Mahesh Manjrekar had vowed to give up acting but his new best-friend Salman Khan keeps coaxing him back to the camera. For Salman's home production Dabanng, Manjrekar stepped into the role of debutante Sonakshi Sinha's father on Salman's say-so. That was meant to be Manjrekar's swan song as an actor.

But now he has again been persuaded to face the camera with Salman for Anees Bazmee's Ready. The funniest part of the director's enforced career as an actor is, he doesn't know what his role in Ready is.

Says Mahesh, "Salman said you have to do it. I know I decided I won't be acting anymore. But you can't say no to Salman. He said, 'You're in Ready and you're part of my family in the film. Beyond that, all I know is I play a positive role for a change."

Dancing around the trees or cavorting in front of snow-capped mountains is passé for Bollywood’s onscreen couples. Now, they dig for a touch of ‘realism’ in their romance.

Last week Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha shot for a dream song sequence at Dubai’s Metro Station for Arbaaz Khan’s home production Dabangg. The scenes canned showed Salman and Sonakshi entering the station, buying the tickets and waiting for the train. But Salman is left behind and only Sonakshi boards the train.

“We wanted to keep it realistic. Very real. I play a corrupt cop from a small village in Bihar and Dubai was a perfect location because it’s a perfect blend of the east and the west,” Salman Khan told a few reporters late on Saturday.


The shoot was originally supposed to be held in Switzerland, but was shifted to Dubai because of the disrupted air traffic due to Iceland’s volcano.

However, shooting at Khalid bin Walid station in Dubai was a cakewalk for the crew.


“We shot on all the three levels: near the ticketing counter, at the station and there is a scene where Sonakshi gets into the train leaving me behind. We are not running around trees anymore, now we are doing it around trains,” Salman told the reporters.

The volcanic eruption in Iceland that has caused chaos all over the world by affecting air travel, had now affected Salman Khan's Dabanng. Yes, the ash could has played havoc.

Producer Arbaaz Khan explains, "We were to fly today to Switzerland to shoot for a romantic song sequence choreographed on Sonakshi Sinha and Salman but now thanks to Eyjafjallajokull (the name of the Icelandic glacier where the volcano erupted), we have had to shift our venue to Dubai."

Sohail and Arbaaz leave for Dubai today for a recce. "We tried working out the flights to Switzerland till the last moment but it just wasn't happening. We had Salman's dates and didn't want to waste them by postponing the schedule.

“Dubai was always an alternate plan and it worked, so now we are going there. It's an emotional storytelling romantic song filmed on Sonakshi and Salman travelling in a romantic situation, and can be shot anywhere from Ladakh to Switzerland or Dubai."

Salman, Sonakshi and the unit join Arbaaz and Sohail tomorrow in Dubai. The call to go to Dubai to shoot was taken five days ago and necessary arrangements were made.

Bollywood baddie Murli Sharma, who’s known for being extremely choosy about his roles, is doing a small bit in the Salman Khan starrer Dabbang being produced by Arbaaz Khan.

Well, one reason is he knows Arbaaz closely and guess what the other reason is? The actor is a Salman Khan fan himself. So when Arbaaz asked him to do a guest appearance he jumped at it… “There was no way I could say no to Arbaaz and I wanted to work with Salman Bhai…I missed out on Wanted because of date issues…It was so wonderful working with him…he is so cool….” Says Murli.

He is working on Tees Maar Khan and Golmaal 3 currently and is eagerly looking forward to films like Lamha, Saloon, Raftaar, Hook Ya Crook, Laxman Rekha…and a couple more…phew that’s quite a bit we must say!

First it was Ranbir Kapoor who had his torso/abs contoured and hand-painted during Saawariya by his ever-helpful co-star Salman Khan.

Now it is Sonu Sood who got the same personal attention from Bollywood Superstar Salman. While shooting the tricky bare-bodied climactic combat scene in Wai for Dabangg, Salman personally supervised his screen-adversary Sonu Sood's torso tanning.

Says Sonu, "Everyone knows when two guys do an action scene especially if they're bare-chested, they work out harder before the sequence to make sure each one's body is in the best shape."

Salman has not only exercised rigorously for the climactic fight but he has also made sure Sonu Sood looks his best on camera.

Says Sonu, "We've been shooting the hand-to-hand combat for a fortnight now, every day Salman has been making sure I'm as comfortable with the action director S Vijayan's instruction as he is."

He continues, "We've been shooting in the heat on a set depicting a warehouse and our fight is a free-for-all. We first combat with fists and then any weapon, instrument, hard object we can lay our hands on. .It's the most dangerous fight Salman and I have done. Salman made sure I was comfortable and as protected and safe as possible."

Best of all, the star gave Sonu Sood a lotion to highlight and contour his torso muscles.

