Always angry, forever fighting and being media unfriendly, that's what Salman Khan's image has been. Even in January this year he was so miffed with a journalist at Amrita Arora's wedding that he left in a huff in an auto rickshaw! But, looks like, he's finally consciously decided to turn over a new leaf. From April of this year we have noticed an all-new Salman.He has turned media-friendly, people-friendly and is doing everything possible for the underprivileged, especially children. We jot down SEVEN points that could change his image forever...
His love for children
Salman has always been done his bit for underprivileged and suffering children and when he is with them the genuineness of his emotions cannot be mistaken. When mum Salma said, "All Salman's nephews and nieces dote on him and I believe he will make a great father," we couldn't agree more.
Only a few days back he carried sacks of grains for children at a remand home in Mumbai. Although critics say it's just another technique to promote his forthcoming film Wanted, we feel, unlike many stars who remember the poor children only pre-release, Salman is always doing something or the other for them.
Dus Ka Dum
Salman has been 100 per cent successful in re-inventing his image through Dus Ka Dum. He's gone on to prove that he is truly a people's person by interacting with sweepers, fishermen and dubbawalahs in the same vein as he interacts with his friends from the industry – Sanjay Dutt, Rani Mukherji and Sunny Deol – on the same show.
Mamma's boy
Everyone knows that Salman shares a special bond with mum Salma Khan but his fans went into a tizzy after seeing the beautiful mother-son relationship on the small screen in Farah Khan's show Tere Mere Beach Mein. He even answered all the prying questions with a smile. Salman definitely won over the skeptics that day.
Ran election campaigns galore
If there was any star, who was active in election campaigns, it was Salman Khan. Although he left many baffled by campaigning for both the BJP and Congress candidates, the fact remains that he took the opportunity to interact with his fans and be at his smiling best.
Did hands- on charity
His Being Human charity is doing a world of good for his image. He's probably the only B'wood star, who is devoting so much of time and effort for the underprivileged and making a concentrated effort to build a Being Human movement. The football match he organised for his charity on Indian Independence Day was a big hit too.
Always ready to support
The latest buzz in B'wood is that if anyone asks Salman for help he is unlikely to say no. That's why he was the first person to support Naseer Khan, who is visually challenged but has made the film Shadow as the director-writer-hero.
Not to mention his sporadic acts of donation. For example: He gave Rs25,000 (Dhs1,950) to a beggar, when he discovered that he used to be the kite maker from whom Salman used to buy kites as a child.
Weighing the pros and cons
In 2009, Salman Khan has been controversy-free. He's had no fights or unnecessary link-ups. Carrying sacks of grain for children was just the beginning. He outdid himself when he sat on the weighing scale to raise money for his charity – an organisation that donated silver biscuits equalling his weight.
Masala! feels...
Salman's make-over is complete. From the grumpy, temperamental, introvert he was, he has now earned himself the adage of the man with a golden heart, who is always ready to help with a smile. Way to go, Sallu! We likey!
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