Salman Khan-lookalike kicks up virtual storm

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 6, 2013)

Next time Salman Khan needs a body double, he may want to look in Pakistan. Sialkot resident Hasnain Saleem is kicking up a storm on the Internet these days with his uncanny resemblance to the star who has a considerable following in the country.
In the videos, Hasnain, not only looks like a younger Sallu, but walks the talk as well. With Salluswagger and biceps screaming for attention, Hasnain is seen hitting the streets of his town, winning admiring and curious glances from Sallu's Pakistani fans. Some unsuspecting folks even shake hands with and pose with him, creating their own fanboy moments. In fact a TV channel even ran a small feature on Hasnain introducing him thus: "You don't need to go to India if you want to meet Salman Khan, the superstar."

Not many are impressed with Hasnain's Sallu act. A source from Pakistan film industry tells us, "This guy has taken his physical similarity with Salman rather too seriously. He recently changed his haircut to make the physical resemblance complete. He apes him – he has started walking and talking like Salman."

Leading distributor in Pakistan, Juhi Chawla's uncle Satish Anand, who is distributing Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai Dobara, said, "There is no buzz about this Salman duplicate. Nobody is taking him seriously. At best, he may clinch a cameo. Duplicates come and go. Your star faces no threat – serious or otherwise from him."

Hasnain may not have impressed the film fraternity there, but he is not short of female fans. Says our source, "Girls have been calling up his mother and asking for him. She is too embarrassed to even talk about her son's antics. Not that they are not enjoying it, but it seems that Hasnain is now harbouring acting aspirations."

In fact, Amjad Rasheed, who is distributing Chennai Express in Pakistan, did not write off Hasnain. In fact, buzz is he is on the verge of casting Hasnain in a lead role soon. "That's right. I am making a film which Shagufta Rafique (writer, Woh Lamhe, Murder 2 and Ashiqui -2) will direct and Hasnain is a contender for the top role. Let's see how he shapes out."

However Rasheed did not spell out if Hasnain will play himself… or… er… Salman… or some other character altogether.

MEANWHILE…
The real Sallu of Galaxy Apartments has had a minor setback. His mega show with his ex Katrina Kaif, scheduled to be held in Chicago in August has been postponed. The organiser in question, Sudesh Sonawane, confirmed that he has postponed the show which was supposed to star Prabhu Dheva as well. "We had also invited Abbas Mustan as chief guests. But I guess, we'll have to wait for the big moment. I want to make the show bigger and better whenever I do it," he said. Buzz is, the delay was caused as Sallu has been denied a US visa. But it could not be confirmed at the time of going to press.