FILM INTERVIEW: SALMAN KHAN
'London Dreams' Brings Salman Khan into Music World, Introduces Asin T. to the Limelight
As Salman Khan (Wanted, Dabangg) returns to the big screen in London Dreams, we are provided with a perspective of Indian music's current place on the world stage. Indeed, both Mr. Khan and his up-and-coming co-star Asin Thottumkal take on metaphoric characters in this week's release of London Dreams. When all is said and done, Bollywood, as an industry, probably has more in common with the American music industry than it does with Hollywood. Specifically, actors in India’s most popular film industry are given the same status by its domestic fans today as rock stars in America garnered in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s.
So, in India, when a kid dreams of being a rock star, he or she dreams of making it onto the silver screen for billions of people to revel in their song and dance. Of course, if that same Indian kid were in London, he or she would probably just as much dream about performing live in front of bright lights and large crowds as much as having their recorded likeness appearing in cinema halls all across the world.
One Bollywood actor who has definitely reached rock star status in India is Salman Khan. How fitting it is for him to star in a movie where the lead character (played by co-star Ajay Devgan) dreams of making it big as a stage musician.
As much experience as Khan has in being a real-life celebrity with millions of adoring, screaming fans, the Bollywood superstar said he really does not have much in common with his character, Mannu, in the upcoming film London Dreams. Instead, Khan feels as if he has nothing in common with Mannu – but he still thinks the film shored up well and will feature an attractive story to keep moviegoers filling their butts in cinema halls around the world for the next few weeks.
“He’s obnoxious, crude, vulgar, and a flirt. I don’t know if I can relate to somebody like that,” Khan said about his character. “He’s all heart. And the film’s shaped up well. London Dreams has high romance, high energy. I would call it a musical Sholay.”
It is that romance and energy Khan hopes London Dreams can hang its hat on and, ultimately, help separate the film from its current and upcoming competition at the box office.
“The music is way better. It is visually and emotionally stronger,” Khan said about how London Dreams is positively unique. “This film is about friendship, ambition, and jealousy. That film was about romance. This film is about friends and how they get over their hurdles.”
Thankfully, there was one hurdle the cast did not have to struggle to jump over during filming – from the word go, Khan indicated everyone got along with each other just perfectly, developing a strong chemistry and rapport that was second to none. Specifically, Khan said his relationship with Devgan was first-rate, with the latter even pulling off a prank with the film’s female lead, Asin.
“We’ve known each other a very long time,” Khan said of his relationship with Devgan. “He won’t bitch. He’s a ‘no bullshit’ kind of person. He keeps to himself, but he’s always playing pranks. He’s a funny guy…even pulled a prank on Asin.”
Khan went so far as to even poke fun at Asin himself, who also sat in during the interview. When asked of what he thought of her performance in the film, Khan mockingly kept his praise for her performance as “Okay – seriously, just okay.”
Pranks and jokes aside, Khan finished the interview on a more serious note, taking a quick opportunity to express his disgust for illegal piracy of Bollywood’s newest releases – an ongoing problem in the industry, with recent box office hits such as Blue and What’s Your Rashee? both recent victims of the underground DVD aftermarket.
“We work so hard. To deprive us and the government of revenue is disgusting,” Khan emphatically stated. “It’s not those who can’t afford to watch a movie. It’s those who can who do it. How can you make money off someone else’s hard work? It’s disgusting. We need tougher laws. One guy should go to jail for a long time and things will change. It’s just plain disgusting.”
Unfortunately, no one will be going to jail anytime this week, so London Dreams may very well be subject to the same rampant issues with piracy as any other Bollywood hit when it releases this Friday. Yet, with the star power that packs this film, such as Khan, Devgan, Asin and Om Puri, no doubt there will be hoards of moviegoers flocking to theaters this weekend to watch London Dreams.
Directed by Vijay Shah and distributed by Studio 18, London Dreams releases worldwide on October 30th. The film is about two friends and the progress they make (and do not make) with their musical talents.
