Did you know? Salim Khan once threatened to destroy Rishi Kapoor’s career

When and how it all initiated?

This incident had taken place in mid-70's when writing duo Salim-Javed were at the peak of their careers. Both of them had made a name and reputation for themselves. At a time like this, Rishi Kapoor chose to refuse a film written by the writer duo. It was late director Yash Chopra's film 'Trishul' (1978) where he was offered a role which was later played by actor Sachin. However, this refusal hurt the ego of Salim Khan.

Salim Khan’s face off with Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor remembered this incident with Salim Khan and has shared the same in his book saying, "Salim–Javed wanted me to work in 'Trishul', directed by Yash Chopra. They offered me the role that eventually went to Sachin, but I said no. I must be the first and only actor in the history of Hindi cinema to have refused Salim–Javed at their peak. 'Kabhi Kabhie' had been released by then. Ramesh Talwar (erstwhile AD to Yash Chopra) had become a friend; I was already doing his film 'Doosra Aadmi', which Yash-ji was producing. And I was on excellent terms with Yash-ji too. But I turned down 'Trishul' because I didn’t like the way the role had shaped up. Salim and Javed bristled at my rejection and the animosity bubbled to the surface when I encountered Salim Khan at Playmate Club (which used to be in Hotel Sea Rock in Mumbai) a few days later." [sic] Further Rishi added saying, "I was playing a game of snooker when Salim sa’ab walked over and asked me, ‘How did you have the guts to refuse Salim–Javed?’ Not one to be intimidated, I (Rishi) shot back, ‘I didn’t like the role.’" [sic]

Salim Khan’s threat to Rishi Kapoor

It was then when Salim Khan had threatened the actor by saying, "Do you know that to this day nobody has said no to us? We can destroy your career." [sic] When Rishi asked Salim that what he can do to finish his career, the writer replied saying, "Who will work with you? You know, we had offered 'Zanjeer' to Rajesh Khanna and he turned us down. We didn’t do anything to him but we created an alternative to him, a hero called Amitabh Bachchan, who destroyed Rajesh Khanna. We will do the same to you." [sic] However, the matter ended here, and did not take an ugly turn.

When Rishi’s ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ tasted success and Salim-Javed’s ‘Immaan Dharam’ bit the dust

Further, Rishi had also recalled saying, "Later, I starred in 'Amar Akbar Anthony', which broke many box-office records while a film called 'Immaan Dharam', written by Salim–Javed and directed by Desh Mukherjee, bit the dust at the box-office. It was such a dud that people started saying, ‘Salim–Javed ki film flop ho gayi." [sic] Both these films mentioned by Rishi Kapoor were released on the same day in year 1977.