News
'Everyone in the industry comes second after Salman Khan'
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Salman Khan has come a long way since his 1989 breakthrough film, Maine Pyar Kiya. His 1994 film, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, is the biggest box-office grosser of all time, and he is one of the top-earning Bollywood actors. Khan himself continues to be a big draw at the cinema – particularly here in the UAE, where distributors say a Salman Khan film will always guarantee a hit. In a rare interview, he talks to Emirates Business about money, producing movies and more.
Are you the highest-paid actor in Bollywood?
Yes, of course. 100 per cent!
What about Akshay Kumar, who is reportedly earning Rs220 million (Dh18m) for his next film, Blue?
Everyone in the industry comes second after Salman Khan.
But what exactly do you charge?
Why should I tell you a figure? Suppose a producer who reads the figure I quote you offers me only that much when he has thought of a bigger number for me, then I lose out on my business, just because you want me to quote a number for your paper. Also, if I quote my price other actors will become insecure and jealous.
But it is said that you asked some producers for Rs500m?
I can ask what I want to. Is it a problem?
You also reportedly asked Yash Raj Films for a very high fee, and refused to work with them when they didn't agree to what you wanted?
I think I deserve to be paid my price. Smaller producers can afford me, so why should bigger ones not pay me my amount? My films have a huge market across the world. Films that are not promoted much globally also have a great market. It is just because of my fans that I have such a price. Because they are with me and turn out in large numbers to see my films, I can charge five times more than the second best in line.
You do a lot of movies that are produced by your brother. When are you turning producer?
Our family is producing films. We are all producers.
You were here in Dubai recently for a Hydra Properties event. Are you planning something with them?
Yes, I went there. But there is nothing concrete I can talk about as yet.
What about buying property in Dubai? Is that something you're looking at?
We are trying something but it is not confirmed as yet. We have to find out how the legal things work out and stuff like that.
I believe you suggested the title of your new film, God Tussi Great Ho?
I just thought of it and then I called up Rumibhai [Director Rumi Jaffrey] and Afzalbhai [Producer Afzal Khan] and asked them what they thought of it, and they loved it. It's a positive title and you keep saying that all the time. I just put a slight Punjabi touch to it.
So, what's your character like?
He is a very stuck-up person and blames everything wrong that happens to him on god. An ungrateful chap… but all this is in the form of comedy.
You worked with Priyanka Chopra again in this film after Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Salaam-E-Ishq. But there are rumours the film was delayed because the two of you don't get along very well?
See. She's a good person. I liked working with her. She does her work nicely and quietly. Even I do my work nicely and quietly. So, we took one year to make the film. That's not much.
Amitabh plays god in the film. Was he intimidating to work with?
He was. But he was easily the obvious choice to play a character like that of god because of his personality and stature. His voice suits the character too. What a baritone he has... Only god can have that kind of baritone. It is really good to work with him. I worked with him in two films earlier and he's super. And since he is a super legend, it is not too easy working with him. He is so good that I have to shut up when I am doing my scenes with him. Sometimes, my Hindi grammar is atrocious but we've got to be perfect with the dialogue because he's always ready. He is always correct and yes, he is the best. He always knows what he has to say what kind of timing and dialogue delivery and it takes us a much longer than that. So it can get a bit embarrassing. But he is very patient. That makes it tougher.
You borrow Amitabh Bachchan's job in the film though?
Yes, yes. I can't take his job in real life, but as a character, yes. I take his job as god in the film for 10 days, but I do some weird things on the ninth day and put the world in danger. Then god comes in and saves the world. So that proves I cannot do Mr Amitabh Bachchan's job.
What's your take on movies being promoted on TV shows, including your own Dus Ka Dum?
It is an übercool idea. We've had Priyanka Chopra on the show. We've had Ranbir, Deepika and Minissha as well. We did Singh is Kinng promotions as well and as far as God Tussi Great Ho goes, I keep mentioning it on the show as comic relief. But it's a sweet film, you should watch it.
Why is the film being released head-to-head with Bachna Ae Haseeno?
There are four days of holidays during the Indian Independence Day weekend. Bachna Ae Haseeno is also releasing and I wish them good luck. I hope Ranbir's film too does well and the audience goes and watches both.
Salman Khan
Actor
Khan, 42, made his debut in Biwi Ho To Aisi in 1988. The award-winning actor has gone on to star in some of the Bollywood's most successful films, including Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Tere Naam and Saajan.
The Madhya Pradesh native is Bollywood royalty and hails from a film family – his father Salim Khan is a scriptwriter, while his actress stepmother, Helen, redefined the song and dance genre in the seventies.
In 2004, the US edition of People magazine named him the seventh best-looking man worldwide.
Khan's personal life has not been without controversy. He was sentenced to five years in jail in 2006 for hunting the endangered chinkara deer. The sentence was stayed on appeal. He has also been arrested for negligent driving following a crash into a Mumbai bakery.
