KGAF 2026: R Balki revealed how Salaam-E-Ishq quietly powered Cheeni Kum behind the scenes: “When Salaam-E-Ishq shooting would stop is when we would get the jimmy jib…they had many catering vans, we had one person who gave us cold chole”

On Day 2 of Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2026, R Balki had an interesting chat with celebrity anchor Gaurav Sharma, aka SharmaG, about his debut film Cheeni Kum (2007) at the ‘Food! Camera! Action!’ session in a bar in South Mumbai. The screening of the Amitabh Bachchan-Tabu starrer took place after the conversation. The talented filmmaker surprised the attendees by revealing that his film had a connection with Salaam-E-Ishq (2007).

R Balki said, “We had a food stylist, which was a first for a Hindi film. But since ours was a restaurant film, I thought that the food should look enticing. While shooting in Mumbai, we would have the ‘set food’. Amit ji got food from his house. Tabu is a foodie and so, she eats a lot of wonderful dishes!”

He then stated, “My producer-friend, Sunil Manchanda, was making two films – Cheeni Kum and Salaam-E-Ishq. Cheeni Kum was a very low-budget film, in their opinion, while Salaam-E-Ishq was big-budget. Both films were simultaneously being shot in London. We didn’t even have a jimmy jib. When the Salaam-E-Ishq shooting would stop is when we would get the jimmy jib! Many times, we got the jib without the focus puller.”

Salaam-E-Ishq was Nikkhil Advani’s immediate next after the much-loved Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003). It had an ensemble cast, comprising Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Govinda, Akshaye Khanna, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Juhi Chawla, Ayesha Takia, Sohail Khan, Isha Koppikar, Anjana Sukhani and many others.

R Balki continued, “The Salaam-E-Ishq unit used to have several catering vans. But we had one sardar guy delivering us packed lunches. The lunch would comprise chole. It was cold out there and the food was also cold. So, we shot a food film eating not very good food (smiles). We wonder, ‘We shot so many food scenes, but we ate such bad food. I wonder why’!”

Also Read: R. Balki pens heartfelt birthday letter celebrating Amitabh Bachchan’s legendary Legacy: “You were just born with a personality, a voice…”

More Pages: Salaam-E-Ishq Box Office Collection , Salaam-E-Ishq Movie Review

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