After playing several larger-than-life characters, Salman Khan returns to playing the soft hearted Prem in his latest Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo. The star talks about playing a double role, how he listens to scripts but does not read them and how he is worried about his court cases.
You play an ideal son in Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo. How much are you like Prem in real life?
That you have to answer for me. That is not for me to say. We are confused whether we -- Sooraj and I -- created Prem, or Prem created us.
Like Prem in Sooraj Barjatya’s films like Hum Aaapke Hai Koun? And Hum Saath Saath Hain, you too stay in a close knit family. Did that make it easier for you to be part of Sooraj Bharjatya screen family?
(Staying in the) house means dealing with small issues of the house, respecting elders, bonding....and so yes it is easier for me to play the character.
After a long time you are playing a double role in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. How different was it from Judwaa?
It is totally different.
So was this film difficult?
Had I just read the script then it would have been difficult. I do not read scripts, I listen to scripts. I make sure either the director or writer is there to narrate the script to me. My mind visualizes scenes when a director narrates the script to me. I check with the director if he is thinking the way I am. I need to be on the same page with the director while listening to script otherwise my mind will go to some other place. So when a director is narrating a script to me I know in what direction he is heading. But if I am reading then I don’t know where it is going. When Sooraj Bharjatya narrated the script to me I knew we would not have a problem. I could see myself doing the scenes.
The idea for this film came up in 1993-1994. Why has it taken so long?
He was not able to crack it as it was too large film to be made that time. The time was not right or not so this one or another one...so he was confused. There were two other films.
Was it be like Prem again?
We have a huge responsibility. After Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hai Koun?, Hum Saath Saath Hai it is big if we (get together) and if it doesn’t do well, then it is difficult for the next one. Also the industry would be like they have lost the plot, they have lost the magic. So we have to be careful with what we do.
What are your thoughts on turning 50?
I am turning 27 year old.
How does feel to be like 27?
I think 27 is the right age. I have always liked that age.
Are you happy with your journey?
It has been a quick journey. I got launched by Sooraj Bharjatya. I used to think will I be able to make it or not, will I be able to buy a house or car or fill petrol in it? In the evening I got job and everything turned around. I want to continue working.
What worries you today?
What is going to happen to the verdicts. That is a big worry on my parents’ heads, my head. It is a big one. After all this, you have to do comedy, do ‘Bigg Boss’ but at the same time a sword is hanging on your head. You see your parents reacting and what they are going through.
What do you wish for Shah Rukh Khan?
We are friends, He came in much later into the industry — Aamir debuted first, then I came in, followed by Ajay and then SRK. I wish the best of health for him and his entire family and may they have the most amazing life. I hope his children take his name beyond what Shah Rukh Khan has achieved.