Producer-director Sajid Nadiadwala has been around for more than three decades, and with Chhichhore winning hearts (the film has collected over Rs 108 crore in a fortnight), the filmmaker has added another feather to his cap of hits.

As a producer, Sajid has stood the test of time. But he credits his success not just to his passion for films but also his bond with friends like Salman Khan and Akshay Kumar, two of the biggest stars in the country.

“We have been together for the longest time and they have stood by me through thick and thin. I started working with Salman early on and made films like Jeet and Judwaa. Then I got more scripts and started working with Akshay,” Sajid said.

The filmmaker revealed how Akshay and him have known each other for over four decades. “Akshay and I have been school friends,” he said. “We literally shared the same bench at Don Bosco School, Matunga. We have been together for 43 years. We did 10 films and they were successful. All films had 100 per cent record. Later it was either Salman or Akshay. The we made Mujhse Shaadi Karogi together....

“People say Salman comes late on the sets but he has never troubled me," says Sajid. Pictures by Yogen Shah

“I started getting more scripts. All the important decisions of my life have been with them. Salman and I were planning to get married on the same day on November 18 (when Sajid married Warda Khan in 2000) but he backed off. He ran away in a car that was waiting for him,” Sajid revealed.

The producer-director said both Akshay and Salman are hardworking. “People say Salman comes late on the sets but he has never troubled me. He completes his films in four to five months... Both Salman and Akshay wouldn’t have lasted so long if they were not professionals. They have survived for more than 25 years. We have had some great times off-shoot. We have travelled a lot and partied a lot. We have the combination of success.”