NEW DELHI: The Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2017 saw Bollywood actor Salman Khan at his candid best. His frank replies brought forth quite a few laughs, even as the actor himself struggled a little with his sore throat, the result of a viral infection.
Speaking at the event, the actor began his session by apologising for his voice and declaring that he was not “fit” to be on a platform that had such “well-read and dignified” speakers.
During the session, moderated by journalist Shekhar Gupta, Salman was asked about the debate on him being one of the most misunderstood actors. He replied with a smile, “For the last 25-30 years, I have been hearing that I am the most misunderstood person there is. But, if someone is saying that you are misunderstood, that means he understood me. He totally got it. Otherwise, how would they say I am misunderstood?” The reply was received with loud applause.
The actor went on to say that, “I had the most boring life; it was your fraternity (media) that made it interesting. If one had to come and live my life, that person would find it boring and hectic. But my dad is a Muslim, my mother is a Hindu and I call myself insaan (human being).”
He continued, “The kind of life I have led is the kind everyone has led. I have been working from the age of 15, for 24 hours a day, seven days a week till Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Biwi No 1 and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. I have worked all my life.”
He added, “I live in a one-room apartment. It’s a nice, hard-working man’s life that I have led.”
Afterwards, speaking to media outlets, Salman said that although he thoroughly enjoyed the summit session, he was really nervous initially as he did not know what Shekhar Gupta was going to ask. However, he said that he really enjoyed the journalist’s questions.
Nervousness is not an emotion that is usually associated with the bold Salman Khan and when questioned about this, he responded, “I am nervous just about anything nowadays and I would rather be cautious than being sorry.”
Salman will be next seen in the film Tiger Zinda Hai which is scheduled to release on Christmas. The actor is pretty excited about the film directed by Ali Abbas Zafar saying that the director had done a spectacular job and that the film will be a surprise for Indian viewers.
“I think this is the first time that Hindi cinema audiences will see a film like this,” said Salman. “No matter how I [might] try to describe and explain [the film], you won’t get it until the time you watch it yourself.”
Salman also praised his co-star Katrina Kaif, his rumoured ex, saying “this is her best work”.