18 strange facts about Bollywood

1. Shyam Benegal’s multi-starrer Hari Bhari and Kalpana Lajmi’s award-winning Daman were both sponsored by the Ministry of Family Welfare.
2. Director Rajiv Rai’s Pyar Ishq Aur Mohabbat is the first Hindi film to be shot in a single start to finish schedule. Other films have followed suit.
3. Before finalizing Anu Malik as the composer for his film Aks, Rakesh Mehra jotted down the 10 best songs that he remembered in the last ten years. He found Anu’s name popping up 7 times and hence he chose him to do the honors. Ranjit Barot acted as the arranger and designer.
4. Aishwarys Rai supposedly walked out of Kamal Hassan’s disastrous Abhay due to the presence of a kissing scene, which the beau Salman did not like the idea of. Raveena stepped in.
5. Actress Smriti Mishra was not allowed to enter the sets of Sanjay Leela Bhasali’s Devdas by the strict guard present there and Shah Rukh had to intervene to pacify matters.
6. The on screen love-pair of the hit blockbuster Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai, Salman and Twinkle were not on talking terms while the shooting was on.
7. Actor Rahul Dev did the screen tests for both Shool and Jungle for the roles, which ultimately went to Sayaji Shinde and Sunil Shetty
8. Amitabh Bachchan himself coined the terms Ganga Maiya for the song by the same name in his sonAbhishek’s film ‘Bas Itna Sa Khwaab Hai’.
9. Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla were teamed in producer Prem Lalwani’s BADA AADMI, directed by Lekh Tandon. The film was launched with a song recording on June 2, 1993. Anand-Milind were the music directors.
10. Sanjay Dutt had charged Rs. 12 lacs as remuneration for SAAJAN and at that point of time had agreed to act in another film of the maker [Sudhakar Bokade] for the same amount. Though Sanju’s popularity increased manifold after SAAJAN, the actor kept his promise and signed the producer’s new film, with Sridevi as his co-star, at the committed amount only.
11. Hrithik Roshan loves collecting photographs. He would never travel anywhere without his personal camera even as a child. He has a vast collection photographs and special scrapbooks marking each occasion.
12. Salman Khan likes to collect soaps. In his bathroom, there is a collection of all kinds of handmade and herbal soaps. His favourite are soaps made from natural fruit and vegetable extracts.
13. In the early stages of her career, Karisma Kapoor was mortally terrified of photo-sessions.
14. Shamita Shetty is deeply into Sports and Body training and holds a Diploma in Fashion Designing.
15. The plot of Manmohan Desai’s ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ was inspired by a newspaper report about a man who left all his three children at different places and then committed suicide.
16. The film genius V Shantaram served the Indian film industry in many capacities - as an artiste, a producer, a director, a studio owner, a trade leader, and an exhibitor and so on for 65 years.
17. Hrithik’s grandmother Ira Roshan is the music director for ‘Krishna Kanhaiya Ram Ramaiya’, a collection of Krishna and Ram bhajans, released by T-series on Janmastami. Noted playback singers, Anuradha Paudwal and Suresh Wadekar, have sung the songs.
18. Subhash Ghai roped in Sandeep Chowta to compose the background score for ‘Yaadein’ after being thoroughly impressed with his work in the Ram Gopal Verma films.

The song "Mehandi Lagane Rakhna" of Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge was originally written for another movie and was a bit different starting with "Payal Chankate Aa Jana" . However the Chopra brothers liked the song and included it in the the movie which became a hit track. New!
Raj Kapoor launched dream girl, Hema Malini in the lead role for 'Sapno Ka Saudagar' opposite himself in 1968.
The Big B was to be named 'Inquilab' before his father, the famous poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan finally agreed upon 'Amitabh', which means brilliance unlimited.
Not a single outside the cast and crew of 'Aks' was allowed on the sets of the film as per strict orders. Even director Rakesh Mehra's brother was also not allowed in.
Meena Kumari has also six fingers on her right hand. It take good care to not shown it any of the scenes of films she had done.
Dharmendra in his youth was such a big fan to actress Suraiya that he walked miles to watch her film 'Dillagi' over 40 times.
Of all the characters in his directorial debut 'Dil Chahta Hai', Farhaan Akhtar definitely wanted Saif Ali Khan as Sameer, Dimple as Tara and Preity as Shalini.
In the songs 'Dil Ne Yeh Kaha Hain' from 'Dhadkan', title sng of 'Deewane' and 'Neend Churayi Meri' from 'Ishq' we see the coming together of arch rivals Kumar Sanu and Udit Narayan.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali had written the script of 'Khamoshi 'with Amitabh Bachchan in mind.
The 'Khalnayak' song Choli Ke Peeche was protested by as many as 42 political parties.
Film Main Hoon Na was originally named 'The Outsider' and the actor did not initially approve of change in the movie's title by director Farah Khan .
Bobby Deol's first brush with film acting came very early, when he was only seven years old. He played Dharmendra junior in Manmohan Desai's 'Dharam Veer'.
The only time in the history of any Indian award, when the best female playback singer award was shared was between Ila Arun and Alka Yagnik for 'Choli Ke Peeche' in 'Khalnayak'.
Shamita Shetty is deeply into Sports and Body training and holds a Diploma in Fashion Designing.
Akshay Kumar is superstitious. He will never write anything on a page unless he first heads it with an "Om".
Vibrant Talent Manoj Bajpai of the "Bhiku Mhatre" fame failed several screen tests before finally getting a break in filmdom
Salman Khan likes to collect soaps. In his bathroom, there is a collection of all kinds of handmade and herbal soaps. His favourite are soaps made from natural fruit and vegetable extracts.
Hrithik Roshan loves collecting photographs. He would never travel anywhere without his personal camera even as a child. He has a vast collection photographs and special scrapbooks marking each occasion.
Aishwarya Rai's pet name at home is 'Gullu' and Salman's is 'Sallu'.