Meeting Salman was tough , but worth it

Deepthi Sanjiv | Aug 23, 2015,

The Kabir Khan-directed Salman Khan starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan maybe on a record-breaking spree, but the film turned Rajesh Bhat, a Mangaluru engineer and businessman, into a producer.

Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Bhat said, "This has been my first venture and God has been kind." Recollecting how it all began, he said, he had been friends with Rockline Venkatesh (producer) for years. "When we had Vijayendra Prasad's story, we knew that if this film has to be made, it has to be with Salman Khan only. But reaching him was a big challenge. In 2013, we were trying to meet Salman. Meeting Narendra Modi is easier than getting to meet the star. here were several brokers asking for money assuring to fix a meeting with the superstar. Through a very close friend, I managed to meet Kabir Khan. In simple language, I narrated the story. His reaction was Kya story, kidhar se lekar aya. Salman will not say no. He is looking for a story like this to launch Salman Khan Films. The story is unique.' Finally a meeting was fixed when Salman was shooting for Jai Ho in Hyderabad. Salman literally jumped from his seat when he heard the story. 'What a story this is,' he said. We were then invited to Galaxy - his house, and there, we spoke at length.

Interestingly, when the industry came to know that some Bhat managed to get Salman's dates, many thought it was Mahesh Bhat's relative. Nobody thought I was a south Indian. That was also the time when nine big-time production houses were behind him for his dates. People were shocked how we got the dates."

Bhat hails from Bantwal and completed his engineering from Dharward. Earlier, he made one failed attempt to venture into Bollywood. He said, "I am really tall and I was often complemented and called handsome. Everybody said I should enter Bollywood and that was always in the back of my mind.

When Subhash Ghai directed Karma, I got his address. I got my portfolio done through Praveen Nayak - Bangalore-based director. I quietly went to Mumbai from Dharwad without informing my parents. I stayed in a room, freshened up and took a rickshaw and went to Subhash Ghai's house. The watchman stopped me. I said, I wanted to meet Subhash Ghai, he asked if I had an appointment. When he went inside to check, I started trembling. That was when I decided that this is not for me. I immediately took an auto to the bus stop and to the room and returned to Dharwad," he said.

Bhat, on completing engineering, ventured into several businesses. He is now into scrap oil and coal business. He even owned mines at Hospet and Ballari at one point. About his plans, he said, "We are working on four projects. Discussions are on. The films will be with 'A' listers."

Bangalore Mirror