Grand trailer launch of Sikandar sees Salman Khan in element

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Besides the superstar Salman Khan, the trailer launch of Sajid Nadiadwala’s Sikandar, held at the Juhu PVR, was graced by the producer, director A.R. Murugadoss, leading lady Rashmika Mandanna, the cast comprising Kajal Aggarwal, Anjini Dhawan, Sathyaraj and Sharman Joshi, with Salman’s father, Salim Khan, also in the audience. Said Salman about him, “He loved the film, wanted to be here and meet all of you and see how you all treat me!”

Told by the host that he now had a legendary association with Eid, Salman quipped, “Eid, Diwaali, New Year…whether my film acchi ya boori ho log 100 paar karaa hi dete hain (Whether my film is good or bad, people always make it cross a 100 crore no matter when it releases)!”

Producer Sajid Nadiadwala (in a complete makeover that made the veteran producer almost unrecognizable!) spoke of his long association with the actor that began with Jeet in 1996, Judwaa (incidentally Salman’s first film to release on Eid in 1997) and went on to Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Jaan-E-Mann, Kick, Judwaa 2 and Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan. He said, “In my film Kick, there was a line for him that said, ‘Dil mein aata hoon samajh mein nahin’. But with this film, woh dil mein bhi aaya hain, samajh mein bhi, shooting mein bhai aur trailer launch mein bhi!”

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When the host complimented Salman for looking great, the 59 year-old actor said, “Beech mein aisi gadbad ho jaati hai ki 6-7 raat soye nahin, phir social media wale peechhe pad jaate hain, unnko dikhana padta hai ki abhi bhi hai (At times, things get so messed up that I don’t sleep for six to seven nights. Then the social media starts chasing me, so I have to show them that I’m still here).”

He went on, “Now I am told that I am romancing a heroine 31 years my junior. Heroine ko problem nahin hai, unnke father ko nahin hai, then why do you have a problem, brother? When she gets married and has a daughter, I will work with her daughter too! Her mother’s permission will be there!”

A happy A.R. Murugadoss thanked the producer and Salman for their trust in him. “As a struggling assistant director for long, I once requested security to allow me to watch a film shoot at Prasad Studios. He allowed me on condition that I would stand in a corner and not talk to anyone. I was given 20 minutes time. Sridevi was shooting and I saw the hero’s back. And when he turned it was Salman-sir! I thought then that I wanted to direct a film with him one day, and that time has now come years later! Salman-sir will make you both whistle and cry in this film!”

Quipped Salman at this, “As long as my film and I don’t make Sajid-bhai and Murugadoss cry!”

Anjini, granddaughter to Anil Dhawan and niece to Varun Dhawan, who made her debut last year with Binny and Family, said that she was very excited about her second film. “In one scene with Salman-sir, after every shot, I would keep saying ‘Sorry!’ to him,” she gushed.

Kajal Aggarwal (who made her Hindi debut with Singham in 2010), said that it was “Extremely exciting and humbling to work with such a phenomenal cast. No matter how many films we do, the excitement will always remain. I too watched the trailer now for the first time, and we were all whistling and clapping!”

Sathyaraj, Katappa of Bahubali fame, affirmed however that the best part of the day was when Salman introduced him to his father, Salim Khan, as “Papa, Katappa!” He stated that it was an honor meeting a writer who had “made several heroes” and whose films he had watched all through his school and college days!  When the anchor stated that the actor had spent 47 years in the field and acted in over 250 films, Salman commented that “He must have started his career at the age of three!”

Sathyaraj revealed that he had played all kinds of roles, including those of Dharmendra in Hukumat, Amitabh Bachchan in Agneepath and Boman Irani in 3 Idiots, in their respective Southern remakes!

Sharman, thanking Salman and the team, hoped that the film would do wonders for him. “I had heard a lot about Salman, but this is the first time I experienced what it was to work with him!” he raved.

The grounded Rashmika Mandanna, whose career in Hindi films is going through a purple-patch high (Animal, Pushpa 2, Chhava), kept asking the media-persons, “Aur kitne videos loge mera (How many more videos will you shoot of mine)?”

She said, “This movie is super-special! What can be bigger than this film and its cast and working with Salman-sir? Also, I entered films eight years ago, and have loved watching Murugadoss-sir’s works! They are so incredibly beautiful, have so much emotion, and are MASS—that’s how sir puts it! And Sajid-sir called me one day and said that as we wanted to work with each other, he had a great role for me!”

The producer stated that it did not matter how long you had worked in the industry as “a Friday decides your career”. But Murugadoss termed Sajid Nadiadwala as a very creative producer as he was also a writer and director.

As always, before the obligatory photo-op, Salman had the last word. Asked if it was tough shooting the film, his repartee was, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going! And thanks to my experience and enthusiasm, it is easier now to work!”

Asked who surprised him most with their work, he stated, “Everyone has done a fantastic job. But I must speak specially of Miss Mandanna here! She was shooting until 7 pm for Pushpa 2 and would join us at 9 in the evening and shoot until 6.30 in the morning, and return to the Pushpa 2 shoot! This even when she was not well, and even when she broke her leg, not a single shoot was cancelled.” With a twinkle in his eye, he added, “She actually reminded me of me—in my younger days, of course!”

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