In 1978 Bollywood’s “Angry Young Man” Amitabh Bachchan delivered one of his most memorable performances with Don. The film written by the legendary duo Salim–Javed went on to become a cult classic. But few know that the movie once came dangerously close to being declared a flop by none other than its own writers. When the first rough cut of Don was screened for Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar Javed reportedly said “Yeh picture kabhi nahi chalegi… ismein badi gadbad hai.” According to lyricist Sameer Anjaan who recounted the story from his father Anjaan’s experiences Javed felt that the film’s second half was too dry “It had too much action and no entertainment.” How a last-minute song changed everything Javed Akhtar suggested that lyricist Anjaan write a lighthearted catchy song to add some flavour to the otherwise intense narrative. But composer Kalyanji wasn’t convinced. “The producer is already struggling to complete the film” he said. However Javed stood firm; he refused to let Don release without this extra song. That’s when the magic began. Anjaan wrote “Khaike Paan Banaras Wala” and the rest is history. Initially Kalyanji dismissed it saying “Who will listen to a song about paan and Banaras in Mumbai?” But Anandji his brother and musical partner secretly began working on it sensing its potential. When Kishore Kumar almost refused the song As the story goes when Kishore Kumar was called in to record he wasn’t pleased. Upon hearing the line “Bhang ka rang chadha ho chakachak...” he frowned. “What kind of words are these?” he asked refusing to sing “Khaike” insisting instead on “Khake Paan Banaras Wala.” After much persuasion Kishore finally agreed. The team brought him a real paan and even a spittoon to get him into character. When he began recording something clicked; the song was completed in a single take. A Bengali singer had just delivered one of Hindi cinema’s most iconic tracks about Banaras. Shot in a stable loved across India There was only one day available to shoot the song. With no authentic location nearby the team decided to film it in a stable in Jogeshwari Mumbai. Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman arrived and the entire song was wrapped up in just three hours. That “stable song” went on to make history. Don once thought to be a doomed project became a box-office sensation cementing Amitabh Bachchan’s superstar status and turning “Khaike Paan Banaras Wala” into an anthem for generations. Highlights: Javed Akhtar once predicted Don would fail before the final cut. “Khaike Paan Banaras Wala” was added at the last moment and saved the film. The song was shot in a Jogeshwari stable and completed in just three hours.