I Have Stopped Doing Films Just For Friends: Salman Khan

After the disaster of “Hello”, in which he had a brief appearance, actor Salman Khan has made known his unhappiness about doing small roles in films and vowed not to take such offers anymore even if the proposals came from friends.

Salman feels doing brief roles disappoints his fans as many such movies do not have good scripts.

“There was a time when I used to sign films just for friendship but not anymore because my fans have suffered due to it. They go to cinema hall expecting to see me but they come disappointed,” said Salman, who is promoting his upcoming film “Yuvvraaj.”

Salman has been known for doing small cameo roles in many films at the request of friends. He had made an brief appearance in now estranged friend Shah Rukh Khan’s “Om Shanti Om.”


“In a three-hour-long film I come only in few scenes but the whole movie is promoted on my name. Naturally when my fans come to watch the film they feel disappointed. They pay for a film with their hard earned money. It is unfair on them,” he said.

Salman, who is playing the lead in Subhash Ghai’s multi-starrer “Yuvvraaj” releasing on November 21, said, “Now I sign a film only after I like the script and the person I am going to work with.”

Talking about his character in the film, the actor said, “I play a frustrated, angry and jealous man in the film. My character is basically angry with everyone because he has always been deprived of love.”

“I don’t think there is any scene anywhere in the world which would be difficult to enact for us Indian actors,” Salman said, adding, “We are on our toes all the time.”

He also praised Ghai’s efforts in making “Yuvvraaj” which has “lavish sets and a grand story.”

The actor, however, dodged a question on marriage in his trademark style.

“I do not know. It is up to Him. Marriages are made in heaven. I will get married when God orders me,” said Salman.

Taking an apparent dig at Himesh Reshmiya’s “Karzzz”, which is a remake of Ghai’s 1980 classic “Karz”, the actor said, “There is only one ‘Karz’ and that was made by Subhash Ghai.”

Asked whether the new version is a tribute to Ghai’s style of film making, Salman said, “Well they tried that but it did not work.”

Salman did not even spare his co-star Anil Kapoor.

Talking about Kapoor’s new found international success with “Slumdog Millionaire”, Khan said, “Anil is all set to leave us for Hollywood where he will do films similar to what Om Puri does.”

He praised the performance of Zayed Khan, who is playing the younger brother in this family drama.

“Zayed and I have traded few punches in the film. He is great in the film,” said Salman.

Hot-bod Salman Khan defeats six-pack Shah Rukh Khan

Salman Khan is at last smiling ear-to-ear as he has scored a point over bitter rival Shah Rukh. The actor known for a stunning physique has always been health conscious and has regularly worked out to remain fit and young.

His effort seems to be finally paying off as India has chosen him to be the role model of health and happiness.

According to a survey conducted by the Complete Wellbeing magazine, “India's choice for its role model of health is Salman Khan with 26% votes coming his way while Shahrukh Khan is the next choice at 24% votes.”

The survey, conducted by the global market research company for the magazine to select India's role models of health and happiness in entertainment, business, sports and politics fields. Men and women between 25–45 years of age across eight metros voted for their role models and the result was quite interesting.

Surprisingly, number three position went to Amitabh Bachchan instead of Hrithik Roshan or Akshay Kumar. While son Abhishek Bachchan was chosen Ahmedabad's idol for health, daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai Bachchan received maximum votes from her home state, Bengaluru.

Disappointingly, John Abraham's fantastic physique figured at no 10 for health with just 4% votes.

In the entertainment section, Shah Rukh turned out to be the winner, with Sallu lagging behind in the second position. Amitabh maintained his post at number three, while fourth place was claimed by Akshay Kumar securing 12% votes. Hrithik Roshan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan shared the ninth slot with 5% votes.

Now, we have all the reasons to warn Shah Rukh against indulging in fist-fight against Salman. Getting physical with the health king can be real dangerous, SRK!

Salman falls in love with Miss UK

Salman Khan has crossed the 40 mark and several hair implants have failed to bring his youth back but he never runs out of luck when it comes to hot and sexy young girls. Bruna Abdalah is passe now. His focus at the moment is Lisa Lazarus. Want to know who Lisa is?

