Salman khan / Ruchi sharma

Talking to Salman Khan is an ear-singeing experience, at best description. With expletives punctuating his words (which are also expletives, by the way) and more expletives flying around the lobby of a shabby run-down, has-been hotel, there's no place to hide from the embarrasment either.

You start off with his latest venture, Bandhan, for which he has bought out two territories. ``It's not really over-confidence or anything that made me invest. It's that I think so. I haven't done a film like this before, in a completely rural setting. I think it's more of a ladies' film, the kind women would love. And of course, the kind you can take your family and view peacefully,'' he says.

Salman, the family star seems to be a catch-phrase these days. But when was it any different, asks Amod Mehra, industry analyst. ``See his roles right from the begoinning - especially those that have done well. They are all the kind of roles people love - a favourite brother, friend, neighbour. Action or romance solely have never agreed well with Salman,'' he says. Cases in point are Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun...!, Saajan or even his latest hit, Jab Pyaar Kissise Hota Hai.

Riding high on a wave of success after Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya and Jab Pyaar... -- two out of the four hits this year -- may have put Khan on par with any other actor, but he doesn't appear fazed. ``I don't give a damn about that. Who cares about others, or what my position is? I've seen it all - how people are when you're doing well, how they are when you're not. So it doesn't bother me. What I'm interested in is myself - as long as I'm all right, the world can go to hell,'' he says.

But the world that can go to hell is bothered all right. Like it or not, Khan is a serious contender for the position of being the biggest star today. And there are people who cannot hide their surprise. ``Despite his attitude, of antagonising not only the press, but also people he works with, the only reason Salman Khan has reached where he is today, is that he is the best looking actor around,'' says Mehra. He does feel, however, that Aamir still has the edge over Salman, simply because he has never given a flop, in the commercial sense of the term, and if Salman were as dedicated, he'd be taken more seriously.

Salman, however, does not give a hoot. An attitude that has cost him his superstardom, or at least delayed it considerably, feels Taran Adarsh, the editor of Trade Guide magazine. ``There is no way by whihc you can say that any of the three Khans is better or worse than each other. They all are at the same level - but only Salman has that element of being a star. If he would take his career more seriously, he would be a bigger star and would have gotten there earlier. But his attitude is one of complete irreverence and indifference - in the sense that does not really care how he goes about his life professionally,'' he says.

Attitude that size should have pulled even the most smashing success of a star down to dust, but not this Khan. The press is his enemy - ``only the dirty, sleazy bunch, who are yellow by birth'', he is quick to say - and his fans are the ones that can pass off as his only friends.

That glossies write about him not too kindly doesn't bother Salman Khan one bit. ``They have a problem, these film magazines. I say one thing, they print another. Then the whole thing becomes a slinging match. So now I've decided that I won't give them interviews. Either way, they bitch about me - so why should I?'' he demands.

``Now, there's this new rule I have - any sleazeball film magazine - except one or two - wants to write about me, they have to put Rs 1,00,000 on the table. Then I'm game for interviews. If they don't want to give it to me, they can send it straight to the Tata Cancer Research Centre. Let the b*&^%&*s help out someone at least,'' he lashes out.

The only term that comes to mind for that statement is once again the a-word - attitude. But then, maintains Khan, that's just the way he is. ``I've always had a bad attitude - when I was a small fry, it was worse. And now, when I'm big-time, as they say, it's still bad. So what's new? I'm not the type who would ever want to desperately be seen in print. If it happens it's okay, if not, it's okay too, '' he says. And it wasn't any different when he sat home twiddling his thumbs for months after Maine Pyar Kiya. ``People didn't want to touch me. They were still in the mindset that baap writer hai, to beta kya actor banega?,'' he says. Things got better after Patthar Ke Phool, and then began his love-hate affair with the press.

But then, Khan likes to believe he is the strong, silent type. ``If people want to know about me, the have to watch my films, and read what people I work with say about me. Whatever is for public consumption, is all there. My private life is my business, and it is something I don't want to talk about,'' he says.

You move on to topics that evoke lesser venom. After Karan Arjun, which was virtually a comeback of sorts after a string of flops, Salman Khan, it appeared, became too big for his size seven boots. And in the process, lost out on a lot of things as well.

Perhaps the only thing detractors agree with. ``That is a fact. Had Salman paid more attention than shot off his mouth, he would have reached this position sooner,'' says Mehra.

``I don't think so. The thing is, the yellow bunch bad-mouthed me more than ever before. And if I lost out on anything, in the long run, it hasn't really been a loss, right?'' he says.

``See, the thing is, I know myself and my limitations. I'm no actor. I can dance a bit, sing a bit, do a bit of comedy, a bit of romance, a bit of action. The most important thing is that I really love what I do.

``For me, the rest of my success is pure luck. You know, when I entered the industry, I had an aim - I wanted to make Rs 10,000,00 and get out. Now, when I think about that, I know I've made it beyond my wildest expectations. I'm not complaining. Even today, I'm ready to quit. If the audience feels that there is another heartthrob, that I am no longer any good, I'll gracefully move on,'' he says.

Easy words, and ones that have been oft-repeated by his predecessors. But no-one really lived upto them. There are those even trying to reclaim their glory in the dust that they see at eye-level.

``Yes, that's true. But fame and money haven't really made all that much of a difference to me. If it's there, it's great. I love all the adulation and attention I get, but I can live without it, too,'' he says firmly.

And a secure life it would be, with enough squared away and a business that goes by the name of GS Entertainment. His roles on that front, however, are not clearly defined.

``I have no role,'' he laughs. ``The `S' in that was supposed to be Salman, but my brother kicked me out, so now it's Sohail. I am just a partner. The work is left to my brother and Bunty, who have more experience than me anyway,'' he says.

Moving back to himself, one wonders if people have ever approached him with scripts that were `made with him in mind'. ``It happens everyday. And if I say no, after a couple of months, they announce the film with someone who is so unlike me, I don't know whether to laugh or cry,'' he says, dryly.

Director Saawan Kumar Tak, who thinks very highly of Khan, stresses this point as well. ``It is important that Salman, or for that matter, any star, choose a script that is bigger than the star himself. That is the problem Amitabh is facing today - any script pales in comparision to him. Salman should not make the same mistake,'' he feels.

Apart from all his shenanigans, Salman Khan is the only actor who has no qualms about working in a double-starrer, and that too, with actors who are considered direct competition. ``We are not competitors. Aamir has his own style, so does Shah Rukh. And there's enough work for everyone in this huge industry. I work with people because I get along with them,'' he says.

Tak puts in a word in his favour, saying that he and Salman were almost like brothers during the making of Sanam Bewafaa. ``He is one of the most easy-going people to work with, and one of the few genuinely nice human beings in the industry,'' he says.

So, everyone's a friend of the great SK... ``Yup. Lolo's great,'' Khan says, of his favourite. ``But I've never had a problem with my heroines otherwise. Sridevi is the most amazing woman I've ever worked with. So is Madhuri. Neelam is, too, but she's barely there. I'm doing Hum Saath Saath Hain with her, and looking forward to that. Then there's Sushmita, who I'm doing Biwi Number One with - she's the most vibrant, zestful person I know. With Ash, I have Tujhe Dil De Chuke Sanam. And with Urmila, there's Janam Samjha Karo. And all these women are great to work with,'' he insists. Point taken.

There's the popular tale of unless Salman takes off his shirt, his film isn't complete. ``Ha! Ha! Fine. If that's what it takes,'' he laughs.

Copyright © 2000 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.