Salman Khan on the 'gift of love'

Salman Khan, who has reunited with Sooraj Barjatya after 16 years with a larger than life family drama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, talks about his unusual bonding with the director.

SALMAN KHAN GAVE a monster hit with Bajrangi Bhaijaan in early 2015. The 49-year-old superstar who is turning 50 this December might possibly give the biggest hit of his career with Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, that releases across the globe this weekend. With Bajrangi Bhaijaan, he gave us a different Salman, unlike anything that we had seen on screen.
He played a simple-minded guy from a small town that reunites a six-year-old speech impaired girl with her family in Pakistan after she accidentally lands up in India. His character successfully spoke about the importance of humanity over religion and nationality in the film. While talking to select Dubai media at a video conference from Mumbai recently, the actor swore that his character in the grand family drama Prem Ratan Dhan Payo is more aspirational than his previous hit.
"Once you watch this film, you will know what we are talking about. Right now it looks like we are promoting the film and saying only good stuff. It is my promise that whatever mood you enter the cinema hall with, you'll come out with a better mood. There will be tears of happiness. The film would definitely touch you in some way. When you come out of some place of worship where the energy is good, you feel like you are a better human being. Similarly, this film will change people. It's a romantic family drama - about how this character takes care of his family with humor, patience, love, and tolerance. This is Sooraj Barjatya's best Prem from all his films so far. I am really influenced by this Prem. Every time I see this film, I want to be Prem but without the marriage situation."
His co-star Sonam Kapoor echoed his thought by saying people should aspire to be like characters from director Sooraj Barjatya's movies,
"People like this should exist. Salman was saying something very beautiful in the car, he was saying when we hear mythology then those characters become people we need to look up to; in the same way, Sooraj's films are very similar. These are ideal characters of how men and women should behave and communicate, so even if they don't exist, they are aspirational and people should learn from them and aspire to be like them."
The title of the movie means 'I got the gift of love' and Sooraj made this film for Salman, with the intention to show him as someone who can change people.

Sonam is 30 and Salman 49. We asked Sonam whether Bollywood would ever reach that stage where it will be a norm for an actress to romance a guy who is 10-20 years younger to her. Sonam: I think that's what they are trying to do with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor in Aye Dil Hai Mushkil. I think there are great opportunities out there where female lead roles are concerned. Last year was brilliant for females; I am quite excited what the future holds for us. Salman: "She is doing it right now. I am 27 and she is 30." Sonam: "Haha. He is younger than me. I am okay with my age honestly." Salman: "And I am okay with my age honestly."

