Salman would've flopped if Dabangg was his debut

• Bindu Suresh Rai

Sitting in his suite with the television on mute, you can't help be distracted with the promos of 'Rangrezz' flashing on screen every few minutes, even as its lead star Jackky Bhagnani lounges on the couch with an air of confidence that few actors in his shoes would experience at such a crucial juncture in their career.

The Priyadarshan directed drama is a make or break film for this young hopeful, whose last few films didn't so much as produce even a spark at the box office.

Pose the question to the young actor and he refreshingly doesn't mince words, saying: "Yes, barring 'F.A.L.T.U' my previous few films flopped at the box office; but do I regret those choices? Not at all."

He added: "Every actor goes through career highs and dips. And the pressure is more so when you have Bollywood connections, because people expect all the more from you."

Bhagnani is son of successful producer Vashu Bhagnani, whose filmography includes hits such as 'Coolie No 1', 'Hero No 1', 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', amongst others.

"As a young start up, your films are scrutinised all the more by the public," he explained. "But as you become more successful, you stop being just an actor; you become a brand. At that juncture, it's not the movie that makes you a star, it's the star that makes the movie."

He continued: "Take Salman Khan today. Had he started his career with 'Dabangg' as his debut film, both Salman and the movie would have flopped. But today, he is a brand that pulls in the masses. Is it any wonder then, that a sequel was also made and became a hit?"

The 28-year-old has now set his sights on silencing his critics at last with 'Rangrezz', which releases across UAE cinemas today.

"The movie was something my father wasn't even sure that I should take on, but it's the realism and the grittiness of the film that really drew me to the script; of course, that Mr Priyadarshan was directing 'Rangrezz' simply had me sign on the dotted line all the more faster," he laughed.

'Rangrezz' is the official Hindi remake of the critically acclaimed hit Tamil film, 'Nadodigal', which has already been remade in four languages.

Bhagnani explains further: "It's a movie about friendship, where my character chooses to help his friend's love story come true even though he doesn't believe in his heart of hearts what he's doing is morally correct."

Fans of South Korean superstar Psy and his 'Gangnam Style' breakthrough hit would be pleased with Bhagnani performing a Bollywood version of the same after the makers acquired the official rights of the track for the film.

However, the incident is not without controversy, with Indian model Rozlyn Khan allegedly miffed because the conceptualisation of Bhagnani's video is similar pictured to her YouTube version, which has already garnered over half a million views.

But Bhagnani isn't fazed.

"I have worked with some of the brightest on 'Rangrezz' and I can tell you that this will be the best film of the year; I will guarantee that," he laughed.

https://www.emirates247.com/entertainment/salman-khan-would-have-flopped-if-dabangg-was-his-debut-film-2013-03-21-1.499448