Salman Khan Told Priyadarshan He Won’t Come To Set At 5 Am, SRK Said He'll Start 'Early Morning' At 10 Am

Veteran filmmaker Priyadarshan has often spoken about the actors he felt most comfortable working with, and his experiences with Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan stand out. In a recent interview, he reminisced about the smooth shoots, the punctuality, and the professionalism that made his collaborations with these Bollywood stars memorable.

Speaking to Pinkvilla, Priyadarshan recalled, “When I got my Padma Shri, a journalist asked me, ‘Don’t you think this is your greatest achievement?’ I said, ‘No, my biggest achievement is working with Govinda and Salman (Khan) on time and finishing it in one or two schedules.’ There was a fear brought into my mind by other people that they don’t come on time. But both of them were very sweet. They came on set

at 7 am. I remember Salman telling me, ‘Garu, if you make a film (with me) next time, I won’t come to set at 5 am.’”

He also spoke about working with Shah Rukh Khan in Billu (2011), where the superstar played a supporting role, “Shah Rukh used to tell me, ‘Priyan sir, I’ll be there early morning 10 o’clock.’ So, the unit would say even if he comes by 10, it’s a big thing. I was very comfortable with all these people. I never had any issues with these actors I’ve worked with. I think it’s maybe my destiny.”

Priyadarshan added that while he has worked with several actors, he felt a unique comfort with Akshay Kumar and Mohanlal, thanks to their trust and dedication. “They both never ask me what I’m doing. When I go to them with a film, they just ask me, ‘Are you excited?’ When I say yes, they say, ‘Let’s do the film.’ When they trust you so much, I do have a responsibility to deliver and maintain that trust.”

The filmmaker is all set to reunite with Akshay Kumar after 16 years for the horror-comedy Bhooth Bangla, slated for release next year. They are also collaborating on the thriller Haiwaan and planning Hera Pheri 3, while Priyadarshan hopes to complete his 100th film with Mohanlal.