Kabir Khan said that Bajrangi Bhaijaan revolves around an issue that's close to your heart. Would you tell us about that?
I come from a family where religion has never been an issue. My father, being a Pathan, got married to a Maharashtrian lady. The only problem they faced was that my father was from the film industry. Then, my father even married Helen aunty. So all this Hindu-Muslim hatred doesn't make any sense to me. Do you say that he is a Muslim pilot, so I won't take this flight? Or I won't eat at this restaurant because the food is prepared by a Hindu? I haven't have seen any Hindu guy not having a Muslim friend or vice versa (pauses).
Go on...
We all know this Hindu-Muslim divide is bullsh##! With Bajrangi Bhaijaan, we are trying our best to eradicate this nafrat (hatred). So if you want to see Pakistan-bashing or something bad happening to Pakistanis, then please don't come to watch this film. Main haath jodke kehta hoon fir mat dekhne aana Bajrangi Bhaijaan kyuki jo aapko chahiye woh aapko nahi milega! But if you want to see a story about how to respect people from another country, how to respect people with different beliefs, then you should watch the film.
After Bajrangi Bhaijaan this Eid, you've booked next Eid too...
(Interrupts) No, it's taken by Shah Rukh Khan! I'm just trying to be somewhere there (smirks).
Interestingly, when Shah Rukh Khan was asked about the clash, he avoided the question altogether. What's your take on it?
We have a different opinion on this. We feel when these two films will clash next year, we will have enough theatres by then. This will only help the industry. We have 5000-odd theatres but that's not enough. We need about 20,000-25,000 theatres at least. When films clash, the count of theatres will go up. That is our strategy.
What's your vision for Salman Khan Films?
My vision is to make films that can make a huge difference to everyone's lives. The actors should love what they are working on. People walking out of the theatres should feel nice about the film, it should touch them. The stories should be worth telling. Of course, they will have heroism and the kind of stuff that I do in my movies. It should have all four things - emotions, comedy, drama and action as per the film. Like Prem Ratan Dhan Payo has a lot of action, but it's Sooraj's kind of action. Similarly, Kabir Khan's action is according to the script of Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Sultan has a different kind of action.
Talking about Sultan, a few names have been making the rounds for the female lead - Priyanka Chopra, Parineeti Chopra, Kriti Sanon. So who's it going to be?
(Feigning surprise) Who told you I want to work with Kriti? Only Kriti and I know about it (Smirks). On a serious note, I'm not allowed to tell the name. But I will tell you something, you are pretty close. I know that there are 2-3 girls in consideration and you guys have missed one more big name and a newcomer.
Does that mean you're launching a newcomer?
No, it's not my film. It's Adi's (Aditya Chopra) film.
You have launched many debutantes and supported many actors. They always give you credit for their success. What's your reaction to this?
See, there have also been people whom we launched, but they didn't work. As for the ones who have done well, it's their greatness that they give me credit. They were meant to work irrespective of me being in the picture. I was just a zariya (medium). I was launched by Sooraj Barjatya when he himself was not launched. Rajshri had gone through a bad phase then. So if someone could do that for me, then I too can do it for others.
Now you're launching Sooraj Pancholi...
Sooraj had launched me, so I had to launch Sooraj!(Smiles)
Buzz is, you're looking into every detail of Hero...
Yes. Right now, we are doing both simultaneously - Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Hero. Once I wrap up the promotions of Bajrangi, I will focus solely on Hero.
You had once said that you want to venture into digital media and initiate it by taking a rupee from every fan. What's happening on that front?
We're working on that. I think Mukesh (Chhabbra, casting director) has done that. But yes, we're trying to work that out. We'll start all this when I turn 50. That will be my new 27.
So as you turn 50, do you have any special wish?
Nothing. I've got everything without asking for anything.
What is that one thing you look forward to when you wake up in the morning?
When I wake up in the morning, I used to look forward to a cup of coffee but not anymore. Now, I just wake up and pray that people around should get what they want.
Is there anything that you think you don't have yet?
Hmmm (pauses). I never ever thought about it.
A wife probably?
(Smiles) Whenever I spend time with myself or anyone else, I try to make it memorable by trying to do the right things. I believe that you can make every moment better or worse, it all depends on you. You can change your destiny. If you use it wrongly, you waste the moment. And if you make the most of the moment, you take your destiny higher.
So when will you get married? And will it be an arranged marriage or a love marriage?
I said arranged marriage a few days back. But now, I'm tilting towards love marriage. I don't have any plans. I'm better this way. I tell my married friends, "Don't phasao me in this." I'm figuring out how I can have a child without getting married.
Adoption?
(Smiles) We'll see.
Finally, can you tell us a bit about the little girl played by Harshali in the movie?
She is exactly like you. The only difference is that she doesn't talk in the film!