Now Reading: Mushtaq Khan paid grocer Re 1 to take Mahesh Bhatt calls
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Mushtaq Khan paid grocer Re 1 to take Mahesh Bhatt calls
Actor Mushtaq Khan has revealed that he paid a grocer Re 1 per message to take calls from filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt because he did not own a telephone or landline in the…
Actor Mushtaq Khan has revealed that he paid a grocer Re 1 per message to take calls from filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt because he did not own a telephone or landline in the 1980s. He first met Bhatt through screenwriter Salim Khan, who recommended him for a role in the 1986 film 'Naam'.
On the Savita Aseem Podcast, Khan recalled that Bhatt acknowledged Salim Khan's recommendation but said he had no suitable role for him in 'Naam'. Bhatt directed Khan to his brothers, producer Mukesh Bhatt and writer Robin Bhatt, who assured him they would call when a role opened. For two weeks the grocer reported no calls. On the 15th day, the grocer told him Mahesh Bhatt had called.
That call led to Khan's first Bhatt film, the 1988 action-crime drama 'Kabzaa', in which he played Tiwari. His performance impressed Bhatt, who gave him a larger role in the telefilm 'Swayam'. Khan went on to appear in several Bhatt films including 'Sadak' and 'Aashiqui'.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Both Times of India and NDTV report the same anecdote in identical, neutral wire-copy style, neither adding analysis nor selecting a different lead. The shared framing treats Mushtaq Khan's struggle to get his break as a behind-the-scenes curiosity rather than a commentary on industry access barriers. Absent any editorial voice, the coverage functions purely as entertainment gossip, a reminder that Hindi cinema nostalgia sells clicks. The story's implications for aspiring actors without connections are implicitly sidestepped by both outlets.
Coverage: 2 sources, 2 neutral
Sources (2): timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report), ndtv.com (neutral report)
This brief was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above, so one read covers every framing they carry.