'Biggest challenge to get my innocence back'
Salman, one of Bollywood's highest-paid stars, said that his biggest challenge was to get his innocence back. 16 years ago he captivated moviegoers, as a pleasant lover boy Prem in Maine Pyar Kiya. But today's Salman Khan is a different man, there are many court charges against him and he is known for playing the larger-than-life action hero in movies. "It was most difficult to get my innocence back after a long time. I used to have (innocence) but not anymore, especially with this look (for Sultan.) It doesn't exist only. But deep down there is a sweet soft person within me, it is never going to come to the surface ever, it will always be a secret", said Salman.
Barjatya introduced Salman as a lover boy through Maine Pyar Kiya in 1989. Their hit pairing continued with movies like Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Hum Saath-Saath Hain. The Dabangg star is confident that Prem Ratan Dhan Payo will outshine their previous collaborations. All through the conversation with Salman, we felt that this film is more about the bond between Sooraj and Salman rather than Sonam and Salman.
"He gets the innocence and simplicity out of me, which I can't manage to bring out in other films of mine. No matter how hard I try. With Sooraj, I don't have to try at all, it comes very naturally. The way he writes dialogues, it is like spoken lines. We have seen each other grow up. We were 19 when we first met, now we are 50.umm...27 actually (laughs). I know what he likes and what he doesn't like. When Hrithik (Roshan) was doing a film with Sooraj, I told Hrithik, "Just follow Sooraj" and I told Sonam the same, "Keep your style but follow Sooraj."
Salman was in no mood to stop. "Name one worst film that you have seen," he asked the members of the media. When someone answered RGV Ke Sholay, he said, "Give Ram Gopal Verma Ke Sholay to Sooraj and ask him to rewrite it. He will make a Sholay out of that. Even in bad stuff, he sees a lot of good. Give him anything bad and he will turn it around. Like he did with Sonam! He did it with me when I didn't have any work. Sooraj was there to make me who I am today. This is my biggest film ever - In terms of look, grandeur, morals and production value. This is the best script I have ever done", added Salman.
How different is this Prem from the Prem that he has done in the past? "This Prem is a lot older and mature than the earlier Prem. The genre is same, but a lot more tears and lot evolved from Hum Aapke Hai Kaun, Maine Pyar Kiya, and Hum Saath Saath Hain. A lot of fun as well. This Prem is principally, morally, and ethically correct. He is like the man that you would want to marry, unlike me. But deep down inside there is that quality hidden in me and I am making sure that it never comes out. Never ever", quipped Salman. Sonam added that he reserves that quality only for movies.
Salman also explained how his relationship with Sooraj has evolved over the years. "It is exactly the same from the first day we met to the last day we met i.e the day before yesterday. We meet, we don't meet, but there is a bond. We don't see each other for months but that connect is there. We don't have to be physically present, but he knows that I am there for him and he has always been there for me. We are like brothers. Alvira (Salman's sister) also tells me that there is a special bond between Sooraj and I. He does all the homework, I just have to come on the sets, look into his eyes and understand what he is trying to say and just perform," explained Salman.
Salman and Sonam banter over why many dubsmashes featuring the title track have gone viral
Salman: Have you seen the one where I am sitting and doing nothing? That one is my favourite.
Sonam: Arbaaz (Khan) one was nice. A lot of these Dubsmashes happen without me asking people to do it.
Salman: This is a lie.
Sonam: This is not a lie. I did not ask Sridevi to do this. They (Sridevi and Shilpa Shetty) did it because they love the song.
Salman: Yeah yeah! Shilpa and Sridevi were just hanging out one day and said, "Let's do this dubsmash."
Sonam: Look at the effort, I think it is quite cool
Salman: You got to give it to Sonam for her efforts.
Sonam: It's not just Indians who are doing it, but kids from all over the world are doing it as well.
Salman: Her cousins abroad and their friends and their friends and their friends. I am giving you all the credit!
What was it about the script that drew you towards playing this role and did you take any advice from Salman before the shoot?
Sonam: There was not even a question of me doing or not doing the film. Because I know whatever Sooraj does is always brilliant. I heard a little bit of the story and before he could say, "dhhh". I said, "I am doing it. I am doing it." I knew Salman would bring in so much more to the film. Just to interact with Sooraj is awesome. But when I heard the character, I felt it was very beautiful. It was like a cherry on top. One thing that I have learned from Salman is to just copy the director and that's what I have done in the film.
Salman: Even if Shahid Kapoor was doing the film, she would have done it. Even if the script were bad, she would have done the film for Sooraj.

Time for some trivia
Apparently Salman has a double role in the film
Sonam and Salman had earlier shared screen space in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Sawaariya.
Sooraj's family drama Hum Aapke Hain Kaun was the one film that broke Sholay's box office record crossing the Rs100 crore collection in the country for the first time.

Mumbai: Actor Salman Khan with actress Sonam Kapoor at Radio Mirchi studio for the promotion of their upcoming film 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo' in Mumbai on Monday. PTI Photo(PTI11_3_2015_000028A)

Salman Khan (L) and Sooraj R. Barjatya

Mumbai: Bollywood actors Salman Khan and Sonam Kapoor in conversation during the promotion of their upcoming film "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo" in Mumbai on Sunday. PTI Photo(PTI11_9_2015_000053A)