How do you choose good movie scripts?

What changes come to your image in past 2 years?

What do you want to say about the controversies aroused for the film ‘Padmaavat’?

‘Race 3’ is releasing soon, what are the new things audiences will get to see in ‘Race 3’?

What do you want to say about your latest movie ‘Kick’?

What is the cause of the fight between you and the media all the time?

What is your aim in life?

What are the things you keep in mind while acting?

Are you satisfied with your film career?

Why Bollywood remakes South Indian films? What is your perspective?

In which film did you perform the most dangerous action stunt? How was your experience?

Do you feel the pressure of being a star?

Who do you consider as the ideal audience?

Why do you sign newcomers like Daisy Shah as a lead actress opposite to you?

You have worked with Arbaaz and Sohail. What is the difference between the two directors?

Do directors get frightened to ask you or to correct you while directing?

Are you concerned about your movie’s first day box office collection?

What is your opinion about Pulkit Samrat?

When was the last time you panicked as an actor?

Do you feel an actor should act responsibly both on screen and off screen?

How was your kite flying experience with Narendra Modi? Do you promote your films through politics?

Do you believe anyone can replace you? What is your opinion about Ranbir and Emraan?

Do you work hard for films like all other actors in the industry?

Why do you do comedy films?

What are the things you consider while signing a film contract?

How was your experience working with Malaika in ‘Munni Badnaam Hui’?

How are your bonds with Aamir and Shah Rukh?

Why do you charge so much for the films and the corporate events?

Being a son of the legendary writer Salim Khan, why do you take so much time to start writing stories for films?

How do you look yourself as a story teller?

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

What is your opinion about Suraj Pancholi?

How do you evolve from a romantic hero to a action hero?

What is your perspective on love?

What made you decide to work with Katrina again even after consecutive flops?

Do you feel marriage still works as an institution?

Did you ever think you would become so popular?

Do hits or flops affect you?

When did you have your first drink?

Do you do television shows just for money or you like it?

How do you motivate youngsters in the industry?

How difficult and challenging was it to play versatile characters in your upcoming movie, Bharat?

Which is favourite song in your upcoming movie Bharat?

Which was the toughest role to play for you in the movie Bharat?

You and Chris have shot a couple of high octane, elaborative action sequences. How was it for you to be in the middle of such madness on set?

It seems like madness, but it was a very well organised madness. There were months of rehearsals, and a team was put together to make sure everything was safe. So, it was a very well choreographed madness.

As an actor, when you are in the middle of an action scene, what goes in your head? Does it get difficult to focus on the emotional aspects of the character and the story?

No. That’s part of our job. What goes in your head is the content of the scene. For example, I have to kill him and take away the boy. So, that’s what’s going on. The action becomes second nature because it has been rehearsed so many times that it is at the back of your mind. Go slow, fast then super fast.

How much do you enjoy action as an actor?

I love action, but this kind of action was a challenge. They had called me for the rehearsals and showed me roughly what they would be doing. I was like ‘Whaaat?! Really?!’ Then they showed me how by breaking it down. While growing up, I would watch action films a lot and always wondered how it would feel like to be in Rambo. And here I was riding on a helicopter and holding a gun. I told people I felt like I was in Rambo, and they replied, ‘Dude, you are Rambo!’ So, it was really cool.

What drew you to the project?

The script was great and the fact that I wasn’t going to play a stereotypical part of a person from the Indian subcontinent, which is usually the IT types and millionaires. The opportunity here was to play an action person, which I don’t think any male from the subcontinent has done in Hollywood. So that was a big draw for me. Now hopefully, I will get to do more action films in India as well.

There is actually nothing extraordinary about your character, Saju. You being an Indian in an American film with Chris Hemsworth felt very organic.

That’s Sam Hargrave’s doing. We started with a video call after my audition was approved. He is a big fan of the western genre and so am I. Sam always said Saju is his favourite character in the sense that you don’t know which way it’s going to go with him. There’s ambiguity and you don’t know which side he’s on. The film might be all action, but it has got a big heart and a big family angle. Everyone is dealing with their demons, problems which are discussed and fought for. That emotion makes it larger than life and makes you invest in these characters as an audience.

You think Saju can have his own film, like a spin-off?

Haha! It is early days. It is up to Sam and the producers what they want to do with it next. It is their property, but I will be definitely elated and game to play that.

