Actor Salman Khan went down memory lane, reminiscing about his early days in films, saying that he never wanted to be in the industry. He was speaking at the first ever Bollywood Night in Saudi Arabia. Khan visited the World Culture Centre in Damman city where thousands of fans thronged to watch him.
“I didn’t want to be anything in life at all. My life ambition was that I should make Rs10 lakh [a month]. Somebody told me that if you make 10 lakh rupees, you’ll get an interest of Rs20,000 a month. I was pretty satisfied with that. I am still of the same mindset, but Allah has given a lot and so I respect that,” said Salman.
Salman’s father Salim Khan, the legendary screenwriter, felt that his son was not hero material.
“At that point of time, I thought I could be a writer. I asked him once, why not recommend me. He said, ‘you weigh only 52 kilos’,” he recalled. “My father asked me, do you think can see yourself as a police inspector who can take on 10 people? Do you see yourself as a lawyer or an underworld criminal who can kill 10-12 people? I said I can’t do that, may be the only thing that I can do are the romantic roles,” he said.
Salman made his debut in a supporting role in JK Bihari’s Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988). There is an interesting story behind Salman landing the role. “I was so desperate that I went to the producer-director JK Bihari and asked him, ‘what made you sign me’?”
Bihari’s reply wasn’t flaterring. “[Bihari] told me that every star that he approached refused the film. He was ready to pick any idiot newcomer. I was that idiot who walked into his office and got the role,” remembered Salman.
Answering a question about what global adulation means to him, Salman said, “I really appreciate that. Thank you very much. I really appreciate the fans who go to the cinemas and watch the movies. The ones watching on torrent and pirated DVD are not my fans, they Shah Rukh Khan’s fans.”
The actor will be seen next in Ali Abbas Zafar’s Bharat (2019) that is set to be released on Eid this year. Salman has returned to India and started shooting for Dabangg 3 in Indore from today (1 April).