I hope OSO does well - Salman!

'I hope Om Shanti Om does well too'
By: Shaheen Parkar
October 23, 2007

Salman Khan talks about Saawariya, Om Shanti Om and Priyanka

This is me: Salman Khan in Saawariya

Though it's a brief role, Salman Khan is doing his bit for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya. After having worked with the director in his earlier films (Khamoshi, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam), he claims to have "an unexplained link" with Bhansali thanks to their long association.

At a Bandra hotel on Monday afternoon, Salman alternates between Diet Cola and black coffee to keep him going through the back-to-back media interactions.

There's also a large dollop of his trademark wit and humour as we ask him…

This exercise is especially for Bhansali?

Yes. Bhansali has asked me to promote the film as Ranbir and Sonam are already at it but how much can they alone do? Shah Rukh is promoting Om Shanti Om in a big way — so why not? After all, he is the producer of the film.

I also feature in Om Shanti Om in a song, if Shah Rukh wants me to promote OSO, I will (laughs). I am pretty cool about all this, I have no qualms doing it and talking about the other project which also releases on the same day. I hope it does well too.

What has been the feedback to your Saawariya character?

I have seen the film and my characterisation is distinct. It is something that the audience has not seen me or can well imagine me as — it is far away from my shirtless image.

When the promos first started, everyone wondered about my get-up. As it was Eid time, they kept on showing the promos repeatedly till I looked really funny doing the salute! I play a Muslim character called Imaan (meaning faith).

He is a strong and silent types. He has a past; there is that element of mystery to him. He is in love with Sonam Kapoor in the film but he is still alone.

I have also given a lot of suggestions to the styling of the character. Unlike what people think, Bhansali is extremely open to suggestions. In fact, when he said my character's name would be Imaan, that unexplained link with Bhansali came up again.

What is so special about your character name Imaan?

My father (Salim Khan) has told me that when I have a son he would name him Imaan ('im' from Salim and 'an' from Salman). When Sanjay offered me this role, I was completely taken aback. I had never discussed this with him. Now you know what I mean about having this link with Bhansali.

When will the 'real' Imaan happen?

My father has said whenever — whenever I have a son. Otherwise I would have gone for a name like Genghis Khan!

Viewers of a news channel recently voted you and Katrina Kaif as the hottest B-Town couple beating the likes of John-Bipasha?

Is it? Katrina is a dear friend.

And Priyanka Chopra?

She is not my friend. I don't know her.

But you did know Priyanka?

I didn't and I don't have to be friends with everyone around.

Buzz is that on the sets of Rumi Jaffrey's God Tussi Great Ho, you share ice-cold vibes with co-star Priyanka?

There is just a song and some bits left for me to shoot. I do my work and go home — I'd rather work out.

With every actor building six-pack abs, isn't the competition getting tough?

I am waiting for all the Eid biryani to digest and then I am planning to start anew. Shah Rukh has got six-pack abs for Om Shanti Om and Aamir Khan for Ghajini. So now I have to get a 24-pack abs. I will make Shah Rukh and Aamir look like Tom and Jerry. When I get into exercising I am totally into it and on a strict diet.

Tom and Jerry is a film you are doing with Govinda.

That will roll only next year but before that we plan to make Hello Daddy with Sohail Khan (his brother) as producer. We had made Hello Brother in 1999, so now it is Hello Daddy. The director has still to be finalised but it will be something like the Hollywood flick Back To The Future.

Your Being Human Foundation seems to be inspired by one-time actress and now activist Somy Ali's Human Being mission (as reported 'Copycat Salman' (Hitlist, September 7)?

I know that she designs under her own label but the name Human has not been lifted from her concept. Such things need the word human.

You have a new look specially for Subhash Ghai's Yuvraj?

Yes, I have coloured my hair and I am stuck with it for I don't know how long. So I can't do anything else now with it.

Has there been progress on your wax statue front for Madam Tussauds?

I have been told that the people are coming down for the measurements. They want me to feature in a T-shirt I think – not shirtless!

What is happening to Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani?

The project is on standby but whenever he needs me I am there.

http://www.mid-day.com/hitlist/2007/october/165947.htm

From the way Salman spoke about Priyanka, the rumours about a fall out between them is true, I wonder what happened between them.

LOL about wanting to beat Shahrukh and Aamir with their abs, and about his statue at MT not being shirtless!

I wonder how he looks in Yuvraj, as he had to dye his hair.

I am looking forward to seeing him in both the song OSO and his short role in Saawariya

it just shows that media makes up all that clash among hans wheras in reality they are really good friends. 😳

Hah,I always love his interviews.He's so frank and never appears fake.

But wtf!?What the hell does he mean by Katrina is a dear friend???Salman,we all know you and Kat are goin out so what do you mean by "dear friend"????

^ Salman and Katrina have never said they are a couple, I don't know why but they just never confirmed it even though it is quite obvious they are one. Oh well, as long as they are happy, I like them as a couple and hope they have many more years of happiness together.

I agree about his interviews, he's always honest and he always has a sense of humor

tfs nice intervirwe i wonder whthr he is telling true abt the 24 abs