You did Extraction and also worked on Radhe with Salman Khan. Were the differences between the two worlds more glaring to you?

They are different people, to begin with. They have got similar qualities as well. Both of them are good looking, childlike, but there’s a cultural difference. We, as a culture, are more worshipping. Chris felt like he was a Gladiator or Beatles when he came here and saw thousands of people peeping out of their windows and shouting his name. That’s something which would be very normal for Salman. So there’s a whole cultural difference. And with that idolising, comes the other part – it can make you a different person. But I feel both are very grounded and have a wicked sense of humour.

You have written the song Selfish for the film, while those close to you vouch for your selflessness.

The songs just happened by fluke. The music director (Vishal Mishra) asked me what kind of lyrics do you want. I shared what kind of lyrics I wanted. I recorded a whole bunch of stuff. He kept what he wanted and this song was composed. The selfless may do good deeds all their life. But they need to keep something for themselves for a rainy day, for the future. When you've done so much for others, you need to do something for yourself as well. But that doesn't mean you need to harm anyone or use someone as a pawn. The song tells you to keep something for yourself also.

What does it take to be brand Salman Khan, rocking even at 50 plus?

I really don't know Iska kya jawab doon main aapko (what answer can I give you)! I don't think about these things. From grandchildren to grandparents, I guess, they all connect with me. Perhaps, it's also got to do with the films I've done. I've done family films. Also, when things are written against you over and over again, somewhere, people begin to feel it's too much. That automatically changes opinion in your favour. There are a lot of factors that have helped me grow as a person. My immediate family, my friendsÖ School mein kaafi pita hoon main, ghar mein bhi (I've been spanked a lot in school and at home). That also helped. Basically, the life that I've ledÖ be it at home, in school, in boarding school, the friends that I've hadÖall this has added to my growth. I always hung out with people older than me and correct people. I learnt a lot from them.

Is the responsibility of living up to brand Salman Khan huge?

You're responsible for uplifting your name, your brand. It's not only for yourself it's also for your fans, your parents, for the industry, for the country. You need to be careful. But sometimes you're so careful that even if you want to say the right thing, you pull back, which is also not right. You're needed to be politically correct, which I'm not. Also, a journalist can write anything, a politician can say anything but you cannot!

How difficult was it to get the curve of your character right in Bharat?

It was difficult but fun. I had to lose a lot of weight to play the 27-year-old. Then I had to put on weight right away to look 55. There’s a difference of 15 kilos between the two looks. Then, I had to come back to looking like a 27-year-old as you can’t shoot all the portions all at once. It was fun because I saw some of my old films as a reference point. It was hilarious. The innocence, which was there in me then, is lost today. The nayapan, the rawness… has gone. I cringe when I watch some of my earlier songs. I watched films like Nischay, Jagruti, Chandramukhi, Chand Ka Tukda… Oh God, those jackets! But Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! and Hum Saath Saath Hain had a different Salman altogether. The director makes such a difference.

Despite huge-box office returns, your films are panned critically.

It doesn’t matter what’s being said about my films. Some will accord it 5 stars. Some will give it minus ratings. These people have never made a film themselves. And those who have, well, unki film itni buri tarike se piti hai. Critics can write what they want. But don’t be irresponsible. Don’t make fun of someone’s work. Let the audience decide. Let the fans go to the theatres at least. Even if 15 per cent of the audience relies on their reviews, the business gets affected by that much percentage. Maine Pyaar Kiya was made in one crore and eleven lakhs. It was a big budget film at that point. Today the smallest film is made in a budget of at least 25 to 30 crores. You need to recover that.

Tell us a lesser known facet about you.

I don’t sleep much. I sleep for around two and a half to three hours every night. I paint, I write, I watch television. I don’t like switching channels, even if it’s only airing commercials. I get upset if someone comes and changes it. If cricket is going on then I switch it off as I don't understand it much. But that too after many hours. Even if a South channel is on, it keeps playing. Recently, I find web shows interesting.

Any plans of venturing as an actor on the OTT platform?

I’ve been offered stuff. But I’m not sure. Handling three mediums, films, television and the web, would be too much to handle. I want to do two films a year. So I may go back to the way I used to work earlier – doing two shifts.one thing you never take for granted? don’t take my work for granted. Actually, I don’t take anything for granted.