‘He treated Sonam and Ranbir Kapoor like assistants’: Salman Khan on Bhansali’s approach to ‘Saawariya’ debutants

In 2007 there was the movie, which failed to impress audiences and later, after many years, became a cult of Indian cinema for its songs and some scenes. Now it's been 18 years since Saawariya's release, and it introduced two new faces to Bollywood, Ranbir Kapoor and Sonam Kapoor. Directed by

Sanjay Leela Bhansali

, the movie is based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 1848 short story ‘White Nights.’

Do you know before facing the camera, both Ranbir and Sonam worked as assistant directors on Bhansali’s 'Black' (2005).

Salman Khan on Bhansali’s discipline and fairness

Khan, who had a cameo in Saawariya, fondly recalled Bhansali’s strict yet fair treatment toward the young debutants. The filmmaker made no exceptions despite their star lineage. During the making of the video of ‘Saawariya,’ Salman Khan said, “Even though Ranbir is Mr.

Rishi Kapoor

’s son and Sonam is Anil Kapoor’s daughter, he treated them like assistants.”

His words reflected Bhansali’s belief that talent must earn its place through effort, not privilege.

Sonam’s transformation for the movie

Bhansali’s search for a face that carried the timeless charm of Rekha and looked cute ended when he met Sonam Kapoor. He saw in her the classic beauty he wanted for Sakina, his heroine. Sonam remembered the moment with affection, saying, “I was 86 kilos when Sir said, ‘Sona bachcha, you’re my heroine.’” This unexpected faith motivated her to begin her transformation journey.

Bhansali later shared that her dedication was what truly made her stand out, confessing, “Even if he was as overweight as she was at that time, I’d still cast her as the heroine.

” Over two years, Sonam’s persistence and Bhansali’s guidance shaped her into the elegant debutante audiences saw on screen.

Ranbir’s admiration for Bhansali and filmmaking roots

Ranbir’s fascination with Bhansali began years before Saawariya. He once shared that “I was studying at a school of visual arts abroad when I first saw Devdas (2002), and I became a big fan of Mr.

Bhansali.” Inspired by that film, he returned to India after completing the study and applied to be an assistant director on ‘Black.’ Bhansali instantly recognized his potential and told him, “But you’re an actor. You should be an actor.

” Yet Ranbir was determined to learn first, replying, “No, sir. I really want to get a grounding experience in filmmaking from you.”

Bhansali on understanding his students

Reflecting on their journey, Sanjay Leela Bhansali shared how ‘Black’ became a classroom for both Ranbir and Sonam. They not only learned filmmaking but also understood his creative temperament. As Bhansali put it, “They got to know me very well. They got to know what I like and don’t like, what makes me happy, and what makes me angry. I think they got to understand my mind completely.” The filmmaker always believed they were destined for stardom, saying, “I knew the moment I saw them that they were stars.

They had the possibility of being molded into great stars. Actors, I wouldn’t say, but stars I would.”