Says Sood, "It's a suntan lotion which makes the abs glisten on camera so that your muscles look more contoured. Salman told me to apply it and my body looks better on camera than ever before."

Interestingly, Salman did the same to Ranbir Kapoor when the debutant shot the 'Jab Se Tere Naina' number in a towel for Saawariya. In fact Salman was not even required for the Saawariya song. He had nonetheless come on the sets and personally painted Ranbir's torso with the lotion before the song was shot.

That explains Ranbir's contoured torso muscles in the towel song when in fact he has a wiry physique.

Says Sonu Sood, "Unlike Ranbir who was in a towel the audience will see me and Salman like two rustic Biharis in Pyjama -kurtas. Salman plays a cop who thinks he's the unchallenged law of the region. I challenge him to a fight. We both slip off our kurtas and fight in full public view. As the fight gets more vicious the crowds are scared away .Only me and Salman are left, fighting. It's the most realistic climactic fight we've ever shot."

Salim Khan, one of the finest human beings in Bollywood — Everyone should learn from him — Salman's Dad Salim is always ready to bail out people in trouble.

It is a known fact that when producer Boney Kapoor needed money to release Wanted, Salim saab was the first to reportedly offer him a crore.

Now, we hear that Arbaaz Khan who is producing Dabangg with his brother bollywood sueprstar Salman Khan and Sonakshi Sinha reportedly needed Rs 4 crores for immediate funding. And of course the first man to offer to bail him out was his father, Salim saab. He truly believes that money sitting in a bank doesn’t make one a millionaire! It is bailing someone out in their hour of need that matters.

Younger brother Arbaaz Khan gifted big brother Salman Khan a SUV as a ‘Thank You’ gesture for acting in his home production ‘Dabaang’. Elated Salman immediately update the news on his Blackberry messenger status. The car is white in color and it was always in Salman Khan’s wish list.

On knowing about Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan’s interest for the car, Arbaaz immediately grab the car that was available in the market. If he waits for another color then it would be too late to gift his bro because he wanted to gift him the car as soon as he returns from Wai shooting.

An insider reveals, "When Salman saw the car at his doorstep in the morning, he was thrilled. He called him to thank him. Arbaaz wanted to be there when the car to delivered to Galaxy Apartments but unfortunately, he got held up in Wai to complete shooting."

Arbaaz confirms, "Yes I have given Salman the car as a thank-you gesture. He was very happy and messaged me. Now I am waiting for him to drive me down to Wai and also ride in comfort. More than putting a smile on his face, I am more than happy to have given him something that he likes."

They have been continuously shooting for the film for months long and almost 70 percent of the film completed. Next shooting has been scheduled in Mumbai. Meanwhile, Arbaaz has taken a short break from the hectic shooting to spend quality time with family and rejuvenate for the days ahead.

The shooting of Dabangg in Wai seems to be quite an accident-prone event for the cast and crew. Only last week, Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan was rushed to a local hospital after he complained of smoke congestion when a fire erupted on the sets. Now Salman's co-star in Dabangg, Sonu Sood has landed himself with a fractured nose while shooting for the film earlier this week.

Media spoke to Sonu who, despite the injury, is continuing shooting for the film in Wai. "Yes...It's true that I got hurt two days ago while shooting. We were shooting a fight scene between Salman and me that is a part of the climax.

During the practice, one of the fighters jumped and his knee happened to hit my nose real hard. The pain was quite severe and I was taken to the hospital for an X-ray and scan. The X-ray revealed a fracture in my nose. The doctor advised me bed rest for 3-4 days, but since we were shooting the climax scene between Salman and me I didn't want to delay the schedule. I landed on the sets the very next day after taking some painkillers and shot for some light scenes."

One must say that Sonu has indeed shown true professionalism by continuing to shoot in spite of a fractured nose. He will return to Mumbai in a week's time, after finishing the current schedule of Dabangg in Wai. We wish him a speedy recovery.

Unhappy with original dance director's effort, Salman asks Farah Khan to reshoot song!

Salman Khan isn't too happy with the way a song' 'Tere Mast Mast Do Naina' shot for his home production Dabanng, was choreographed (by Sabina Khan). Sources reveal that Salman now wants to re-shoot the entire song.

A source from the set says, "Salman and Sonakshi have shot for the song. It's a romantic number shot against a village backdrop. However, Salman wanted it to be a lavish love song with high production values."

Go Europe!
Now Khan has asked for the same song to be shot at an outdoor location. "He has asked Arbaaz to shoot the song somewhere in Europe. Director Abhinav Kashyap agreed with Salman after watching the song and has decided to reshoot it. However, they still have to figure out the location."

Since Sallu wasn't happy with Sabina's work, he has asked Farah Khan to reshoot the song. But now that Farah's busy with Tees Maar Khan, it's likely they will have to hunt someone else for the job.

