Siddharth Anand’s debut film had Aussie beaches, snappy dialogue, and a truckload of cameos. Find out more about the film’s making here...

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Revisiting Salaam Namaste: A nostalgic look back at the iconic Saif - Preity romp

Team CE

Published:27th Jan, 2021 at 2:25 PM

One of the earliest Bollywood films to deal with taboos such as cohabitation, premarital sex, accidental pregnancy, and the 'altercation between domesticity and individual freedom'.

A romantic comedy about an Indian couple in Australia, Salaam Namaste (2005) was co-written and directed by Siddharth Anand. It was his debut film as director'.

A year before, Siddharth had written Hum Tum, also starring Saif Ali Khan.

Saif and Preity Zinta were paired for the fourth time in Salaam Namaste. They had previously worked together in Kya Kehna, Dil Chahta Hai and Kal Ho Naa Ho

‘Salaam’ and ‘Namaste’ are words of greeting. The title follows the tradition of combining Hindu-Muslim allusions (Veer-Zaara, Bajirao Mastani, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Suswagatam Khushamadeed…)

It was the first Indian film to be shot completely in Australia

Preity Zinta’s character in Dil Chahta Hai also moves to Australia.

Salaam Namaste was among the first Hindi films to look at live-in relationships and premarital pregnancy.

Both Hum Tum and Salaam Namaste end with the couple reunited and turning parents.

Kya Kehna (2000) also dealt with premarital pregnancy, though in a much harsher light than Salaam Namaste.

Arshad Warsi played the role of Saif’s best friend Ron

Preity’s best friend, Cathy, was played by Australian actor Tania Zaetta. She had also appeared in Bunty Aur Babli the same year.

Jugal Hansraj had an extended cameo as Preity’s friend Jignesh

Abhishek Bachchan did the film’s narration. He also appears as a doctor near the end.

Arshad’s wife, Maria Goretti, and son, Zeke, have a cameo appearance in the bookstore scene

Preity’s then-boyfriend Ness Wadia appears in a scene in a bus

Director Siddharth Anand appears as a taxi driver in one scene.

The film’s popularity led to a 21% bump in Indian tourism in Australia

The film has seven songs composed by the duo Vishal-Shekhar, with all lyrics by Jaideep Sahni.

The background score for the film was composed by Salim–Sulaiman

Salaam Namaste was the third highest-grossing Hindi film of 2005 (after No Entry and Bunty Aur Babli). It was the highest-grossing Hindi film aboard.

The film’s script was invited to be included in the Margaret Herrick Library, which is operated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Both Saif and Preity were nominated for Filmfare awards but did not win.

The film’s title song was a big hit. It was composed by Vishal-Shekhar and voiced by Kunal Ganjawala and Vasundhara Das.

Jaaved Jafferi won an IFFA award for Best Comedian. He played Jaggu aka Crocodile Dundee

Saif and Siddharth later collaborated on Tara Ra Rum Pum in 2007.

Preity did a cameo in Saif’s 2014 film Happy Ending.

In 2020, Preity tweeted Salaam Namaste had ‘to be my most fun movie’. She also added that she stole most of Saif`s bronzer.