How Haathi Mere Saathi got Rajesh Khanna his bungalow

Haathi Mere Saathi was released in 1971 and turned out to be one of Rajesh Khanna's most memorable movies. 

The centre of attraction were four elephants with which Rajesh Khanna's character bonds deeply. But do you know it was this movie which - in a way - gave him his famous bungalow?

In an interview given to Hindustan Times film writer Javed Akhtar  revealed that Rajesh Khanna convinced him and Salim Khan to work on script of the film as he wanted to buy the bungalow. 

Rajesh Khanna told them that he wanted to buy a bungalow at Carter Road for 4.5 lakhs. The  producer of the film has already given him a sighning amount of 2.5 lakhs. As the amount was big he couldn't return it. 

However, Rajesh Khanna thought that the second half of the film was so bad, he would have to leave the industry in case he worked on the film.

That's why he approached the duo Salim Javed and asked them to change the script enough to give the film a suitable ending. 

The duo told the producer their two conditions - the hero will remain same and they will retain the four elephants too, rest everything will be changed. The producer agreed on the conditions and the rest is history. Haathi Mere Saathi became the highest grossing film of 1971.

The duo Salim Javed were paid handsomely for the film. While they were  paid Rs.750 for other films, Rajesh Khanna made sure they are paid Rs. 5000