Salman Khan: “John makes politically correct statements!”
Friends of Salman Khan swear by him. Those outside the Khan circle of trust don’t matter. He’s loved and loved-to-be-hated with equal fervour. And though people say he’s mellowed, Salman remains a dormant volcano. Ask him why he’s still single and he questions defensively. “Are you married?” When we say we’re not celebs and people aren’t interested, he grins, “I’m interested; I want to know why you aren’t married. I know my reasons why, I want to know yours.” Can’t argue with that.
“I’m fit. Both mentally and physically. My eyesight is intact, heart pumps well and both kidneys are fine!”
We switch to his upcoming birthday. How does it feel to be on the other side of 40? “I’m 41, but I don’t feel it. I run and cycle 10 km everyday,” he’s proud of his obvious fitness. It’s like he reads our mind, “I’m fit.
Both mentally and physically. My eyesight is intact, heart pumps well and both kidneys are fine!” he says mischievously.
“We’re not stopping anyone. The new boys are welcome to topple us!”
It makes us wonder. The top stars in Bollywood- Aamir, Shah Rukh, Sanjay Dutt and Salman were all in the 40s; and still ruling the roost. Shouldn’t they open the door to some newcomers? He states, “We’re not stopping anyone.
They’re welcome to topple us. Infact, we have so many newcomers coming in everyday. They can strike gold anytime.” he avers.
“Mr Bachchan and Abhishek look super together onscreen. They have amazing real life chemistry as father and son; they’re more like friends. I’ve yet to see a relationship like that!”
Talking of which, how come he took risks with a movie like Babul, where he isn’t the central character? “It was the beauty of the subject. It tells the story of widow remarriage. It needs guts to make a movie like that. It’s a film that’ll appeal to the rural areas too. When I heard the subject I told Ravi Chopra I was willing to play any character in the film,” he avers.
“I’ve always wanted to do Ganga Jamuna. But I know I won’t be able to carry it. I’ll probably mess it up.. I keep telling Shah Rukh he should do it.”
In Baghban he played Amitabh’s adopted son and in here he’s the real son; did they make a good father-son duo? He’s candid, “More than me, Mr Bachchan and Abhishek look super together onscreen. They have amazing real life chemistry as father and son; they’re more like friends. I’ve yet to see a relationship like that!” We decide to broach the taboo topic of an apparent cold vibe between him and Babul co-star. One who’d been praising him all over?
“Kya Karen! Shah Rukh saab promoted his film so much that he didn’t give us a chance!”
“Who are you talking about? Please take his name. Can you see any difference in my body language? (he smiles and looks at himself)” When we say ‘John Abraham’, he looks poker-faced, “Haan, John! I must say he makes politically correct statements! What did he say?” We ask him to guess who John considered his ‘fitness icon’ and Salman, in a rare display of his incredible humour says with straight face, “Who? Anil Kapoor?” ‘Salman Khan’ we say and the expression stays straight, “Say thanks to him!”
“Since the original Don was written by my dad I went to see it, but after watching the film, I realized it was a completely different film. They should’ve called it Bond!”
We ask if the ultimate macho hero counts John as one with a good physique too and he adds, “Well, there are a whole lot of new actors, Dino, Ashmit etc. … John is fit, but I think he was fitter earlier. Infact, he’s lost lot of weight.” Changing lanes, we quiz the hunky Khan if, like SRK’s Don, did he also have a dream role he’d like to reprise? The answer is quick, “Ganga Jamuna, I’ve always wanted to do that.
But I know I won’t be able to carry it. I’ll probably mess it up. In fact, I keep telling Shah Rukh he should do it.”
“All these big filmmakers don’t want to work with me. They think I’m a difficult actor to deal with.”
Was he upset that Jaan-e-Mann didn’t fare as well as Don? Salman is generous, “Arre, kya Karen! Shah Rukh saab promoted his film so much that he didn’t give us a chance.” Well, he was among the star attendees too at the premiere of Don, inspite of his film releasing the same day? “Yeah! Since the original film was written by my dad. But after watching the film, I realized it was a completely different film. They should’ve called it Bond,” he laughs.
“Talking about the media, let me say, I love them, but I think they hate me!”
Finally, we ask him of his ‘distance’ from big banners and he shrugs, “What to do? All these big filmmakers don’t want to work with me. They think I’m a difficult actor to deal with.”
‘Misunderstood?’ we query? “That’s a wrong notion; I’m a fully understood guy … and if you are talking about the media, let me say, I love them, but I think they hate me!”