When asked if she's doing the reshoot, Farah says, "I have just shot one song for the film." Meanwhile Kashyap denied the development.

Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan had a near death experience while shooting for his brother Arbaaz Khan's maiden production DABANGG recently.

Buzz is that the actor was shooting for a fire scene which resulted in Salman inhaling the fumes. Because of that he suffered from chest congestion and was immediately rushed to the nearest hospital in Wai, where the entire shoot was scheduled.

However, his fans can heave a sigh of relief as Salman is out of danger now & discharged from the hospital, after receiving proper medical care.

Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan has a new fan -- Sonu Sood's five-year-old son Ishaan. The kid spent time on the Dabanng sets and after seeing Sallu's fit body on display during the shooting, he kept on asking his dad about body-building. "He says he also wants a body like Salman's," says Sonu, who also works out regularly for his physique.

Over the years, we have seen Salman Khan in various genres of films. He has done successful romantic films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aap Kai Hai Koun, Baaghi, Sanam Bewafa, Saajan, Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Tere Naam. He is equally been in ease and successful in comedies like Andaz Apna Apna, Judwaa, Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, No Entry and Partner

He has successful action flicks like Karan Arjun, Garv, Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge, Wanted and Veer. He has also been part of some emotional family flicks like Hum Saath Saath Hain, Bandhan, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke and Baghban. He has also been part of critically acclaimed films like Khamoshi and Phir Milenge. He has been in Hindi film industry for more then 2 decades and is one of the superstars of current time.

Now he is turning into negative roles. With Dabangg, Mr. india 2 and Sanki, Salman Khan is going to his grey side. It will be interesting for his fans. We would also like to see Salman Khan in different genres of films. I would like to see him doing an horror film or few thrillers. I would like him try art cinema or trendy cinema also. As an actor, he has shown his range.

We have seen him playing mature character in chori chori chupke chupke then he has also played shy character in Hum Saath Saath Hain. He has played a mad role in Kyunki then he was Aids patient in Phir Milenge. Salman Khan is an understated actor and has not got his dues as an actor from both industry and media.

Dabaang would be his first negative role. The movie is directed by Abhinav Kashyap. Salman Khan is playing a corrupt cop. He will have moustache in the movie and will have accent of U.P or Bihari Guy. As an actor, it would be most challenging role. He would continue his negative avathar with Mr. India 2 and Sanki. In between, there is also sequel to Partner, No Entry, Judwaa and Wanted.

Salman Khan had shown certain grey shades in “Tere Naam” in first half of the film. It is considered as best performance of him as an actor. Salman can turn negative roles as new leaf to his career. He is fag end of the career. Negative roles can extend his career. Salman Khan as a villain would be most dashing and handsome villain of Indian cinema.

Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan has returned Rs 1.5 crore this week which was offered to him for performing at wedding reception of the Videocon owner Venugopal Dhoot’s brother Pradeep Dhoot’s son Saurabh. The actor refused with the reason of shooting for brother Arbaaz Khan’s Dabangg in Wai. The sources say that an important action scene had to be shot with the south action director Vijayan, who had specially flown down with his team of stuntmen and Salman did not want to keep them waiting and wasting a day of the shooting.

Some days had already been cancelled when Khan was hurt. When Salman noticed the cost of postponing the shoot to producer-director-brother Arbaaz, he then decided to cancel all his performances.

Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan's on screen names are as famous as his acts. Remember his favourite character names, Prem and Radhey. Now, here is another name of his upcoming act that will surely make you smile.

In his forthcoming film Dabanng, Salman Khan will have a unique character name. Something which his fans might find surprising. According to sources who have sneaked this inside information out to media, Salman Khan's character name in Dabanng will be Chulbul Pandey. This not the end of fun. Sonu Sood, who will also be part of this film, has been named Cheddi Singh in order to add to the fun.

Sonakshi Sinha, who will be making her film debut opposite Salman Khan in the film, is named Rajo and she will be playing Salman's wife in the film.

Dabanng deals with the subject of mafia and is set in Bihar. The film is a comic take on the mafia of the land and the name of the characters suggests that this laughathon is surely going to rock at the box office.

While his Gladiator act in Veer may not have set the cash registers ringing, it certainly hasn't affected Salman Khan. Sallu is busy shooting for his next film Dabangg directed by Abhinav Kashyap and produced by Arbaaz Khan. We came across some on-the-sets stills of the film and were in for a surprise to see Salman sporting a moustache. Yes...you heard it right; Salman who apparently plays a police inspector would be seen sporting a moustache in this film. Even brother Arbaaz who stars in the film will sport a moustache.

The film also marks the debut of Shatrughan Sinha's daughter, Sonakshi Sinha. One will have to wait and watch how Sallu fans react to this new look of his.

The injury is serious and shooting for the Arbaaz Khan's Dabanng has been cancelled for next few days.

