People often feel that a film can never have the same effect / magic as the book Do you agree with that?

I agree, it can't have the same magic. But it can have its own magic. A well made film on a book is a treat - for readers to relive the story and for non-readers as they will be assured of a tight plot on screen.

Hello has six principal characters…Could you tell us something about them…Describe them in one line each

The six characters are Shyam, who is having a breakup with Priyanka; Esha, who wants to be a model; Vroom, a hot-headed yet fun guy who likes Esha; Radhika, an overworked housewife and Military Uncle, a retired army man who now works in a call center. The six of them are having the worst night of their life.

Salman Khan makes a guest appearance in the film…yet the film is being promoted as a Salman Khan film…do you think it is fair?

I don't think Hello is being promoted purely as a Salman Khan film. It is very clear that Hello is 'One Night @ the Call Center' and we have millions of readers who already know what role Salman is playing in the film. I also feel Salman's role is important to the story (it is the role I play in the book, so it is obviously important!). So in a way, it is more than a guest appearance anyway. My readers/audience have made me, they trust me and I plan to have a longer innings in Bollywood - so misrepresenting to them would be unthinkable.

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