When Shah Rukh Khan let go of Rs 95 lakh dues after Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam flopped
Producer KC Bokadia recalled how Shah Rukh Khan waived Rs 95 lakh after Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam had an average box office run. He also shared that the actor agreed to do the film despite reservations about the story.
More than two decades after Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam released in 2002, producer KC Bokadia has recalled an off-screen episode involving Shah Rukh Khan that has drawn fresh attention. Speaking on the Live Hindustan Podcast, Bokadia said the actor chose not to take Rs 95 lakh that was still due to him after the film had an average run at the box office.
The film starred Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Madhuri Dixit, and had arrived with considerable buzz. Bokadia said Shah Rukh agreed to be part of the project despite reservations about the story, and later waived the pending amount when the producer raised the issue of payment.
Recalling his first meeting with Shah Rukh, Bokadia said he approached the actor with a direct offer while planning the remake of a Tamil film. He said he needed about 20 days of the actor’s dates and offered him Rs 2 crore for the project, even though Shah Rukh’s usual fee at the time was between Rs 1 crore and Rs 1.5 crore.
According to Bokadia, Shah Rukh agreed to consider the film and came the very next day to watch the original version. The producer also recounted a lighter moment from that meeting, saying, “The director had a weird personality, so I told him not to enter the screening because SRK might run away after looking at you.” Both the original Tamil film and the Hindi remake were directed by KS Adhiyaman, but Bokadia said Shah Rukh did not insist on meeting him before agreeing to the film.
After watching the film, Shah Rukh was candid about his reaction, Bokadia said. Recalling the exchange, the producer said, “After Shah Rukh watched the film, he said, ‘I don’t understand these kind of films. But I will do it for you.’”
Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam was reportedly in the making for nearly six years before its release. The film was a remake of the 1995 Tamil movie Thotta Chinungi. While it brought together Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan on screen, it did not perform strongly at the box office.
Bokadia said that during this period, he still owed Shah Rukh Rs 95 lakh. When he brought up the pending payment, he recalled telling the actor, “Sir, we don’t have a problem with you. Plus, we have promised you the money. It won’t look good.”
According to Bokadia, Shah Rukh replied, “Don’t worry about it. I can earn Rs 95 lakh by making an appearance for 5 minutes at a wedding. You will have to pay me by selling off your assets.” Recalling the moment, Bokadia added, “Who says something like that? That’s his good nature.”
The anecdote has resurfaced more than 20 years after the film’s release, bringing back attention to Shah Rukh Khan’s conduct during the making and aftermath of Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, as Bokadia revisited the actor’s decision to go ahead with the film and later let go of his pending dues.