Says an eyewitness, "Salman was shooting a complex action scene with action director Vijayan (Wanted) when he tore a ligament in his right arm. He could barely move it after that."

Though the actor took some painkillers and finished his scene that day, it was obvious that he was in great discomfort and pain. But after pack-up, he requested Vijayan to shoot without him for a couple of days.

Producer-director Arbaaz Khan confirms, "Salman had an old injury or maybe the ligament he sprained was already strained.When he started shooting, the injury got aggravated."

Arbaaz adds, "Salman took painkillers that day but by evening, his arm was all swollen and bruised. The next day, it got worse and he requested our action master to shoot without him for a day. It's difficult to do action scenes without lifting your arms and he couldn't do that. Salman is still in pain."

Here's a dekho of Salman Khan shooting for Dabanng at United Mills, Parel on Wednesday afternoon. The actor was spotted walking around the sets bare-chested before he slipped into his character -- of a cop.

The film is his brother Arbaaz Khan's production. Shatrughan Sinha's daughter Sonakshi makes her B-Town debut with the project. Sallu even cycled from his home for the shoot.

She has walked the ramp, designed clothes and is now making her acting debut in Bollywood — that’s Sonakshi Sinha for you. The daughter of actor Shatrughan Sinha comes across as an outspoken person.

When asked whether she felt strange acting with Salman Khan who is more than double her age, she says, “I agree he is a lot older than me. But nowadays a lot of new heroines have done that. Deepika came in with Shah Rukh Khan and Asin with Aamir Khan. They too are way too young than their heroes. So what are we talking about? Besides, I have seen the rushes. I look good with him.”

Sonakshi realised that she was suited for acting only after she lost a lot of weight. And the weight loss happened because Salman had told her that she was ‘way too fat’ when he first saw her.

“He told me that the first thing I needed to do was lose weight. He said that he can take me in his movie as a heroine but I needed to shed off my kilos first. He convinced me to lose weight. When that happened, he said I was on for his next film. I was very happy doing my fashion designing but suddenly after losing weight, I knew that my career graph has changed,” says Sonakshi candidly.

Didn’t Shatrughan Sinha tell her ‘khaamosh’ in his inimitable style
when she first went up to him and said she wanted to act?

“There’s no way he would tell me ‘khaamosh’. In our house, I go around telling my dad ‘khaamosh’. Besides, he saw the script and approved it himself,” she says. During the course of the conversation Sonakshi also gives us a glimpse into her philanthropic side. She wants to take up the cause of breast cancer.

“I want to build awareness about it. This is a form of cancer that can be easily cured provided it is detected early. A lot of women don’t speak about it because they think would be turned into outcasts,” she ends.

Salman Khan is recently being impressed with another Khan not his rivals but Mudassar Khan.

Salman saw this 25-year-old man performing with his troupe ‘Sharp Shooters’ at a local Mumbai mall. And Salman was completely bowled over his fantastic movies.

Mudassar said in a tabloid chat, “Salman sir liked my work so much that he asked me to choreograph his dance for an awards night.”

Besides, the actor has also roped him for few songs in his upcoming flick Dabanng.

Well folks, you never know who’s watching you?

Well, this is the Salman Khan’s last pictures of weight training. The Bollywood Superstar told to media that he is giving up lifting weights so that he can lose all his muscles.

“I need to get rid of these muscles. Now, that the shooting of my film is over, I have stopped lifting weights. I am only doing free-hand exercises. I think that there cannot be a better alternative to free-hand exercises when it comes to the good old Indian dan-baithaks. I can do one hundred dan-baithaks at one go,” says Salman.

At a time when Shah Rukh reportedly cannot spend two hours at a stretch without puffing on the cancer stick and Aamir famously admitted on his blog that he tends to smoke under pressure— Salman admits that he is suffering from withdrawal symptoms, as he is going through the process of giving up smoking and drinking altogether.

“I have realised that when I smoke, children and adolescents pick up the habit fast. I don’t want to be an excuse for teenagers to learn smoking. You will never see me smoking again. As for the screen, if there is a smoking scene, then the director really has to convince me very hard on why I need to puff that stick. Besides, I am not drinking also. I think every star who has a fan following should not be smoking or drinking on the screen or in public for that matter,” says the star, admitting, “Yes, you do suffer from withdrawal symptoms. Your body constantly draws you towards that habit while your mind reasons that you shouldn’t do it. I will let my mind do the talking because these symptoms go away after a while.

This is not easy, but what on earth is easy? And above all, I need to give up smoking and drinking for the kind of lean body that I am looking at.”

Salman, who has not been a method actor, is now turning to method acting like Aamir Khan. “I need to get into the skin of the character of my next film (Dabangg). It requires a lean body. Besides, I have always wanted a lean body. I have sported a muscular physique for a long time. It’s time for a different Salman Khan to emerge!” he ends.