SAINDIA MAGAZINE AUGUST 2015

COVER FEATURE
BEING
HUMAN
This man has ruled Bollywood for the last
25 years. He has seen the best and the
worst. And even during the worst phase
of his life, he has got tremendous support
from all his fans, his well-wishers and
his family. He is the ‘man’ who not just
rules, but also governs the box-office.
We are talking about none other than Salman
Khan, the very man who is all geared up to
take the box-office by storm with his upcoming
film Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
Salman, you are playing a very different
character in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, unlike your
other films.....
The character that I play in the film is that of
a simpleton. Even though my character in
Bajrangi Bhaijaan is that of a simpleton, the
backdrop in which the story of the film has been
set is so large that gradually my character in the
film becomes as large as the film’s backdrop.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan is basically my character’s
journey towards becoming a better person
and in a very positive manner. Yes, in my other
films I have been like a superhero, who is
already a nice person, but in this film given the
circumstances I try to become a better person.
What is that one thing that will always be
etched in your mind from the movie Bajrangi
Bhaijaan?
Whichever movies that I am doing now, if my
character is a noble one, I ensure that I try
to retain as much as 70-80 percent of (my
character) in my real life personality. The
characters that I do are always larger than life...
larger than my life I mean! The films that I am
doing right now have definitely helped me and
others to be a better person in life.
Has your father seen Bajrangi Bhaijaan? If
yes, what has been his reaction?
Yes, my father has seen the film and he
absolutely loved it. His reaction was ‘I haven’t
seen a film like Bajrangi Bhaijaan in the last 20-
25 years.
This is the first time when you have shot
your film in Kashmir. How was the ‘Valley
experience’?
Yes, this is the first time when I shot a film in
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Kashmir. The last time I had been there was
during the Kargil war. It’s rightly said that
‘Kashmir is definitely heaven on earth’. I just
hope that life opens up for the people staying
there. The Kashmiris are absolutely lovely
people, who deserve a real lovely life. One
just cannot live in heaven and experience hell.
The people out there are very simple and are
extremely down to earth. One could simply
look at their faces and their expressions to
distinguish between a Kashmiri person and a
non-Kashmiri. People say that ‘one should go
to Kashmir before you die.’ But, I would say that
one should go at least 10-15 times to Kashmir.
Will you shoot your future films in Kashmir
as well?
Yes, very much.
Is it true that Kashmir doesn’t have theatres?
Yes, it is true that Kashmir doesn’t have any
theatres! That is the first thing that I asked
them at the press conference which was held
there. I was shocked to know that while the full
family likes to watch movies together, still, they
don’t have theatres. I feel that with the advent
of theatres, Kashmir will surely and definitely
progress. They will start getting entertainment
tax and there will be growth.
You were absolutely in love with Harshaali?
She is a lovely girl. Back then, we always knew
that if we did not get the girl of our choice, we
can always fall back to Kabir Khan’s daughter
Sairu. Harshaali was a surprise. She did not
have any inhibitions. In fact she came up to
me and said, ‘Please make me a superstar like
you’. I said, ‘Beta, let me become a superstar
first!’ (Smiles). After the selection, the film’s
makers did some classes and workshops with
her. She used to freak out only when she used
to see action and aggression.
Unlike your usual regulars, Bajrangi
Bhaijaan has music composed by Pritam.
Any specific reason for this?
Kabir Khan had promised to work with Pritam in
his next film. That’s why. As far as he gives us
good music, it is ok. At the end of the day, it’s is
all about the music.
You are working with Nawazuddin Siddiqui
for the second time. How was it?
Nawazuddin Siddiqui and I worked for the first
time together in Kick. This was our second
time and we were more of friends now. We did
our workouts together and also had lunch and
dinner together.
Recently, Kareena said that ‘Salman doesn’t
know how big of a superstar he is’. Don’t
you consider yourself as a superstar?
No, I don’t consider myself as a superstar at
all! I am only doing my job and the director’s
only enhancing your performance and the
DoP’s enhancing you and your look 10 times
more, and the efforts and the hard work of the
technicians. Since I am in reality check with
all these factors, I don’t consider myself as a
superstar at all.
How true are the rumors about Sajid
Nadiadwala getting all three Khans in a film?
No (smiles).
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