Did you know Salman Khan's 'Biwi No. 1' is a remake of Kamal Haasan's THIS movie?

Bollywood remakes of Tamil films are common, but Kamal Haasan goes beyond the serious. The iconic actor, known for his daring roles and contributions to Indian cinema, has also dabbled in delightful romantic comedies. One such gem from his Tamil filmography found its way into Hindi hearts, bringing a breath of fresh air to the genre.
Haasan's films frequently venture into unexplored themes, leading to several Tamil movies being remade in Hindi.For example, "Moondram Pirai" was remade as "Sadma," and "Nayakan" found its Hindi counterpart in "Dayavan." While these adaptations often tackled serious cinema with profound themes, today we're focusing on a lighthearted romantic comedy from Kamal Haasan’s repertoire that successfully transitioned into Hindi cinema.
Do you remember the 1999 Bollywood film "Biwi No. 1" with Salman Khan and Anil Kapoor? This movie was actually a remake of Kamal Haasan’s 1995 Tamil film "Sathi Leelavathi." Both versions were hits at the box office.
Sathi Leelavathi" also featured Ramesh Aravind, Kalpana, and Heera and was directed by Balu Mahendra. Four years later, David Dhawan remade it in Hindi, bringing together a star-studded cast that included Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Tabu, and Sushmita Sen in key roles.
Here's an interesting piece of trivia that many might not know: David Dhawan initially cast Govinda, his frequent collaborator from the '90s, in "Biwi No. 1." Govinda even filmed for a few days, but then he dropped out for reasons that remain unclear.'
Rumors suggest there might have been a fallout with Sushmita Sen on set, though this was never officially confirmed. Ultimately, Salman Khan stepped in to replace him.
"Biwi No. 1" went through several cast changes before its final release. Initially, Rambha was chosen for Tabu’s role but decided against it. Sanjay Dutt was first cast but was later replaced by Anil Kapoor. Manisha Koirala declined the role of Pooja, leading to Karishma Kapoor stepping in. The character of Deepak was initially offered to Suniel Shetty and Bobby Deol, but Saif Ali Khan ended up playing the role.
Despite these changes, "Biwi No. 1" was a big success at the box office, earning Rs 49.85 crore and becoming the second-highest grosser of the year.