Salman Khan at the launch
of “Being Human” Gold Coins
Being human
Being Human is Salman
Khan's brainchild. The actor, known to many, as having a heart of gold
has been using his charitable organization to help the needy. And now he
will be taking the step to expand his brand to a bigger business proposal.
Salman explains to Businessofcinema.com,
"Being Human raises funds via the sale of its T-shirts, which are exclusively
designed. After T-shirts, Being Human will now be expanding its product
offerings by making watches. Watches are a great accessory and both genders
love flaunting their watches. It has become a style statement. So keeping
that in mind, my foundation will be making watches, which can be sold to
make some money."
A bare-all interview with
Salman in which he reveals that he’s a painter, writer, telly host, eligible
bachelor and gym icon all rolled into one and yet - he claims that being
Salman is quite easy! Moody, temperamental
and ‘misunderstood’ that’s how we have been describing this Khan over the
last 18 years. We have had our share of spats with him but now all that
seems to be a part of the forgotten past as we catch up with him at Mehboob
Studios where he’s shooting forVeer, a period drama that is based on a
story written by him. He says it’s about men who fight to honour their
word. It’s being directed by Anil Sharma. In a shoulder-length mane and
a low-slung orange jeans and his famous bare, glistening torso, Salman
Khan is shooting for an elaborate song-sequence of which Mithun Chakraborty
and . Sohail Khan are also a part. There is buzz of visitors around Salman’s
vanity van - fans clicking keepsakes with him, a couple of visually challenged
musicians playing their CD for him, designer Anna Singh and editor-director
Shirish Kunder waiting to catchup with Khan. Arbaaz drops by to share a
cup of dark coffee with his famous sibling. After attending to all of them,
Salman signals us to unfurl our questionnaire. The light drizzle and constant
humdrum on the sets couldn’t dampen our spirits as Salman warmed up to
us slowly but surely. Excerpts from the interface:
Trade insiders have it
that Salman never signs any agreement, he just gives his zubaan. Is that
true? Yes, I believe in trust.
I do my work and get my price for it. I only work with people I am comfortable
with.
With this big boom following
corporatisition, how have things changed for you? Nothing has changed for
me, just that prices have gone higher. On the whole film viewing has changed,
the movie watching culture is coming back with the multiplexes and even
in the single screen theatres conditions are improving. Things are going
to be better and better. But the producer can make only two types of films
either a big-budget bonanza or a small multiplex film. Nothing in-between
works.
Good time to beef up brand
Salman? Being human is brand
Salman. I cannot keep the money in my hands, I leave it with my father,
mother, Sohail or Arbaaz. I have always supported charities in my own way.
If I can raise funds through an hour’s work, cutting ribbons I would rather
do that than have charities where people would feel obliged to donate money.
Why is it then that you
are rarely seen in cause-worthy films like Phir Milenge? If you have to give a
message then the theatre has to be full, what’s the point in doing films
that aren’t going to be seen?
What kind of films do
you want to be a part of now? Happy films… that the
family enjoys watching together. My next Yuvraaj will be in theatres in
November and then Main Aur Mrs Khanna. I am doing two action films -of
which Wanted - Dead Or Alive is turning out to be very interesting with
hand-to-hand and gun fights. There are none of those cabled action sequences,
it has real action. Sohail has two more films
for me - Partner 2 and Main Punjabi. Veer has just gone on the floors.
The next three years are booked.
What’s your take on competition? Youngsters like Ranbir
and Imran are better suited for romantic roles, it would look absurd if
I played a collegian now. I have now to evolve and play different roles.
What about 10 Ka Dum,
how much longer does it run? What has been your biggest lesson from the
show? It’s been a fantastic
run, we are almost winding it up now. There are only a couple more episodes
remaining to be shot. 10 Ka Dum podium is like a confession box. The participants
are so forthcoming - they don’t hide anything, they come straight out with
their feelings. Their candour is overwhelming for me at times.
Have you started understanding
people better after this close brush with them? Oh I know people much
more than anybody else because I lead a normal life. Inspite of all the
luxuries available to me I sit out , I cycle, go to public places like
Barista and still visit all those places where I went as a kid.
Do you think that people
understand you better after 10 Ka Dum? People never believed
in what was being written about me, that’s the reason I am sitting here.
They always knew me. If they hadn’t I would have been out of the industry
Are you like the character
you play in God Tussi Great Ho? That character is very
unlike me, he keeps cursing God all the time. With me - I don’t pray regularly
but when I am happy - I thank Him and I know that He’s watching from above.
Amitabh Bachchan plays
God on -screen in the film with you. Comment. There is nobody better
suited than Mr Bachchan to play this character. With his voice, his persona,
his stance and talent as an actor, he’s simply outstanding - he’s perfectly
suited for the role.
Would you like to play
God? I would never like to
play God, never…
What’s the one thing you
will change if you were made God for a day? Iwould increase everybody’s
salaries so that there will be no corruption. People will not stoop down
to such low levels as they do now. If their basic amenities and requirements
are taken care of and they are happy there will be less reason for corruption.
For those who are pathologically corrupt , no money is enough, but by-and-large
this would be my solution.
Salman, what would you
say is God’s greatest gift to you? Hmm… Salman! The fact
that I am here surrounded by my family and well wishers around me.
Are you God-fearing? No! Why God-fearing?
I am God-loving! Only those people fear God who do something wrong and
then feel He is the guarantor of sorts.
Come on, describe yourself. I don’t know how to do
that! I may react to a situation in a different manner today and then entirely
differently tomorrow to it because I go by my feel and I go by my impulse.
I am right at times and sometimes I may go wrong. Then - phone uthaao,
sorry bolo - yeh galat ho gaye boss!’
Are you a head person
or a heart person? My mind and my heart
are all in sync. What I think is what I say and what I say is what I do.
My motto remains unchanged though - “Go straight and turn right.”
How is it to be the most
enduring gym icon ? It is very painful, very,
very painful. Sometimes all I am not the most correct person as far as
my habits are concerned so I have work it out that much harder in the gym.
Till my joints creak.I eat what I like, I don’t count calories but I burn
them out. .
Is it difficult being
Salman? No, it is very easy being
Salman - you just have to be honest - that’s all it takes to be Salman.
I believe that you are born empty-handed and you will die empty-handed.
There is a hand of God in everything.
Finally Salman, is peace-making
on your agenda now? Especially with SRK with whom you had the much-publicised
fracas recently. I am at peace with myself.
I wake up, work-out, go for shoots, laugh a lot and sleep in peace.
Sooth-sayers definitely
predict marriage for you soon. Is wedding on the cards? Yes, I shall be getting
married next year.