Being Salman by Deepak Sharma is a fluent rendering of Jasim Khan’s attempt in Hindi to put together the superstar’s life in a nutshell. The author, however, is honest enough to confess in his ‘introduction’ that “my acquaintance with Salman Khan (born at 10.45 am on December 27, 1965) was based only on what the media dished out. I must confess that I have limited knowledge about him, despite being a journalist”.
The mission, according to the author, began when he was ordered to make a documentary on Khan. As simple or complicated as that. Of the 235 pages, 84 have been devoted to research related to his lineage and family history that contributes nothing to an understanding of the subject’s evolution; another 16 to court records of the black buck case. Narration of his love affairs—from Sangeeta Bijlani to Katrina Kaif and others, especially Aishwarya Rai—takes up 15 pages. While other events, information, and filmography take up 45 pages—19 are devoted to listing sources alone.
To quote the author again: “This book attempts to investigate the factors that have shaped the persona of Salman Khan. To sum up the book in terms of revelations, beginning at the age 23 with Maine Pyar Kiya to Prem Ratan Dhan Paayo, he has acted in more than 80 films. The decade of the 1990s saw his rise to stardom, next only to AB. Between 1996 and 2006, he starred in 44 movies, including 13 guest appearances...”
On the flip side, there are extensive quotes from Salim Khan and other distant relatives. No brother, no close friend, no co-star, producer or director, or women he has loved and lost that might provide an insight have given any quotes. And whatever has been brought under preview is again speculation.
Also, the author dwells in misinformation. He meets Salim Khan on the first floor of Galaxy Apartment where “one of Bollywood’s biggest stars lived in such a modest three-bedroom flat”. In reality, the superstar occupies the ground floor that has been redone to include his gym.
“Age has not changed me. I am trying to grow up, but the heart just refuses to listen…Mere bare mein itna mat sochna, mein dil mein aata hoon samajh mein nahin (Don’t think about me so much. I reside in hearts, not in thoughts).” The learned author seems to have seriously taken the cliché dialogue from one of his films.
“He is ‘an enigma’ not easy to decipher. Few people know Salman Khan personally. It makes his personality more enigmatic and lends him an aura, but it also becomes difficult to ascertain the truth about his nature.” Wrong again. Like any other big star, he operates in chosen company. To sum up, buy the book at your own peril.