Sallu tells more than he normally does!

Salman Khan has not been known to be very media friendly. He rarely gives interviews, leading media to just speculate about all that he's doing, and probably not doing. However, things seem to be changing.

His TV show, Dus Ka Dum, is apparently making him more people friendly. One look at the show and you can tell he's obviously enjoying himself, and so are the participants. After all, Sallu has a huge fan base, one of the few actors who are liked by the masses, the man on the street.

In a candid interview, Sallu tells more than he normally does. Read on ...

How is 10 Ka Dum going?

Fabulous. I am enjoying the experience. The TV ratings are also very good.

Why did you choose to do 10 Ka Dum?

I would say just two words, rather, two of its characteristics - for the show's minimalism and its simplicity. Correct answers to five simple questions and you take home 10 crores. It is an engaging show that doesn't alienate the participants.

Just after you started shooting there was news that Shah Rukh Khan was training you for it as he has hands on experience now...

What rubbish! I never got any sort of training from Shah Rukh. Those were just baseless rumours. But I agree that anchoring any show is surely a tough job as there is no bound script. It's completely spontaneous. Your script is your questions. Participants want to sing and dance with you which constantly keeps you alert as you must make them feel at home. There are no retakes here unlike in acting for a film.

But a television show at the peak of your career... Isn't it like a demotion for a person of your stature?

If people say that, they are nothing but duffers! TV is a lifesaver. So many actors who couldn't make it on the big screen are ruling on small tubes nowadays. There is so much money in this business. As far as my hosting the show is concerned, how many of my fans would be able to see me regularly without stepping out of the house or going to the theatre? Just come to think of it. They can get close to me as much as they want, either by being on the show or just switching on their TV sets.

So how did you practice hosting a show?

Well, initially I called up my friends and family and asked them to be on the show.

Ah, friends and family... Well, that reminds us of the controversy which erupted recently surrounding your family members Arbaaz and Malaika Arora-Khan, when their relationship was in question.

The media was yelling from the rooftops without getting its facts right. A few even blamed them saying the couple was creating the entire ruckus for money. How ridiculous!

We do so much of charities, why would we do all this for money? In fact, I found the idea very good that people must remarry each other. But thanks to this entire controversy that Arbaaz and Malaika had to clear their side. The tabloid unnecessarily blew it out of proportion and proved itself to be an idiot.

Talking about money, aren't you the highest paid actor in the Bollywood?

Undoubtedly.

So how much per film? The guesstimate is 40 crores considering the entertainment market is booming presently and so are you.

Thanks to my fans that they go and watch my films because of which I charge five times more than the second best in line. But now it's time for me to pay back to these fans by appearing straight into their drawing rooms.

So who's the next best (read highest paid), Akshay (Kumar)?

(Silence.)

OK, tell us how much for this show?

(No expression.)

OK, at least spill out some numbers. For how many years have you signed the contract signed?

Three seasons initially. Later we will do a rethink.

All the big stars are taking to blogging nowadays. Even you have started doing so...

Let's not call it blogging. I am writing. Apart from just 10 Ka Dum that I have written about of late, I will be writing on Being Human now. Very soon you will be able to read Salman Khan's personal stuff too on the net.

Were you offered anything other than 10 Ka Dum?

Fear Factor. But I think Akshay is the right choice. I didn't take it up as I had to put in too much of hard work to just host the show.

Your women fan following go gaga over you while participating. They want to touch you, hug you, kiss you and some even say they love you...

(Smiles with a sparkle in his eyes) That s**t happens all the time, not just on the show but off it too. I mean, whenever and wherever they see me, their reaction remains the same.

And lastly Sallu, are you trying to draw inspiration from Amitabh Bachchan or Shah Rukh Khan as a host?

My real inspiration for 10 Ka Dum is actually Chi Chi (Govinda)! He was excellent in Jeeto Chappad Phaadke which he did a long time back. So I am just trying to follow his footsteps.