Salman, in all his moods

Salman, in all his moods

Salman Khan is taking a breather. Out on bail in the poaching case, he is now taking a working holiday of sorts in the US to, among other things, perform at Rockstars 2006 -- a set of live shows featuring Bollywood stars. Meeting his fans and the press at an event in New Jersey soon after his arrival, moods shifting from the reflective to the cute to the tiredly macho, he answered questions on upcoming films, why he feels victimized in the poaching case, maintaining a body, his view on the many Khans in Bollywood, whom he intends to marry, his favourite actors and films, and what he is here for.

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Salman, in all his moods

Khan got the conference going by asking the gathering if there was any angry pressperson with a question. Through the humour, he appeared to be suggesting that he had taken plenty of flak already and that more wouldn't be unexpected.

But the questions were soft-pedal ones, about the show, including one from a child about his favourite film (answer: Andaz Apna Apna) and how he compared Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor with the ruling Khans of Bollywood (none that he could put a finger on).

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Salman, in all his moods

There appeared to be a new maturity about him in the wake of his imprisonment, even it were just for three days -- in the way he played down the show he was figuring in or while gauging his position in the industry. There was a novel sincerity when he claimed he would not like to be remembered as an actor -- derisively describing any such wish as "the most stupid thing ever" -- but for the difference he could make to other lives.

He also appeared to see himself as a victim in the poaching case, pointing out that he was the first person convicted under the law instituted in 1992.

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Salman, in all his moods

Khan, who just came in after attending a show in Abu Dhabi, has a full schedule in the US, including shooting for underproduction films and performing at shows. He will also sing a song at the show, custom songs being a novel feature of Rockstars, organized by local group Funky Buddha.

Back home, he will have to juggle court dates -- given that he has appealed the verdict against him -- with shooting schedules for his movies still under production -- Shirish Kunder's Jaaneman, Ravi Chopra's Baabul, Rumi Jaffrey's God Tusi Great Ho, Nikhil Advani's Salaam-e-Ishq and Rajkumar Santoshi's London Dreams.

Salman mixed with the select group of fans attending the event. He made small talk with them after the press session and posed with some for pictures.

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Salman, in all his moods

Rockstars will be held on May 6 at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and on May 20 at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York. Also performing at these shows will be John Abraham, Mallika Sherawat, Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapur, Zayed Khan and Esha Deol.

Meanwhile, outside, fans waited for hours, braving the chill, for a glimpse of the actor and, perhaps, the chance of getting an autograph. Salman may have come in late, but that he came at all was enough for them.

Text: P Rajendran | Photographs: Paresh Gandhi
Design: Uday Kuckian