Anjaam actress Gazala Salmin: Shah Rukh Khan hugged me on set
Synopsis
Thirty years after Anjaam released, child actress Gazala Salmin's social media video is a rare window into Shah Rukh Khan's off-camera persona — and into an era when child performers did their own stunts without harnesses on international shoots. Her account is equal parts heartwarming and sobering.
Key Takeaways
Gazala Salmin , who played Pinky Chopra in the 1994 film Anjaam , shared behind-the-scenes memories of working with Shah Rukh Khan .
She recalled that Shah Rukh Khan would hug her on set and consistently made her feel comfortable, despite playing a frightening antagonist on screen.
Salmin revealed she performed a stunt scene involving a car collision in Mauritius without a safety harness, repeating the jump for hours from 9 am to 6 pm .
Anjaam , directed by Rahul Rawail , marked the first on-screen pairing of Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit.
Salmin went on to appear in over a dozen films and multiple television shows as a child artist through the 1990s and early 2000s .
Former child actor Gazala Salmin, who played Pinky Chopra — Madhuri Dixit's on-screen daughter — in the 1994 Bollywood thriller Anjaam, has shared warm memories of working alongside Shah Rukh Khan during the film's production. Salmin, who was credited as Baby Gazala during her career, recalled how the superstar's off-camera warmth stood in sharp contrast to the menacing villain he portrayed on screen.
Behind the Camera with Shah Rukh Khan
In a video posted to her social media account, Salmin described how Shah Rukh Khan would go out of his way to make her feel at ease on set. 'I still remember Shah Rukh Khan. He came to me, and he used to just love me so much. And he used to just hug me. Whenever he used to come, he would just hug me. Behind the camera, he was a sweetheart. He was scary in the movie. As a child, I used to get scared, but he always made me so comfortable behind the camera,' she said.
The recollection offers a candid glimpse into the off-screen dynamic between a veteran superstar — then still in the early, electrifying phase of his career — and a young co-star navigating her first major film sets.
The Mauritius Shoot and a Daring Stunt
Salmin also recalled an action sequence filmed in Mauritius, where several of her birthday scenes in the film were also shot. The stunt involved a car driven by Shah Rukh Khan's character colliding with her, sending her body jumping and falling — reportedly performed without a safety harness.
'It was from 9 to 6 at night. I was there at night and I wasn't getting hurt but I could never see how high I actually jumped. I was so scared because there was no harness but. I was safe. Nothing happened. But I jumped so many times, from here to there,' she recalled.
The account underscores how differently child performer safety was handled in 1990s Bollywood productions compared to current industry standards.
About Anjaam and Its Significance
Anjaam, directed by Rahul Rawail and released in 1994, starred Shah Rukh Khan as Vijay Agnihotri, an obsessive antagonist, and Madhuri Dixit as Shivani Chopra. The film marked the first on-screen pairing of Shah Rukh and Madhuri, making it a notable chapter in Hindi cinema history. Salmin's role as Pinky Chopra placed her at the heart of this landmark production.
Gazala Salmin's Career as a Child Artist
Following Anjaam, Salmin went on to build an extensive filmography as a child artist through the 1990s and early 2000s. Her film credits include Imtihaan, Zakhmi Dil, Raghuveer, Raja, Bambai Ka Babu, Tamanna, Aarzoo, and Sur: The Melody of Life, among others.
She also appeared on television in popular shows such as Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Darna Mana Hai, Baalveer, Rishtey, and Mano Ya Na Mano. Her recent reminiscence is a reminder of how formative those early years on major film sets were — and of the enduring affection that can outlast decades in the industry.
Point of View
Shah Rukh Khan's reputation for warmth with younger co-stars predates his superstardom mythology; it was apparently already in place in 1994 when he was still building his villain credentials. Second, the harness-free stunt detail is a quiet indictment of child safety norms in 1990s Bollywood — norms that have since been codified but were then largely informal. As the industry revisits its golden era through OTT retrospectives and anniversary content, accounts like Salmin's add texture that promotional nostalgia tends to flatten.
NationPress
5 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gazala Salmin and what is she known for?
Gazala Salmin, credited as Baby Gazala during her career, is a former child actress best known for playing Pinky Chopra in the 1994 Bollywood film Anjaam alongside Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. She went on to appear in numerous films and television shows through the 1990s and early 2000s.
What did Gazala Salmin say about Shah Rukh Khan on the sets of Anjaam?
Salmin recalled that Shah Rukh Khan was extremely affectionate off-camera, hugging her whenever he arrived on set and making her feel comfortable despite playing a scary villain on screen. She described him as 'a sweetheart' behind the camera.
Where was the stunt scene in Anjaam filmed?
The stunt scene involving a car collision between Shah Rukh Khan's character and Salmin's character was filmed in Mauritius, where several of Salmin's birthday scenes in the film were also shot. She reportedly performed the stunt without a safety harness.
What is the significance of the 1994 film Anjaam?
Anjaam, directed by Rahul Rawail, marked the first on-screen pairing of Shah Rukh Khan and Madhuri Dixit. Shah Rukh played antagonist Vijay Agnihotri, while Madhuri played Shivani Chopra. The film is considered a landmark of 1990s Hindi cinema.
What other films and shows has Gazala Salmin appeared in?
Beyond Anjaam, Salmin's film credits include Imtihaan, Tamanna, Aarzoo, Raja, Bambai Ka Babu, and Sur: The Melody of Life, among others. On television, she appeared in Kasautii Zindagii Kay, Baalveer, Darna Mana Hai, and Rishtey.
