio door opened, and Salman Khan walked in wearing jeans and a colorful shirt. The moment he saw Adil, he froze dramatically. "Wow!"
Adil looked up. "What?"
Salman stared at him for several seconds.
"Brother, I don't know whether to call you hero or Professor." The room erupted in laughter.
Adil adjusted his spectacles, which was part of his costume and said. "Jealousy doesn't suit you."
Salman pointed at himself proudly. "Why should I be jealous? Look at me. Hero material."
Just then another voice interrupted. "I think both of you are impossible." Both men turned around.
Madhuri Dixit had just entered. She wore a simple cream-colored salwar suit with minimal makeup, yet somehow she seemed to brighten the room effortlessly. Adil had seen her countless times in his previous life, but standing in front of her was completely different. For a brief moment, he forgot what he was about to say.
Salman immediately noticed and grinned.
Adil noticed him and immediately looked away. A few moments later, while Lawrence was discussing costumes, Adil unconsciously found himself glancing toward Madhuri again. She was listening to the costume designer, occasionally brushing a few strands of hair behind her ear.
Unfortunately for him, she suddenly looked back. Being caught. Adil immediately turned his head and pretended to study the script lying on the table.
Madhuri noticed and smiled slightly. Five minutes later, he looked again. Once more, she looked back.
Again, Adil immediately became interested in the wall behind her. This time Madhuri had to suppress a laugh.
Salman, meanwhile, was observing the whole thing like an entertained spectator. Finally he leaned close and whispered loudly enough for Madhuri to hear. "Brother, walls are very beautiful today?"
Adil nearly choked. Madhuri burst out laughing.
"Poor walls," she said. "They seem to be receiving a lot of attention."
Even Lawrence D'Souza laughed.
Adil could only smile helplessly while Salman looked extremely proud of himself.
A little later, everyone gathered around the table for script reading. Salman continued to provide his own entertainment.
After reading several pages, he dramatically closed the script. His expression looking serious. He said. "I have an objection."
Lawrence sighed. "Already?"
Salman pointed toward Adil.
"He gets poetry."
Then toward Madhuri.
"He gets Madhuri ji."
Then he pointed toward himself.
"And I get heartbreak."
Everyone realized he is joking and then the room exploded with laughter.
Madhuri shook her head. "You are impossible."
Salman grinned. "Thank you."
During lunch break, the three sat together in the studio cafeteria. Conversation flowed naturally. Salman talked endlessly about strange fans and shooting experiences. Madhuri occasionally teased him while Adil mostly listened.
At one point Salman said proudly, "You know, my mother says I'm very handsome."
Madhuri smiled and said. "All mothers say that."
Salman in his drama mode made expression as he is offended, he insisted. "No, seriously."
Adil nodded solemnly."My mother says the same."
Madhuri burst into laughter. "Then I should meet both mothers."
Salman pointed triumphantly.
"See? Even Madhuri ji agrees."
She rolled her eyes.
"I agreed with nothing."
As lunch continued, Madhuri noticed that Adil was surprisingly quiet compared to Salman.
"You're very different from your serious image," she said.
"Really?"
"I thought you'd be very reserved."
Salman interrupted immediately. "He is reserved."
Adil thought Salman is praising him said. "Thank you."
"No, brother, listen first." Salman continued dramatically.
"He becomes reserved only when beautiful actresses enter the room."
Adil nearly spilled his tea. Madhuri laughed so hard she had tears in her eyes. "Poor Adil," she said between laughs. "You don't let him live."
Salman proudly nodded. "Exactly. Friendship."
As days passed, their friendship became increasingly natural. Script readings turned into enjoyable conversations. Madhuri often shared funny stories from previous shoots, while Salman constantly joked and imitated directors.
One afternoon, while waiting for Lawrence D'Souza to arrive, Salman suddenly asked Madhuri,
"Tell me honestly. Between us two, who's more handsome?"
Madhuri pretended to think deeply but her eyes subconsciously shifted to Adil. "Hmm…"
Salman didn't look at this, straightened proudly. "Obviously me. I think media has no eyes to call Adil most handsome men of india."
Madhuri rolled her eyes then she smiled mischievously. "Actually, I was thinking of the cameraman."
The entire room burst into laughter. Salman dramatically held his chest. "Heartbreak before shooting even starts."
Adil couldn't stop laughing, he teased. "Now you know your role."
"Traitor!" Salman pointed accusingly. Madhuri shook her head, smiling. "You two behave like schoolboys."
And somehow, she liked it.
Unlike many actors she had worked with, neither of them carried arrogance. Salman was cheerful and impossible to keep quiet, while Adil possessed a calm confidence that became even more charming whenever he became embarrassed.
Once, while discussing a scene, Adil became deeply focused on Lawrence's explanation. Madhuri quietly noticed how seriously he listened to every detail.
Later she smiled to herself.
He had become one of the country's biggest young stars, yet there wasn't an ounce of arrogance in him.
And his habit of immediately looking away whenever she caught him staring was strangely amusing.
By the second week of January, costume departments were finalizing designs, music recordings had begun, and shooting schedules were ready.
Another journey was about to start. And none of them knew that the friendship being formed between a quiet poet, an energetic prankster, and the queen of Bollywood would create memories they would cherish for the rest of their lives.
One day, while he was in his vanity, Adil found the telephone ringing. He picked the phone, then smiled upon hearing the familiar voice.
"Aishwarya?" He said. "Who else?" she replied cheerfully.
They had grown much closer over the past few months. Though neither had confessed anything, both had become an important part of each other's daily life.
"So, how was your day?" Adil asked.
Aishwarya sighed dramatically. "Exhausting."
"What happened?" Adil asked. "I attended another modeling assignment."
"Oh?" Adil said. Aishwarya went on telling. "It wasn't a big one. Just some local advertisement photographs. But standing and smiling for hours is much harder than it looks." Adil laughed while teasing her. "And here I thought models just smiled and became famous."
"Very funny." Aishwarya puffed her cheeks. Then she paused before adding softly,
"You know, when I first started, I was nervous. Everyone around me seemed so experienced. Sometimes I wonder if I really belong there."
Adil leaned back in his chair. "And?"
"And then I remember what you told me." She said. Adil asked. "What did I say?"
"Follow your heart." She replied. Adil smiled. "Still good advice."
She laughed while saying. "You sound like an old man sometimes."
"Excuse me. I'm only eighteen." Adil said.
"And already giving life lessons." Aishwarya teased.
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Aishwarya's voice became softer.
"You know, when I return home after those shoots, I feel happy telling you about them."
Adil smiled unconsciously. "And I like listening." She laughed. "Good. Because nobody else listens to my endless stories."
"I do." Adil said. " Don't you get bored listening?" She asked.
"Not yet." Adil replied. "Not yet?"she asked.
"Maybe after twenty years." Adil teased her.
Aishwarya didn't mind she just smiled. Then she suddenly became serious."I hope your new film goes well."
"It hasn't even started yet." Adil said.
"I know. Still." Aishwarya replied. "And I hope your modeling work becomes successful." Adil said. There was silence for several seconds. Then she softly said, "Thank you. You are the only one who truly believe in me."
They chatting till midnight. After that Aishwarya hung up the phone. Adil smiled, His exhaustion disappeared. Then he went to sleep.