The actor has never married, but past girlfriends include actresses Sangeeta Bijlani, Somy Ali and Aishwarya Rai. He is now dating British-born actress Katrina Kaif.
Khan reportedly charges in the region of Rs400 million (Dh33.44m) per movie.
Are you the highest-paid actor in Bollywood?
Yes, of course. 100 per cent!
What about Akshay Kumar, who is reportedly earning Rs220 million (Dh18m) for his next film, Blue?
Everyone in the industry comes second after Salman Khan.
But what exactly do you charge?
Why should I tell you a figure? Suppose a producer who reads the figure I quote you offers me only that much when he has thought of a bigger number for me, then I lose out on my business, just because you want me to quote a number for your paper. Also, if I quote my price other actors will become insecure and jealous.
But it is said that you asked some producers for Rs500m?
I can ask what I want to. Is it a problem?
You also reportedly asked Yash Raj Films for a very high fee, and refused to work with them when they didn't agree to what you wanted?
I think I deserve to be paid my price. Smaller producers can afford me, so why should bigger ones not pay me my amount? My films have a huge market across the world. Films that are not promoted much globally also have a great market. It is just because of my fans that I have such a price. Because they are with me and turn out in large numbers to see my films, I can charge five times more than the second best in line.
You do a lot of movies that are produced by your brother. When are you turning producer?
Our family is producing films. We are all producers.
You were here in Dubai recently for a Hydra Properties event. Are you planning something with them?
Yes, I went there. But there is nothing concrete I can talk about as yet.
What about buying property in Dubai? Is that something you're looking at?
We are trying something but it is not confirmed as yet. We have to find out how the legal things work out and stuff like that.
I believe you suggested the title of your new film, God Tussi Great Ho?
I just thought of it and then I called up Rumibhai [Director Rumi Jaffrey] and Afzalbhai [Producer Afzal Khan] and asked them what they thought of it, and they loved it. It's a positive title and you keep saying that all the time. I just put a slight Punjabi touch to it.
So, what's your character like?
He is a very stuck-up person and blames everything wrong that happens to him on god. An ungrateful chap… but all this is in the form of comedy.
You worked with Priyanka Chopra again in this film after Mujhse Shaadi Karogi and Salaam-E-Ishq. But there are rumours the film was delayed because the two of you don't get along very well?
See. She's a good person. I liked working with her. She does her work nicely and quietly. Even I do my work nicely and quietly. So, we took one year to make the film. That's not much.
Amitabh plays god in the film. Was he intimidating to work with?
He was. But he was easily the obvious choice to play a character like that of god because of his personality and stature. His voice suits the character too. What a baritone he has... Only god can have that kind of baritone. It is really good to work with him. I worked with him in two films earlier and he's super. And since he is a super legend, it is not too easy working with him. He is so good that I have to shut up when I am doing my scenes with him. Sometimes, my Hindi grammar is atrocious but we've got to be perfect with the dialogue because he's always ready. He is always correct and yes, he is the best. He always knows what he has to say what kind of timing and dialogue delivery and it takes us a much longer than that. So it can get a bit embarrassing. But he is very patient. That makes it tougher.
You borrow Amitabh Bachchan's job in the film though?
Yes, yes. I can't take his job in real life, but as a character, yes. I take his job as god in the film for 10 days, but I do some weird things on the ninth day and put the world in danger. Then god comes in and saves the world. So that proves I cannot do Mr Amitabh Bachchan's job.
What's your take on movies being promoted on TV shows, including your own Dus Ka Dum?
It is an übercool idea. We've had Priyanka Chopra on the show. We've had Ranbir, Deepika and Minissha as well. We did Singh is Kinng promotions as well and as far as God Tussi Great Ho goes, I keep mentioning it on the show as comic relief. But it's a sweet film, you should watch it.
Why is the film being released head-to-head with Bachna Ae Haseeno?
There are four days of holidays during the Indian Independence Day weekend. Bachna Ae Haseeno is also releasing and I wish them good luck. I hope Ranbir's film too does well and the audience goes and watches both.
Salman Khan
Actor
Khan, 42, made his debut in Biwi Ho To Aisi in 1988. The award-winning actor has gone on to star in some of the Bollywood's most successful films, including Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Tere Naam and Saajan.
The Madhya Pradesh native is Bollywood royalty and hails from a film family – his father Salim Khan is a scriptwriter, while his actress stepmother, Helen, redefined the song and dance genre in the seventies.
In 2004, the US edition of People magazine named him the seventh best-looking man worldwide.
Khan's personal life has not been without controversy. He was sentenced to five years in jail in 2006 for hunting the endangered chinkara deer. The sentence was stayed on appeal. He has also been arrested for negligent driving following a crash into a Mumbai bakery.
The actor has never married, but past girlfriends include actresses Sangeeta Bijlani, Somy Ali and Aishwarya Rai. He is now dating British-born actress Katrina Kaif.
Khan reportedly charges in the region of Rs400 million (Dh33.44m) per movie.