Salman Khan: I am a man now

Dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans, Salman Khan [ Images ] was in a good mood on the sets of actor-turned-director Puneet Issar's Garv, in Mumbai's [ Images ] Mehboob Studios.

The actor will play a filmi cop after 13 years. The last time was for the late Anant Balani's Pathar Ke Phool, which was Raveena Tandon's [ Images ] debut film. Salman claims the only difference between playing a policeman then and now is, "I was a boy then. Now I am a man."

Garv also stars Shilpa Shetty [ Images ] and Mukesh Rishi. It is scheduled to release in May.

Puneet Issar, better known as Duryodhan from B R Chopra's television series Mahabharata [ Images ], debuts as a director in Garv. Issar claims that Salman has been very mature in the film. Salman quips, "He will obviously say that. He won't say I have acted immaturely after the completion of film."

There were recent reports about Salman travelling by a Mumbai local train from Churchgate. When asked, the actor exclaims, "Nahin, bhai! I didn't travel by train. I don't know who published this report. If you want, I will travel by local train tomorrow so that you can publish the right news.

"I travel by either bicycle or an autorickshaw. Don't be surprised if you see me in a rickshaw!"

The actor jokingly explains, "I don't have too many films, so I cannot afford petrol for my car. Money problem! And even if I could afford it, I cannot drive because the police has taken away my license." It may be recalled that Salman was involved in a hit-and-run accident last year, when he allegedly killed one and injured four people.

Though Salman plays a serious cop in Garv, he gets to sing the tapori number, Khaya piya kuch nahin, glass thoda baraana. Salman says, "Don't serious guys do tapori numbers? I have seen managing directors of big firms attending mujrahs. Why can't serious cops do tapori numbers in real life?"

The actor claims he is happy with the film; it has turned out to be a good one. "This is not a preaching kind of film but still manages to give a message," he says. "My character Inspector Arjun Ranawat is great. People will fall in love with him and his ideology."

Just then, a Pakistani delegation marches into Mehboob Studios to meet Salman. After exchanging pleasantries, a Pakistani lady thrusts her cell phone to a bemused Salman's hand and pleads with him to talk to her daughter in Lahore [ Images ].

After recovering from the initial embarrassment, the actor says, "How are you, beta? How are you doing? This is Salman uncle here. I hope you are concentrating on your studies. Be a good girl. Tata, bye!"

Photographs: Jewella C Miranda

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