Salman plays Sankee, but is he?

"Salman is not into groups. He lives his own life, with his own little gang that has little to do with Bollywood," said scriptwriter Sanjay Chhel, who has written Salman's current film Partner. "He never gives explanations or clarifications for anything he has done -- even when he has been wrongly skewered by the media or anyone else," Chhel said.

He adds that the actor is benevolent with his friends and doesn't make a big deal about it. "I got films like Partner, Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya and Kyunki because of him but he never brings that up," said Chhel.

Mukesh Rishi who has worked with Salman in three films, Judwaa, Tum Ko Bhula Na Payenge and Garv said: "I can't understand why people call Salman rude or moody because I have never seen this side to him. He is professional about work, and he's the man who helps keep the
environment on the sets light-hearted."

"Salman and I used to go to the gym together when we were shooting because we were both fitness freaks," said Rishi, "even there he was friendly and mixed freely with people. Many times after shooting with him I went home with him and I found that his whole family was the
same, casual and friendly."

A Bollywood senior who has known Salman from his college days and before he started his career, said: "I've seen him from when his father had just broken with Javed Akhtar and was going through a rough patch."

In those days, the source said, "Salim would have his drink and then summon Salman. He would abuse and berate him, saying he would never amount to anything and that he was a 'khota sikka'. Salman would go to his mother and cry."

Whatever Salman is today, the person said, is because of his hard work and courage alone, not the beneficence of a Godfather. Even his father respects him for that, he said.

And Salman is the one person who unconditionally helps people in the industry, be they his own brothers or people like Kamal Khan, Himesh Reshammiyan or Aman Varma. Salman was instrumental in bringing Govinda back into the industry, by getting him roles in Salam-e-Ishq
and Partner.

He also gave Govinda a Mercdes-Benz last month, in keeping with his philosophy of making lots of money and then spending it on his friends.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007