‘People will see the real Salman’

After a lot of speculation, Salman Khan has finally made his most anticipated debut on television in his own grand style as host of 10 Ka Dum, an Indian adaptation of the international show, Power of Ten. Not a knowledge-based quiz show that requires participants to have a certain level of education and general knowledge, the format is what interested Salman the most.

At first when Sony approached Salman through his brother Sohail, the actor rejected the idea. But when he saw the show, he found it so interesting, that he agreed to host it. Starting June 6, viewers will see him hosting the show twice a week for the next 15 weeks.

So is it primarily the format that made Salman say yes to the show? "A combination of factors," says the actor in his inimitable style. "Money of course was one. But apart from money, the show is very interesting. It is a simple game to play and great fun to be a part of, both for me as well as the participants. There are no black and white answers to questions. The journey to Rs 10 crore is simple. All it takes is five simple questions about what various cross sections of Indians think about certain issues which can be trivial but relevant. All it requires is a sense of judgment to get the answer right. It is an engaging show that does not alienate the participants."

The Bollywood entertainer says so far people have seen him on television only in his films. "But here I am real and not putting up an act. People will get to see the real Salman, talking, making moves, interacting with participants, innovating, dancing and having fun," he says. In his opinion, anchoring is not easy. "I have worked like this many years ago at the beginning of my career. Acting offers a lot of comfort for improvisation and multiple takes. Here it's about being spontaneous. I have to interact with the participants, make them feel comfortable, smile and encourage them to play the game," he explains, adding, "I shoot for almost six hours. I don't think it's easy."

So, is Salman absolutely spontaneous or does he follow a script? anchoring is mostly spontaneous, he says. "You can't go strictly by the script. In fact, apart from questions there is little script here. You have to be on your toes. You meet the contestants, they ask you questions and you ask them questions… it's their show. They want to sing and dance with you. They want to have fun and live the moment. It's all real, spontaneous and can't be scripted," he adds.

About him being compared with Shah Rukh Khan, Salman says each format is different from the other. "And every person has his own way of doing things. We are two different people and so we are two different actors and anchors. Competition is healthy and keeps me going," he adds.