The second schedule of Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin stretched through November and December of 1990. By now, everyone on the set had fallen into a comfortable rhythm. The film itself had become less about individual scenes and more about capturing the growing bond between Raja and Pooja. Mahesh Bhatt was particular about keeping the emotions natural. He often reminded both Adil and Pooja Bhatt not to act like film stars but like ordinary people who happened to fall in love during a difficult journey.
One memorable sequence was shot near Ooty. Raja and Pooja had just survived another argument and were forced to spend the night at a small lodge. The next morning, the script called for a simple scene where Pooja woke up to find Raja making tea with terrible results. During rehearsals, Adil deliberately exaggerated Raja's lack of cooking skills, making everyone around burst into laughter.
Pooja laughed uncontrollably and said, "You're going to poison me with this tea."
Remaining in character, Raja replied, "Madam, beggars cannot be choosers."
Mahesh Bhatt immediately shouted, "Cut! Keep that! That's natural."
The entire unit applauded. Such moments slowly became common. Mahesh Bhatt preferred keeping spontaneous reactions because he believed audiences connected with truth more than rehearsed perfection.
Another important sequence was filmed during sunset near a hill station. Raja and Pooja sat beside a deserted bus stop after missing their transport. The scene contained very little dialogue.
Pooja softly asked, "Do you ever regret helping me?"
Raja looked toward the mountains and answered quietly, "Sometimes." Pooja lowered her eyes.
Then Raja smiled. "But then you say something foolish, and I realize life would become boring without you."
Pooja looked at him. Witha fake anger expression she said. " You called me foolish?"
"You ran away from home for a film star." Raja emphasized.
"You stole my suitcase." Pooja said in reply.
"You deserved it." Raja also bickered.
Their laughter faded into silence, and Mahesh Bhatt allowed the camera to keep rolling. Nobody spoke. The silence itself carried emotion.
By December, almost ninety percent of the film had been completed. Only some reshoots remained. Adil and Pooja Bhatt had become comfortable working partners. They no longer required lengthy rehearsals. One reading was usually enough.
During lunch breaks, Pooja often complained about her father's habit of changing scenes overnight. She said. "One day he'll rewrite the entire movie after pack-up."
Adil laughed and replie. "At least he hasn't replaced the actors."
Pooja burst into laughter and said. "Don't give him ideas."
The crew had become like family. Despite becoming an overnight sensation after Aashiqui, Adil never behaved like a star. Spot boys, assistant directors, cameramen, and technicians all appreciated his humble nature.
As December approached its end, another project quietly began demanding his attention.
Preparations for Saajan had officially begun.
Originally, the role of Aman Verma had been intended for Sanjay Dutt. But after witnessing Adil's performance and popularity in Aashiqui, producer Sudhakar Bokade and director Lawrence D'Souza decided to make major changes to the script. That's why project got delayed till now.
Several meetings were held at Sudhakar Bokade's office. Salman Khan had already signed for the role of Akash, while Madhuri Dixit would play Pooja Saxena. The screenplay was revised repeatedly. Adil heard her character name, smiled. Coincidentally, its his third film and the female lead name is still Pooja he thought.
One week before the arrival of the new year, the shooting of Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin had almost reached its end. Nearly the entire film had been completed, with only a couple of songs and a few patchwork scenes remaining. Mahesh Bhatt estimated that at most two more days would be enough to finish everything. After months of traveling between Bombay, Ooty, and various outdoor locations, the entire unit had started feeling a strange mix of satisfaction and sadness. What had begun as another film had gradually become a family.
That afternoon, after finishing an emotional scene with Pooja Bhatt, Adil was sitting beside the monitor reviewing the next day's schedule when one of the production assistants came running.
"Telephone for you, Adil sir."
Excusing himself, Adil entered the office room and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Adil, Lawrence D'Souza here."
"Good afternoon, sir."
"Good afternoon. The script changes are complete. I want you to come to Sudhakar Bokade's office next week. Salman Khan will also be there. Madhuri ji will join us later. We'll do the first narration together."
"Of course, sir."
"And come early."
Adil smiled. "I'll be there before everyone." After putting down the receiver, he returned to the set. Mahesh Bhatt looked at him and immediately understood.
"So, Lawrence finally called?" Adil nodded.
"Saajan."Mahesh asked.
"Good. He is a good director. Movie will definitely be good" Then he added. "Finish this journey properly first. Then begin another."
By the following day, Adil reached Sudhakar Bokade's office twenty minutes ahead of time. The reception area was still quiet. He sat comfortably with a cup of tea and casually flipped through the latest issue of Screen magazine.
Ten minutes later, the glass door opened. Salman Khan walked inside wearing blue jeans and a white shirt, sunglasses hanging from his collar. Spotting Adil immediately, he smiled broadly. "Arre, the nation's most Handsome Person and Kind of heartbreak is already here."
Adil stood up and laughed."Its just Media's Nonsense." Adil said. "In fact, Your are the country's lover."
Salman hugged him warmly. "Brother, after Maine Pyar Kiya, everyone thinks I'm Prem."
"And after Aashiqui, everyone thinks I'm sad." Adil said.
Salman sat beside him. "Good combination. One makes them cry, one makes them fall in love." Both laughed.
Since this was their first proper meeting, there was none of the awkwardness that usually existed between actors meeting for the first time. Salman's easygoing personality quickly made conversations natural.
"So," Salman asked, stretching comfortably on the sofa, "how's college life?"
Adil shook his head. "Almost impossible now. Reporters are waiting outside half the time."
Salman whistled. "Already? And here I thought I had problems."
"You do." Adil asked.
