Nikkhil Advani says Salman Khan’s advice on directing stars was his ‘first big lesson’

New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) "If you have to direct big actors, you need to understand when they are going to be uncomfortable" was his first big lesson on a film set, says filmmaker Nikkhil Advani, who believes these words by superstar Salman Khan helped him navigate his journey in cinema. After the success of his 2003 directorial debut "Kal Ho Naa Ho", featuring Shah Rukh Khan, Preity Zinta, and Saif Ali Khan, Nikkhil mounted another star-studded ensemble in "Salaam-e-Ishq" (2007). "Salaam-e-Ishq", which received mixed reviews and was an average performer at the box office, starred Salman, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, John Abraham, Vidya Balan, Anil Kapoor, Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna, Ayesha Takia, and Govinda, among others.

Nikkhil, who has reunited with John for his latest film "Vedaa", recalled a moment from the film set. He said the team was shooting for a song and Salman was unable to get the steps right. "I kept saying 'One more take, one more take'.

Then Salman called me and said, 'I am not going to ask you to change the step but you should have already changed the step because that's the step that only a dancer can do'...

Salman said 'If you have to direct big actors and stars, you need to understand when they are going to be uncomfortable'. "Choreographers sometimes give such steps that only Vicky Kaushal and Hrithik Roshan (actors known for their dancing skills) can do. Not everybody can do something like that and that was my first big lesson.

So, now I know with John when .