A loveable avatar

Bollywood buzz

The action hero turned soft in Bajrangi Bhaijaan and not only won laurels, but also decimated all other films at the box-office. This time, he continues in the serene mode, returning to a prototype of Prem, the iconic name with which he began his lead innings 26 years ago in Maine Pyar Kiya. With Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Salman also reunites with his Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun!... and Hum Saath Saath Hain director Sooraj Barjatya after 16 years.

“Every time Sooraj has come into my life, it’s been one step up for my life,” smiles the superstar, who is his usual cheerful self despite the menacing outer crust (the get-up for his role in the forthcoming Aditya Chopra film Sultan). “He’s least interested in fancy techniques or writing. Like many genius directors from the past, he just decides on a shot, defines the camera field, and tells you that in his life, in his home, such a thing happened and such was the result, so here we will do it like this. In short, his films are about the small nuances of family life — his stories are stories of every home, every family, about which we forget in the fast pace of our lives.”

The perfect Prem

We ask about Sooraj’s obsession with the name Prem, which has stuck to some of Salman Khan’s characters even in outside films, and the actor chuckles. “When we were making Maine Pyar Kiya, Sooraj had thought of the name, though in those times, thanks to Prem (Chopra) uncle and Pran-saab, these were names with such negative connotations that no one would name their newborns Prem and Pran! Such was the power of the characters these amazing people brought to life — even Premnath-saab. But all that Sooraj asked was, ‘How can a name like Prem, which means love, ever be negative?’ His characters are so amazingly conceived that their names register, so any other name would have registered too. That’s why that Prem made my life, so let’s see where this Prem takes me.”

In Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, Prem again embodies love — he is companion to all, takes everyone along with him, entertains everyone and imparts sanskaar (culture) to people whose lives he touches, says the actor. “This is a beautiful story that will make everyone better human beings for a while, just as what happens when we go into a mandir or a masjid,” adds the actor.

“But since I play a double role, my other character is named Vijay, a famous name associated with Mr Amitabh Bachchan, so please ask him all the questions about that name,” he says, and roars with laughter.

Is not the title a shade tough for GenY and others to understand? Instantly, he replies, “That was a thought that crossed my mind when Sooraj told me about it. But as I knew the story, I found it perfect and told him that he should not even think of changing it. After all, in the North, the line ‘Ram ratan dhan payo’ is a cult line in a bhajan, while the
educated English youth are known for their penchant for acronyms and have already processed this name as PRDP.”

When asked his views on Bajrangi Bhaijaan inspiring the real-life case of the search for the parents of the Indian girl Geeta who came back from Pakistan after 14 years, Salman sombrely hopes that her real parents give her more than the unconditional love she got across the border from those who looked after her. “Otherwise, she might demand to go back there,” he says.

He expresses happiness at the fact that the girl was safe there: “A Pakistani girl lost here, just like so many Indian girls, could have been lured into trafficking, as shown in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. In India, the media and authorities must take responsibility and make things safer for our girls and women.”

Prompted to talk about his organisation Being Human’s role in this endeavour, Salman admits that some 30 lost and runaway kids have been united with their families. “Some of them are orphans and we try and find a good organisation that will improve their life. Earlier, I would go and meet them myself, but then someone told me that kids were running away only because they could meet me, so I stopped that.”

A true artiste

What are his views on the recent protests by filmmakers and their returning national awards?

With soft, matter-of-fact sternness, Salman says clearly, “As artistes, we should only think of entertainment, and not about political stands. When Pakistani serials were liked even earlier on pirated videos and now on Zindagi channel, it only proves that our aam aadmi likes them. We earn a lot from our films released there and they love us. We have buses, trains and plane services between the two countries despite the political differences. And had the common man thought differently, Bajrangi Bhaijaan would not have worked. So while I do think that there must be no boundaries in cinema, art and entertainment, what I say must apply equally to Pakistan as well.”

We move on to Sultan and all the buzz pertaining to what films he will do after that. Salman laughs and says, “I am 96 kilos now, and I have to put on some five kilos more. There are three looks within the film, the lean one, the out-of-training slightly heavy one, and the fit one. After all, I am playing a muscled wrestler who wins over world champions. But losing 15 kilos after the film’s needs are over will take a long time and will be tougher to execute than what it took to put on. So right now, I cannot think beyond Sultan.”

Was there any friction with Aamir Khan as he is also doing Dangal? “Can anyone ever have a spat with Aamir?” he jokes, adding that Aamir’s film about a wrestler is completely different.

He then makes light of the number of talents he has introduced or helped, like Armaan Kohli as the latest example in PRDP. “Sooraj was not enthused when I first suggested him for that role, because unfortunately he had developed a negative image after Bigg Boss, but he himself took that decision later after considering others,” he says. “I do not think I am doing anything exceptional. I am in a position to help, so I do. In this industry, most people ask, “Tumne mere liye kya kiya (What have you done for me)?” Very few ask, “What can I do for you?”