Filmmaker David Dhawan was known for his no-nonsense commercial instincts. During Partner’s song shoot, he interrupted choreography to make sure Salman Khan and Govinda’s star power wasn’t wasted on wide shots of just their legs.
Chennai | April 21, 2025 –
When it comes to making crowd-pleasers, few know the formula better than David Dhawan. But commercial instincts also come with creative impatience — something writer Alok Upadhyaya witnessed first-hand on the sets of Partner (2007), especially during the filming of the chartbuster “Soni De Nakhre.”
In a conversation with Lightscameramasti, Upadhyaya revealed how David Dhawan always prioritized the commercial appeal of his stars. The veteran filmmaker would visualize the entire film — editing, reactions, and crowd impact — while still on set, never letting anything fall through the cracks.
One such moment came when he noticed that the song shoot featured long, wide shots of Salman Khan and Govinda… but only from the knees down.
“‘One actor is charging Rs 10 crore, the other Rs 5 crore — that’s Rs 15 crore standing there, and only their legs are being shown!’” David exclaimed, asking the choreographer to immediately switch to close-up shots.
David Dhawan reportedly said,
“You’re spending Rs 50 on flower pots and Rs 10 on background decoration. But the audience isn’t here for that. Shoot close-ups of the ₹15 crore worth of star power we have — Govinda and Salman!”
Following that outburst, the choreography was quickly adapted to include face-forward, high-energy moments, showcasing the actors’ comic expressions and charm — a decision that arguably helped turn the song into a fan-favorite.
Upadhyaya added that David would often get impatient if actors weren’t delivering the expected energy, but was also quick to make adjustments on the fly, maximizing performance and screen value in every frame.
Partner, an official remake of the Will Smith hit Hitch, became a box office success upon its release in 2007. The film starred Salman Khan as a suave love guru guiding the bumbling Govinda, and featured Katrina Kaif and Lara Dutta in key roles.
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David Dhawan, Salman Khan, Govinda, Partner movie, Soni De Nakhre, Bollywood choreography, Salman Khan movies, Govinda songs, David Dhawan direction, Bollywood filmmaking, Partner behind the scenes