Well, Lisa won the Miss Bikini Great Britain title in 2006 and represented UK in this year's Miss Universe pageant. And she is currently studying Radiography at Hertfordshire University. This very British beauty has come to Mumbai to romance non other than our Bollywood hunk Salman Khan.

Salman's latest film Veer produced by Vijay Galani is a period drama set in the British-ruled India. In the film, Lisa plays an English girl who falls in love with Salman while on a visit to India with her father. The film features newcomer Zarine Khan in the female lead role.

Katrina Kaif will surely go red if she learns that her beau is romancing two young hot babes.

Music is USP of 'Yuvvraaj', thinks Salman Khan

Bollywood actor Salman Khan promoted his forthcoming film ''Yuvvraaj'' at a singing-based reality show in Mumbai on Tuesday evening. The participants at the show sung songs from various Salman Khan films.

Bollywood's hunk Salman Khan said that the reality show was the right platform to promote his film because it was also a musical show.

“We are promoting our film ''Yuvrraj'' and according to the trend prevailing one has to promote his or her film wherever they go. As you know that the music of the film 'Yuvrraj is also very good and this is a musical show so I thought that this was the right thing to do. The music of the songs have been composed by A.R. Rahman and Subhash Ghai has directed the film so I thought it was a good thing to do,” said Salman.

The film is produced and directed by Subhash Ghai. It stars Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Zayed Khan. ''Yuvvraaj'' will be the third film of Salman Khan with Katrina Kaif.

Yuvvraaj is a musical story of a fragmented family of three brothers who are fighting and playing games with each other to inherit their father''s wealth. A.R. Rahman has scored the music of the movie, while Gulzar has penned the lyrics. The film is slated for November 21, release.

Finally Salman Khan has a reason to smile!

Salman Khan has had a very bad 2008. His two big films God Tussi Great Ho and Yuvvraaj flopped miserably at the ticket window whereas; his special appearance starrers Heroes and Hello were just about moderate successes. But finally the handsome actor has got a reason to smile! His Rumi Jaffrey directed God Tussi Great Ho also starring Priyanka Chopra is a big hit in the home video circuit!
The film was a poor show at the box office all throughout India when it released on August 15th alongside Yash Raj’s Ranbir Kapoor starrer, Bachna Ae Haseeno. It is now learnt that the film has very good DVD/VCD sales across the country since it was released by T-Series last month. Salman’s girlfriend Katrina Kaif’s Singh Is Kinng however leads on the Home Video market and the film is huge, probably one of the biggest success ever but it was expected from Singh Is Kinng as it was a huge hit and broke may records.
The success of God Tussi Great Ho is a different case as it was rejected at the box office but the public is giving it a watch on Home Video.

Salman and Jackie turn foes

Before you get stunned by the aforementioned title and draw any conclusion about our style Bhai Salman Khan, let us open up that its about Salman Khan's much–in–news upcoming film Veer which we are talking about. As per the latest buzz from the B–town, seasoned actor Jackie Shroff aka Jaggu dada would be seen playing a negative character in the film.

This is not the first time when the two actors (Salman & Jackie) would be working together. Earlier also they have shared the screen space in movies like Bandhan and Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye. But the only difference this time around is that while in the earlier 2 flicks both the actors shared cordial relations (in Bandhan Salman played a devoted brother–in–law of Jackie Shroff and in Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaaye both were childhood friends) than in Veer Jackie would stand as a strong opposition / villain for Salman Khan.

Katrina Kaif’s clone disturbing Salman Khan

There is a news that Salman has impressed a lot by a model Zarine Khan who looks like Katrina Kaif. Salman Khan has showcased Zarine to all present during the event their feedback as does she look like Katrina.Salman introduced Zarine to everyone present.

According to rumors, she will soon be seen in a film with the actor. But now there’s a twist in the tale. There is another girl who has entered the scene who not only looks like Katrina but also hails from Kats homeland, the UK. She is the former Miss UK Lisa Lazarus. But compared to Zarine, Lisa’s the lucky one as she will act opposite Salman Khan in Veer as the second lead of the actor.

