Salman Khan has an easy air about him. In a one-on-one interaction, the actor responds to queries around him. From his idol in the film industry to his hobbies and passions, Salman opens up.
Salman Bhai, as he’s been known, has had an ever-growing fan base since he first appeared in films. So, we’re intrigued who he was a fan of before embarking into the world of glitz and glamour.
Smiling, he says, “As an actor, I’ve loved the works of Yusuf Saab
(late Dilip Kumar) and have loved the exuberant performances of
veteran actors like Dev saab, Shatrughan Sinha, Shashi Kapoor, Hema Malini, Rekha, etc. all of who have their own specific qualities. Right in my childhood, I began taking something from their wonderful performing qualities and presenting it in my own way as I enacted a character.”
During lockdown, did kheti baadi
Speaking about his hobbies, Salman tells us that it has been almost 24 years since he drove a car. “Yes, (I do drive around) in the farmhouse sometimes, but that is very little, though I ride a motorcycle. But none of those are my interests anymore,” points out Salman. “I cycle every day as it also serves a cardio purpose. Moreover, when we’ll have nothing, at least cycles will remain with us. So, I think we should always keep cycling; it keeps you fit as a fiddle.”
But there’s more than cycling Salman likes to indulge in. Salman shares that he loves trekking and farming. “I love trekking a lot. Through the entire lockdown, I climbed the mountains and did a lot of kheti baadi (farming),” he adds.
All that work
As for his work in films, Salman shares that several films, including the most-awaited franchise, Dabangg 4, are in their writing stage. “Then, I have producer Sajid Nadiadwalas’ film — it’s not Kick but another film. There’s another Tiger, which will see the light of the day in 2022. And then there’s Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, although there’s still some confusion about this title — we might change the title to Bhaijaan after taking the audiences’ opinion,” he says.
Speaking of films, what about his role as a producer casting new comers, we ask him.
“I’m coming with three or four films under the SKF banner. We give opportunities to newcomers and invest in their films. More importantly, we’re not a production house that takes or survives on commissions from those we give a first chance. We believe in investing in them and not taking any money from them,” he tells us.
The Eid surprise
Are we going to see his signature Eid release this year too?
“As we’ve been through such unfortunate and indecisive times, we cannot keep films waiting after production is over; it’s not what any producer looks forward to,” he explains. “Also, the criterion is not to release films on festivals — be it Eid, Diwali or Christmas. It’s just that we want to entertain the audiences on festival days.”
So, no films this Eid? “There are no films ready from the SKF banner for Eid, though you can expect a small-budget film from SKF for Eid. But I won’t be part of this Eid release,” says Salman as he signs off.
