Anjana Sukhani recalls Anil Kapoor's career advice from 'Salaam-E-Ishq' sets
Synopsis
On the sets of the 2007 ensemble film 'Salaam-E-Ishq', Anil Kapoor quietly gave Anjana Sukhani a piece of advice she has carried for nearly two decades: pick your projects wisely, work only with people you trust, and never act just for the sake of it. In an industry where such candour is rare, Sukhani says it was the most valuable guidance she received from any of her high-profile co-stars.
Key Takeaways
Anjana Sukhani has recalled career advice from Anil Kapoor given on the sets of 'Salaam-E-Ishq' ( 2007 ).
Kapoor advised her to 'pick your projects wisely' and only work with people she felt comfortable with.
Sukhani played the supporting character Anjali Kapoor in the Nikkhil Advani -directed ensemble film.
The film featured 12+ prominent cast members including Salman Khan , Priyanka Chopra , and Vidya Balan .
Sukhani was most recently seen in Imtiaz Ali 's 'Main Vaapas Aaunga' , which released on 12 June 2026 .
Actress Anjana Sukhani has opened up about a piece of career guidance she received from Anil Kapoor during the filming of the 2007 multi-starrer 'Salaam-E-Ishq' — advice she says has stayed with her throughout her Bollywood journey. The actress recalled Kapoor urging her to be selective about projects and the people she chose to work with.
The Advice That Stayed With Her
Sukhani was asked whether any of the major stars she had shared screen space with — including Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, John Abraham, and Ajay Devgn — had ever offered guidance that left a lasting impression. She singled out Anil Kapoor as the one who made the most impact.
'I actually appreciate that they never gave unnecessary advice because everyone has their own journey and learns through personal experiences. But I think I do remember Anil Kapoor giving me very good advice when we were shooting Salaam-E-Ishq. He said that. He always told me to pick your projects wisely and don't work with people who you don't feel comfortable with, and make your choices wise in the sense that you work with good people, don't just work for the sake of it. So, I think that that was really nice of him,' Sukhani said.
About 'Salaam-E-Ishq' and Sukhani's Role
Directed by Nikkhil Advani, 'Salaam-E-Ishq' was a sprawling ensemble romance that released in 2007. The film featured an extensive cast including Anil Kapoor, Govinda, Salman Khan, Juhi Chawla, Akshaye Khanna, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, Ayesha Takia, Shannon Esra, Sohail Khan, and Isha Koppikar. Sukhani played the supporting character Anjali Kapoor in the film.
Notably, the film remains one of Hindi cinema's more ambitious multi-narrative experiments of that era, weaving together six love stories under a single feature runtime.
Sukhani's Recent Work
Most recently, Sukhani appeared in Imtiaz Ali's directorial 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', which released in theatres on 12 June 2026. The film starred Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina in lead roles, with Sukhani among the supporting cast alongside Banita Sandhu, Rajat Kapoor, Sanjay Suri, and Danish Pandor.
With a filmography spanning some of Bollywood's biggest ensembles, Sukhani's reflection on Kapoor's counsel underscores a quieter reality of the industry — that the most enduring lessons often come not from directors or producers, but from co-stars on a busy set.
Point of View
Work with people you trust — is unremarkable in principle but apparently rare in practice; Sukhani notes that most big stars she worked with offered no guidance at all. What stands out is that Kapoor's counsel was about integrity of choice rather than strategy or stardom. In a film ecosystem increasingly driven by franchise commitments and platform deals, that kind of advice may be harder to follow now than it was in 2007.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What advice did Anil Kapoor give Anjana Sukhani?
Anil Kapoor advised Anjana Sukhani to choose her projects carefully, only work with people she felt comfortable with, and never take up films merely for the sake of it. He shared this guidance while they were shooting together on the sets of 'Salaam-E-Ishq'.
What was Anjana Sukhani's role in 'Salaam-E-Ishq'?
Anjana Sukhani played the supporting character Anjali Kapoor in the 2007 film 'Salaam-E-Ishq', directed by Nikkhil Advani. The film was a multi-starrer featuring Anil Kapoor, Salman Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Vidya Balan, and several other prominent actors.
Who directed 'Salaam-E-Ishq' and when did it release?
'Salaam-E-Ishq' was directed by Nikkhil Advani and released in 2007. It was an ensemble romantic drama weaving together multiple love stories with one of the largest casts assembled for a Bollywood film at the time.
What is Anjana Sukhani's most recent film?
Anjana Sukhani was most recently seen in Imtiaz Ali's 'Main Vaapas Aaunga', released on 12 June 2026. The film starred Diljit Dosanjh, Naseeruddin Shah, Sharvari, and Vedang Raina, with Sukhani in a supporting role.
Which other stars had Anjana Sukhani worked with besides Anil Kapoor?
Anjana Sukhani has shared screen space with Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, John Abraham, and Ajay Devgn, among others. She noted that while most of these stars did not offer her specific career advice, Anil Kapoor's guidance during 'Salaam-E-Ishq' was the most memorable.