Everyone knows that Katrina Kaif worked with Salman Khan in the film Yuvvraaj but the Katrina was missing from the promotional event and another new girl was seen on his arm.

Commenting on the news Katrina Kaif said, ” She is so sweet and I helped her with her make-up during her screen test. She is a lovely girl and I hope she does very well. although I do not think she looks like me. But if Salman misses me and wants to work with girls who look like me that is so sweet.”

Salman expected to strike back

Salman Khan seems to be going through a rough phase for the past three years. Of course this Khan is making more news for his wild ways, romantic link ups with actresses, a steady girlfriend as well as extra soft feelings for a certain ex-girlfriend and for being dubbed by the Indian media as Bollywood's most eligible bachelor than for his career.

After No Entry in 2005 all his films have flopped one after the other. In Kyunki, his next release after No Entry, he played the role of a mad man accused of murdering his lady love. Salman's performance was good but it couldn't help in the success of the film.

2006 turned out to be an unsuccessful year for him when Jaan-E-Mann where he played a rock star and Baabul where he had a small role tanked.

He started 2007 with the ensemble film called Salaam E Ishq and though there were loads of stars in the film, it bit the dust. His next release Partner did very well at the box office but now Yuvvraaj has been thrashed as well.

The competition is tough with Aamir Khan's ambitious Ghajini and Shahrukh Khan's labour of love Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi coming up but Sallu seems to be least worried about his career. He's probably preparing for his 43rd birthday on 27th of Dec and hopes to fight back with a vengeance.

This guy sure is one of a kind!

Cut to size

Caught in choppy market, hit by an economic tsunami - world’s largest film industry, Bollywood is also facing rough weather. The boat is rocking. Big budget projects are folding up, expansion plans are being kept on hold and worst of all corporate houses are calling off their fancy multi-film contracts. But are stars affected by this sudden bubble burst? Most importantly will they also take pay-cuts like the rest of working class?

Senior chartered accountant Satish Pai declares ominously,”This is just the begining of the meltdown, it will continue for the next five years and financial scene will be really grim in the years to come. Very soon the biggest star will definitely have to take a pay cut,” he stresses.

In the last three years, ever since corporate funding flushed into filmdom, talent cost shot up. Stars witnessed a euphoric hike in their fees, “Shah Rukh Khan was the only star who had seen that kind of money earlier and that too because he used to have 50 per cent partnership in his films.

But with the corporate boom - even second-rung actors clinched plum multi-crore deals,” trade analyst N P Yadav points out.

So does it really mean that even Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt - the three stars who benefitted the most by the corporate boom-will have to revise their charges? “They will have to slash their fees or stick to working in films made under their own banners,”declares analyst Vinod Mirani. While Akshay Kumar laughs off his enviable Rs 60 crore tag as “way too bloated”, Salman Khan brushes off the possibility of cutting his price saying,”Recession is for those who overcharge and certainly not for me who works hard and honestly. I charge what I deserve. So where is the question of slashing my price?” he counters.

On the other hand, Sanjay Dutt admits, “When the going was good, I took a handsome price. But when there is a downslide, I am prepared to face a pay cut. Why only me, all of us will have to play it to the market mood,” he adds sportingly.

Irrfan, the poster boy of new-wave mid-budget cinema informs that the budgets of two of his UTV films have been “re-negotiated” but he argues that he never shot up his charges so he’s not “cutting down” his price. However he concedes, “For an appropriate project, I am game for a slight cut.”

Trade insiders have it that the only stars who have never been in the “rat-race” and are above the recession are Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan because unlike their contemporaries they never hiked their prices disproportionately. Ajay Devgan, who also had stoically held his own and commanded a steady market price even after Golmaal turned out to be a hit, has surprisingly chosen these troubled times to hike his fees, “After the success of Golmaal Returns he is contemplating raising his price,” said his spokesperson, Parag Desai.

If the male bastion is facing the axe, the going doesn’t look too good for the female of the species,”The first to succumb to recession will be the girls. It doesn’t make too much difference if you cast a newbie opposite Salman Khan,” reasons Vinod Mirani.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, one of the highest-paid actors agrees,”The economic crisis has touched every person’s life, and we will all deal with it in whatever way it hits us. I do not know much about the business aspects of films, but work wise, so far so good.”

