Salman’s charisma, music made Sanam Bewafa a hit: Puneet

PAfilm about two feuding Pathan tribal families and the innocence of young love was the premise of Sanam Bewafa (1991). Actor Puneet Issar, who played a prominent role in the superhit film which also starred actors Salman Khan, Chandni, Danny Denzongpa and the late Pran, feels the film is still fresh in everyone’s minds, 30 years after it released. “The film is timeless. The music, composed by Maheshkishor, and the charisma of Salman Khan is what made the film a super duper hit. The dialogues were superb, the story was emotional and it connected with the audience. It also had some great performances and larger-than-life characters. Everything worked wonderfully,” says Issar, who played the role of Afzal Khan in the Saawan Kumar Tak directorial. The film, the 61-year-old adds, was important for him, too, as it was his first project after Mahabharat. “After playing Duryodhan, I did this film, and people were wondering how I was going to perform. I have very fond memories,” he says. Sanam Bewafa also marked the beginning of a formidable friendship with Salman. “It was a very happy camaraderie on set and off it as well. We used to work out and train together. When he used to shoot, I’d be around on set, and he would be on set during my scenes. I had a song in that film and I remember how Salman would say, ‘Punz, fantastic job’,” says the actor, recalling that after the film released, he and Salman used to visit theatres to gauge the audience’s reaction. “People would throw coins at the screen whenever we’d appear, they would whistle and dance to the songs. They enjoyed the film thoroughly,” he signs off. (Top and above) Stills from Sanam Bewafa Juhi Chakraborty