Salman grinned. "Last week some girls followed my car all the way home."
"And?"
"She said, She liked me very much but his dream boy is Adil. When all this happened my father was beside me, he even laughed at me." Adil burst out laughing and said. " It's ok. Just ignore it" Salman looked made a face like an angry child. Adil knew he is faking it.
The conversation naturally drifted toward films. Salman leaned closer.
"Honestly, brother, Aashiqui surprised everyone."
"It surprised me too."
"No, seriously. That ending…" Salman shook his head. "I wanted to punch somebody."
Adil added. "So did half the country."
Salman nodded dramatically. "Exactly! Poor Rahul. If I was him, I'd have stolen the bride."
Both burst into laughter.
Somehow, the conversation never stopped. Cricket, films, music, strange fan encounters, college stories, and shooting experiences. Everything became topics. Within half an hour, neither of them felt like strangers anymore.
"After talking you, i feel like we have a quite a lot in common" Salman said. Adil nodded.
Salman suddenly said, "You know, my father always tells me that friendship in this industry is rare."
Adil nodded. "My father says the same."
Salman smiled. "Then let's prove them wrong." He extended his hand. "Friends?"
Adil shook his hand. "Friends."
Salman grinned. "Good. Now if I lose the heroine in the script, at least I'll lose her to a friend."
Before Adil could reply, the office door opened once again. Seeing the person entering. For a moment, he forgot what he was about to say.
Madhuri Dixit entered the room in a simple cream-colored salwar suit. Even without elaborate makeup, she seemed to brighten the room. Adil had seen her countless times in his previous life, but seeing her in person was entirely different. He was mesmerized by her.
Beside him, Salman immediately nudged his elbow and whispered with a mischievous smile, "Brother, blink."
Adil coughed awkwardly while Salman struggled to suppress his laughter.
Madhuri smiled warmly. "Good morning."
Salman stood up dramatically. "Good morning, Madhuri ji and Congratulations."
She raised an eyebrow surprised, "For what?"
He pointed toward Adil. "You've claimed another victim. This time it's the most Handsome person of the india"
Adil nearly buried his face in embarrassment and said. "Madhuri ji, Ignore him."
Madhuri burst out laughing. Poor Salman, She thought. No wonder everyone said he was impossible to keep quiet.
And just as the three settled into conversation, Lawrence D'Souza entered carrying a thick script file, followed by producer Sudhakar Bokade.
Looking at the three stars laughing together, Lawrence smiled. "Very good." Placing the script on the table, he nodded in satisfaction. "It seems the friendship has already begun."
Then Lawrence D'Souza explained his vision. "There are quite a lot changes in the original script. In the original script, Aman silently sacrifices everything. But after watching Aashiqui, I think audiences connect deeply with Adil's emotional performances. We should make Aman stronger."
Sudhakar Bokade nodded.
"So Aman becomes the heart of the film."
"And friendship becomes equally important," Lawrence added. Adil listened quietly.
As he read the revised script, memories from his previous life resurfaced. In his memories, Saajan had already been a blockbuster. But this new version felt even stronger.
Aman Verma was now a talented poet raised by his wealthy father after losing his mother. Under the pen name "Sagar," his poems had become famous throughout the country. His words about loneliness and love had touched countless readers.
One day, he received letters from Pooja Saxena, a young woman deeply moved by his poetry. Their friendship gradually turned into love through letters and telephone conversations.
Meanwhile, Aman became friends with Akash, played by Salman Khan. Their personalities were opposite, but their friendship became unbreakable. Fate, however, played its cruel game when Akash introduced Pooja to Aman, unaware that she was the same woman who had fallen in love with Sagar.
Unlike the original story, Aman did not disappear from her life. He remained beside both of them. As Pooja spent time with him, she unknowingly felt drawn toward his understanding and wisdom. Akash slowly noticed the strange bond between them.
The climax itself had been rewritten. During a poetry event honoring the famous writer Sagar, Aman finally revealed his identity before everyone. Pooja was left stunned, while Akash discovered the truth. Their friendship suffered its first wound, and Aman confessed that he had chosen silence because Akash's friendship meant more to him than his own happiness.
In the end, Akash accepted reality. Though heartbroken, he smiled through his pain and stood beside Aman during his wedding with Pooja, becoming the best man and blessing them both.
The story ended with Aman publishing his new poetry collection, Saajan, dedicated to friendship and love.
Salman Khan loved the revised screenplay.
During one script-reading session, he grinned. "So I lose the girl and still smile?"
Adil laughed."Yhis time you will be the heartbreak king."
Salman dramatically shook his head. "No, brother. You get Madhuri Dixit and poetry. I get heartbreak."
Everyone in the room burst out laughing. Lawrence D'Souza smiled and said. "And that's exactly why audiences will love Akash."
By the first week of January 1991, costume designers had begun preparing Aman Verma's look. Unlike Raja from Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin, Aman would be elegant and reserved. Light-colored sweaters, spectacles, and simple suits were chosen to emphasize his image as a poet.
Salman Khan's Akash would wear colorful shirts and denim jackets to reflect his cheerful personality, while Madhuri Dixit's costumes focused on grace and simplicity.
During the first combined script reading, Madhuri Dixit closed the screenplay and smiled. "I like this story. It feels more emotional."
Lawrence D'Souza nodded. "The audience will love it." Then looking toward Adil and Salman, he said with confidence, "And Aman and Akash will become unforgettable."
Outside, Bombay welcomed 1991. Inside the film studios, another journey was preparing to begin. While Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahin neared completion, Saajan was getting ready to start. Adil schedule is quite tough ahead.
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Note:
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