Mumbai: Dressed in blue shorts and a grey t-shirt, Bollywood actor Salman Khan looked ready for a picnic. But don’t be fooled by his casual gear. Khan, 49, was in the mood to talk shop and to promote his latest action drama Kick out this Thursday: but in his signature flippant style.
He was all swagger and cut a relaxed figure, perhaps relieved that the press photographers in Mumbai were continuing with their boycott of the star.
Recently, the city’s photographers declared a “ban” on the actor when his bodyguards allegedly roughed up the press photographers when the actor showed reluctance to pose at a desired spot.
The boycott continues, but the actor was unfazed as he talked up his Eid release.
“The fact that everybody has appreciated me and our efforts in Kick give us a huge kick,” said Khan at a press conference in Mehboob Film Studios on Wednesday. But his only request to critics who will be watching his film: “please don’t give me a minus one star … that kind of low appreciation is another kind of kick that you get.”
The last request encapsulates this actor’s career graph.
His films, which are filled with old-school Bollywood style action, drama, songs and larger-than-life scenarios, have been money-spinner but never curried favour with critics.
But Khan hasn’t let that dampen his spirit for giving it his all for his latest film. The behind-the-scenes action footage that was shown prior to the conference stood proof.
“That train stunt that you see, please don’t do it in front of any train. It was on hire and the train driver knew what was happening. His eyes were on my face and his foot were on the brakes. I did that scene only after eight rehearsals,” said Khan.
Produced by UTV Motion Pictures and Sajid Nadiadwala – who has also directed the film – Kick releases in over 4,500 screens. When a journalist asked about the exact numbers, Khan was quick to retort: “will our answer really help you?”
Read the full interview in tabloid! on Friday.
