Shashaank Saravanakumar
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Fourteen-year-old Shashaank Saravanakumar may be soft-spoken, but on the road, his determination speaks volumes. A student of St Antony’s School, Puliyakulam, Coimbatore, Shashaank recently made his mark at the first Para-national Road Cycling Championship held in Hyderabad. Representing Tamil Nadu in the CII (Intellectual Impairment) category for juniors under 19, he completed the 12-km race in an impressive 43 minutes and 32 seconds, securing fifth place in a field of seasoned young riders from across India.

But for Shashaank, cycling is more than competition. “Cycling means fun and happiness to me. Every ride tells me a story,” he says with a bright smile. It is a passion that began when he received his first basic cycle from Decathlon. Encouraged by his mother to ride daily, his enthusiasm deepened when his grandfather gifted him a hybrid bicycle in Class 7. What began as a life skill blossomed into a calling.

His typical day starts early, with a 20 to 25 km ride through the streets of Coimbatore. His mother follows closely on her scooter for safety, while his fitness coach, Ranjit, guides him through strength routines in the morning or evening. “My coach Kathir Sir played a major role in teaching me cycling techniques,” says Shashaank. “And my twin brother Shreenick is my riding partner and motivator. We go cycling together often.” On weekends, he joins fellow cyclists from the CooKoo Cycling Club for longer distance rides.

Shashaank Saravanakumar
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

While Shashaank enjoys the wind in his hair and the stories the road tells him, the journey has not been without its challenges. “Traffic was a problem at first,” he admits, “but I learned to overcome it.”

His selection to represent Tamil Nadu at the Para-nationals was a moment of immense pride. “I felt so happy to wear the yellow jersey of Tamil Nadu,” he recalls. The experience in Hyderabad was unforgettable. “There were so many cyclists from all over India. I wasn’t nervous—I was excited to meet everyone!”

Crossing the finish line in fifth place filled him with a quiet confidence. “I thought I would be a chef,” he says, a nod to his dream of becoming one in the future. Shashaank is not one to look for role models. “No, I will create my own style,” he says.

That ambition extends beyond just medals. “I want to win the para-cycling championship next year and represent India in the Paralympics,” he says.

When he is not training or racing, you can find Shashaank helping his mother in the kitchen or swimming. He is especially fond of train journeys, always picking the window seat so he can watch the scenery go by. It is the same sense of wonder that fuels his rides, watching the world roll past, one pedal at a time.

In 2007, Bollywood gave us one of its most-loved comedy films – ‘Partner’. Starring Salman Khan, Govinda, Katrina Kaif and Lara Dutta, the film had everything – laughs, romance, music, and of course, the unbeatable bromance between Salman and Govinda.
Directed by David Dhawan, ‘Partner’ wasn’t just a hit at the box office, but also entertained millions. What happened behind the scenes was just as entertaining. Now, writer Alok Upadhyay has spilled the beans on one particularly funny moment during the shoot of the song ‘Soni De Nakhre’ – and it’s all about two superstars, a choreographer obsessed with legs, and a director who wasn’t having any of it.

Salman and Govinda charged THIS amount for ‘Partner’

By the time ‘Partner’ rolled around, both Salman Khan and Govinda were huge names in the industry. So it’s no surprise that they charged a combined Rs 15 crore for the film, with Salman reportedly getting Rs 10 crore and Govinda Rs 5 crore.
While speaking to the YouTube channel Lightscameramasti, writer Alok Upadhyay praised director David Dhawan’s sharp eye for detail and his control over the entire shoot. Alok said, “He keeps his eyes on everyone simultaneously while shooting and already knows how he’ll edit the scene.”
He also added that David Dhawan’s understanding of commercial cinema was so strong, he could get any actor to do exactly what he wanted. But things didn’t always go smoothly, especially during the shoot of the chartbuster song ‘Soni De Nakhre’.

“15 crore ke actor ki taange dikhaai ja rahi hain”
Alok recalled how Dhawan wasn’t happy when the choreographer kept shooting long shots focusing on the stars’ legs. “David saahab mere paas bethe bolte hain ke ek actor 10 crore le raha hai aur ek 5 crore le raha hai. 15 crore ke actor ki taange dikhaai ja rahi hain, koi matlab to hai nahi.” (David was basically saying, “One actor has charged Rs 10 crore, the other Rs 5 crore, and we’re just showing their legs? What’s the point?”)
That’s when the filmmaker decided to take matters into his own hands and told the choreographer to stop wasting time with decorative shots. He wanted the focus to be on the stars, where it belonged. “Jo 15 crore ke 2 khade hain inka close maar,” David reportedly told the crew. (Get those close-ups of the two leading men, not their knees!). Upadhyay went on to share that David quickly reworked the shot and simply told the actors to do their thing, and the result? One of the most loved dance numbers!