Salim Khan, the celebrated writer of films like Sholay, Andaz and Seeta aur Geeta, can predict the fate of his son Salman Khan's film Bajrangi Bhaijaan at the box-office. But for now he feels that would be unfair since he hasn't seen the film. So Kabir, please show your film to Salim saab pronto!
Salim tells us, "Once I have seen a Salman film, I can tell you if it will click or not. The success rate of my predictions is 99 per cent."
Any case in point he can share? Pat comes the reply: "After seeing Kyon Ki (2005, co-starring Kareena Kapoor Khan), I didn't go up to Salman and pat his back which I do when I think his film will do well. He came running upstairs to my flat (Salman stays on the Ground Floor in Galaxy, Papa Salim stays one floor above) and said: 'Dad, kya hua?' I turned around and said: 'Salman, I hated the film."
And then? "He argued with me that he was getting a plethora of praises from all others who were present at the trial show."
To which, Salim tells us his response was: "I sat him down and explained that why would the people whom he invites and entertains would ever be frank and honest with him."
Salim adds, "Be it Rajesh Khanna or Salman Khan or any star for that matter, stars are in denial mode if and when their films fail. They get calls from small cities who tell them that a new multiplex in their town had a full house because they were handing out free samosa and popcorn. But, are such calls or stray successful shows the barometer of a film's fate?"
Phew! Salim saab, we wish we had more like you in Bollywood who can take failures on their chin. Wouldn't creativity then in Bollywood have always been on the upsurge?
(Tune in to SpotboyE.com The Show on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9 pm and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1 pm on 9XM).