Though his fan following is tremendous and fans love him immensely, Salman Khan once revealed the negative aspects of being a star by drawing an analogy between his situation and that of a “monkey in the zoo.” This was disclosed by the popular author Chetan Bhagat while he was speaking on an interview. Bhagat explained what his own experiences have been in his personal encounters with the Bollywood megastar, including how he worked alongside Salman for the movies Kick and Hello.
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Chetan Bhagat’s First Encounter with Salman Khan
Reminiscing about his first encounter with Salman Khan, Chetan Bhagat said that he had gone to Salman’s house at Galaxy Apartments in Bandstand, Mumbai, to sell the film rights of his book One Night at the Call Centre. Bhagat was then employed in a bank. The book was subsequently made into the movie Hello, which was directed by Salman’s brother-in-law, Atul Agnihotri. Bhagat disclosed that Salman Khan possesses a strange “sixth sense” in judging individuals and measuring talent. It was only after the initial meeting that Salman extended an invitation to Bhagat to work together on the film.
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The Friendship and Respect Between Bhagat and Salman
Though their first encounter was short, Chetan Bhagat revealed that his rapport with Salman increased over the years, particularly while working on Kick. Bhagat used to go to the film sets, where he and Salman would connect through talks. Bhagat liked Salman’s honesty and simplicity, which made their limited interactions count. He was impressed by the way the actor never let fame go to his head.
In a promotional interview for Hello, Chetan Bhagat questioned Salman if he liked always being surrounded by fans, wanting to take pictures and get attention. Salman’s response was unexpected and revealing: “Mujhe aisa lagta hai jaise chidiyaghar mein bandar hota hai (I feel like a monkey in a zoo), but I know that I’m nothing without fans.” This raw admission lingered with Bhagat, who went on to say that he frequently thinks back to Salman’s words when he becomes irritated by his own celebrity. Bhagat has said, “Jis din yeh chala gaya sab chala gaya (the day this goes, everything will be gone).”
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Salman Khan’s Latest Success with Sikandar
On the professional front, Salman Khan is basking in immense success with his action movie Sikandar, which received a great response from viewers. Starring alongside Rashmika Mandanna, the film hit the screens over Eid, making it another one of Salman’s traditional holiday season releases. With his longevity at the top and affection for his fans, Salman continues to enthral both the masses and peers alike.
