Salman Khan was paid Rs 5 crore more than Govinda for Partner, reveals writer Alok Upadhyay

Alok revealed that while both stars were at the top of their game, Salman Khan received a whopping Rs 10 crore for the film, compared to Govinda’s Rs 5 crore.

Salman Khan and Govinda's Partner holds a special place in Bollywood’s comedy hall of fame. Directed by David Dhawan, the film not only struck gold at the box office but also delivered unforgettable performances and infectious music, especially the chartbuster Soni De Nakhre.

In a recent interview with the Lightscameramasti, writer Alok Upadhyay shared some major revelations, including the significant pay gap between Salman Khan and Govinda.

Alok revealed that while both stars were at the top of their game, Salman Khan received a whopping Rs 10 crore for the film, compared to Govinda’s Rs 5 crore. “They were both huge names,” said Upadhyay, “but Salman’s market value was higher, so he got the bigger chunk.”

This disparity didn’t create any rift between the actors but it did lead to an amusing moment during the filming of Soni De Nakhre. Recalling a funny incident from the set, Alok said that director David Dhawan grew increasingly frustrated during the shoot of the song when the choreographer insisted on wide-angle shots that prominently featured the stars’ legs.

“David saahab mere paas baithe bolte hain ke ek actor 10 crore le raha hai aur ek 5 crore le raha hai. 15 crore ke actor ki taange dikhaai ja rahi hain, koi matlab to hai nahi,” said Alok. (David sir sat next to me and said, ‘One actor is getting Rs 10 crore, the other Rs 5 crore, and we’re just showing their legs? What’s the point?’)

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Fed up, Dhawan took charge and instructed the team to shift focus, “Jo 15 crore ke 2 khade hain inka close maar,” he reportedly ordered. (Get a close-up of these Rs 15 crore worth of actors!)

The scene was quickly reworked with close-up shots of Salman and Govinda in their element.