Vidya Balan’s business manager K S Sanjay explains,”Vidya is known as a reasonably-priced actor. We always knew this was a bubble that would burst and we always charged a fee that was viable for filmmakers. So we remain unaffected it,” he says firmly.

Newcomer Sadaa, who has a few Southern hits to her credit and makes her Hindi debut with Khalballi, elaborates, “If producers ask me to cut down my fees because of the recession, I will surely consider doing so provided the story and director are good enough. The number of films I act in doesn’t depend on how much I am paid,” she stresses. And Bengal-import Rituparna Sengupta is also prepared for the eventuality of “cut “ as she feels it is a global phenomenon and everyone will have to face the brunt.

Veteran actor Farooque Shaikh is of the view that “only the highest-paid actors will be affected” while Sonu Sood, whose Ek Vivaah - aisi bhi released recently is open for a pay-cut,”Together we should bail out the industry out of this crisis,” he suggests.

While multi-crore, multi-film deals have been put on backburners by corporate companies and it seems like an uphill task for actors, the importance of big stars and grand cinema cannot be undermined. With mushrooming multiplexes all over the country, super stars and super cinema will continue to rule. As of now, we do not know of a single instance where a star has gone back on his contract and corrected his remuneration. No one has been really “cut to size” so far!

How can I forget Salman for what he did: Ghai

The media may've gone ballistic calling Salman Khan all kinds of names in the past, but there's one person who comes across as a staunch defender of the actor -- Subhash Ghai. ‘He's not a bad boy. He's grossly misunderstood,’ Ghai tells me.

Ghai and Salman also had a spat before they shook hands and Ghai announced ‘Yuvvraaj’. ‘Yes, we fought and made up. Today, we're friends. Not many people offered me a helping hand after ‘Kisna’ flopped. I approached a lot of actors, but all I got were unfulfilled assurances and promises. When I approached Salman, he didn't ask questions, he said he was keen to work with me. How can I ever forget that?’ Ghai gets emotional.

However, Salman's lackadaisical approach towards work -- reporting late on shoots -- was one of the reasons why ‘Yuvvraaj’ got delayed. True? ‘The film got delayed due to several reasons. I was keen on making certain changes and that took time. As for Salman reporting late for shoots, all I'd like to say is that he ensures that he completes his work on time, before we pack up for the day. Every director has to be a meticulous planner. If a certain star is arriving later in the day, he should be able to wrap up portions with other actors. If you can't, you aren't a good planner,’ Ghai adds.

Reportedly, Ghai's Mukta Arts has had a 3-film deal with SRK, of which ‘Trimurti’ and ‘Pardes’ have already released. What about the third project? Ghai pauses for a while, before answering this, ‘It's a tricky question. I had approached Shah Rukh for ‘Motherland’. We also started working on the script, but the project didn't materialise for two reasons. One, the subject bore an uncanny resemblance to ‘Veer-Zaara’ and two, the role demanded heavy-duty action and stunts and SRK's back problem didn't allow him to perform those stunts. I am sure, if an opportunity arises, SRK would definitely accept the offer,’ Ghai says.

Salman Khan’s attraction with Katrina’s duplicate

It is a common talk to say that Salman Khan has always been attracted with clone of his lady loves. After his break up with a certain Miss Rai, he went around promoting Dia Mirza and more so Ashwarys’s clone, Sneha Ullal.

Now these days he is very busy in promoting katrina’s duplicate.

It is said that Katrina was promotional event of ‘Yuvraaj’ and this girl acted as Salman’s arm candy. Many people have noticed her. Her name is Zarine Khan and she is teaming up with Salman Khan in his next film ‘Veer’.

Salman Khan saw her when she was acting as Katrina’s body double in the disastrous ‘Yuvvraaj’.Salman showcased Zarine at the event and wanted to know whether she looked like Katrina or not. It will not be wrong to say that Salman is really good at acting ‘different’ at times.

A source reveals, “Salman had confined trial for close family and friends at Globus on Thursday night. Salman introduced Zarine to everyone present, but he also kept asking them if she looked like Katrina. Both were looking very comfortable with each other.”