Salman Khan may be one of the biggest stars in India, but the actor remarks that the journey to stardom was not an easy one considering his professional highs and lows and legal woes. However, the 52-year-old actor believes that there have been breaking points in his life, but the nature of his job does not allow him to share his vulnerable side with the world.
“My profession is such that I have to look good, dress up, do stylised action sequences and romance. Articles are written on my affairs, me working with beautiful heroines and then suddenly a court date comes up… People see me on Bigg Boss in which I am laughing and joking. So, people think I am not bothered about things. But that is the most difficult part of our journey as actors. No matter what you are going through at your home or in your personal life, you can’t have subtitles there. You have to be that character, no matter what you are going through,” Salman said at the Global TiE Summit.
The actor said being a star has a lot of repercussions as he does not have the “luxury of being depressed or sad”.
“I see a lot of people going on vacations, but I cannot afford that luxury of taking a vacation. I see a lot of people getting depressed and emotional, but I can’t afford that luxury of being depressed or sad or emotional because no matter what I am going through, it works against me,” he said.
Recalling his initial days in the film industry, Salman revealed his aim as a new actor was to give an equally bigger hit as Aamir Khan’s Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. “The journey I began with ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, not knowing if I would make it, and that time it was difficult because there was another actor, who had started his career and he had given a big hit. That kid’s name was Aamir Khan. He was from the same locality. I thought that he made it and if I didn’t make it, the whole Bandra will start laughing at me. So, my concern was only Bandra- Pali Hill and the friends’ circle, which just had four-five people,” Salman said.
Talking about how his career shaped up, he added, “When I was 15-16 (years old), I started partying because at that age everyone parties. When I was in college, I used to assist in films and then I started working as a model too.”
Speaking further, he said: “One day, Mr Kailash Surendranath (advertising filmmaker) made me face the camera for the first time. It was for his Campa Cola advertisement, so, he used to take me out for parties. One day, he kept his arm around me and said ‘Salman, I don’t think you should waste your time by spending your father’s money’. Though he said that jokingly, I didn’t take that as a joke. Straight after that, I started working and till today, I don’t take holidays.”
