Darling of film industry

New Delhi, Mar 10: He may be the proverbial Notwithstanding his conviction by a Rajasthan court recently to one year's imprisonment in the case relating to hunting of black bucks, Salman is the most 'popular' star in the industry today, more than perhaps even Shahrukh and Aamir Khan.

Salman is perhaps the only one among the "Khan troika" who has either worked or is working with almost every other filmmaker in Bollywood, from Sanjay Leela Bhansali to Sooraj Barjatya, from David Dhawan to Vasu Bhagnani to Sajid Nadiadwala, from Priyadarshan to Subhash Ghai or, for that matter, even Karan Johar and Yash Chopra.

Infact, he is among the few actors who has worked with top ranking filmmakers rank newcomers as well as "down and out" filmmakers.

Trade analysts say that notwithstanding his constant "brushes with the law", one quality that sets Salman apart from his other contemporaries is that he is one actor who does films out of his sense of loyalty towards filmmaker friends, rather than merely due to their box office potential.

So while, on the one hand, he has worked with top filmmakers like Sajid Nadiadwala in 'Mujhse Shadi Karogi', Abbas Mastan in 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke', David Dhawan in 'Maine Pyar Kyun Kiya', Vasu Bhagnani in 'Biwi No 1', Boney Kapoor in 'No Entry' and Ravi chopra's 'Baghban', he has, at the same time, also been seen in Revathy's 'Phir Milenge', Sohail Khan's 'Lucky No Time for Love', Atul Agnihotri's 'Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha'.

Trade sources say Salman agreed to play the lead role in a film by old friend Revathy in 'Phir Milenge', a film about an AIDS patient at a time when no star of his stature, or even below that, had consented to work in a film which they feared was a women-oriented one. For Salman, it was his way of repaying Revathy's gesture of having consented to work with him in 'Love' when Salman was a rank newcomer in the industry.

Another case in point is Salman agreeing to do a guest appearance in Dev Anand's 'Love At Time's Square' for "old times sake".

Trade observers say that it this basic While South Indian filmmaker Priyadarshan, who has just made 'Kyon Ki' with Salman, plans to do another film with him, Sajid Nadiadwala, who cast him in 'Mujhse Shaadi Karogi', is doing another film 'Jaaneman with the actor. David Dhawan, as also Boney Kapoor, are said to be considering him for their future ventures. Also on the anvil is Sanjay Leela Bhansali's next film as well as Sooraj Barjatya's next. He is also doing Sajid Nadiadwala's 'Jaaneman' with Akshay Kumar and Preity Zinta. Also on the anvil for Salman is 'Babul' by Ravi Chopra, with whom he earlier worked in 'Baghban' a couple of years ago.

While his filmmaker friends have stood by him all along, the goodwill enjoyed by Salman has won him new friends over the years.

Karan Johar asked him to play a supporting role in his debut directorial venture 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' a few years ago, while Boney Kapoor last year cast him in a key role in his film 'No Entry'.

Recently, the actor was signed by filmmaker Subhash Ghai for his forthcoming directorial venture, shooting for which begins later this year. This is the first time Salman will be working with the veteran filmmaker who has earlier worked with Shahrukh Khan.

Further, he was recently signed for Nikhil Advani's film 'Salaam-E-Ishq', Salman was also under consideration for a Yash Chopra production but things did not work out.

Trade observers say that what accounts for Salman's huge popularity among filmmakers today, besides the stupendous box office success of his recent films, is his soft and liberal hearted quality that has endeared him to many in the film world.

''Over the past few years, I have keenly observed Salman and I must say he has impressed me both as a person as well as an actor.

In my opinion, Salman is basically a child at heart who can neither think ill of anybody nor do anything to harm someone. So I am really surprised at the negative reports in the media about Salman,''filmmaker Subhash Ghai told UNI recently.

A statement which others like Suneil Shetty endorse. ''Salman has a heart of gold,,''Suneil says. That, as a person, Salman has a heart of gold is evidenced by the fact that recently the actor spent some quality time with conjoined twins Farah and Sabah, who came to Mumbai from Patna for a complex surgery. Salman invited the girls', along with their aunt who accompanies them everywhere, to his house in Bandra, Mumbai. Salman also invited them for a home cooked meal on the sets of his film. When the time came to say good bye, Salman escorted them to the gate and wished them all the best for their surgery and promised to be there for the same. He also gave them his phone number

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