Subhash K Jha (DNA; July 12, 2016)


Rahul says it was an indomitable challenge to get Salman to change the way he spoke in all his films. “I am an actor. To be given the job of being a diction coach was daunting. As he is a big star, that too Salman Khan, everybody is intimidated by him. But I guess I had this determination as I was chosen for a job that wasn’t my main vocation.”

Sources from the unit say initially Salman refused to take instructions from Rahul. Unit members say Rahul had to work from scratch on the punctuations and diction in Salman’s voice. The joke on the sets was, ‘Chal Baggatu apna kaam kar le, Bhai toh waise hi bolega jaisa woh chahega.’

Rahul says he refused to be intimidated by Salman. “If I was intimidated he would have not been able to speak Haryanvi so authentically. To his credit, Salman gave me space to correct his dialogues in-between takes. And I was fearless in going up to him to correct him.”

Rahul had to make sure he corrected Salman without hurting his ego. “Being an actor myself I know how much it hurts the ego when you are told to correct yourself. Though I am an actor, I was pretty clear that my work as a voice coach should also be the talking-point in Sultan. So, the relationship with Salman got established on the first day itself. He too was supportive to let me correct him between the takes, and during dubbing too. So I guess his eagerness and my will worked well overall.”

Weirdly enough Rahul is not from Haryana. “Not being a Haryanvi I was aware I was digging hell if I goofed up. Luckily, it worked.”

Meanwhile...Salman hints he is in love with a foreigner
On the Kapil Sharma Show last weekend when the host asked Salman if he likes women to be domesticated and down-to-earth, Salman promptly replied, “Always, doesn’t matter where she is from (chahe jahaan ki ho).” Obviously he was referring to Iulia Vantur. Salman was caught in a delightfully ebullient mood on Kapil’ show. Describing the trauma of having to descend into the wrestling akhada in only a langot to be attacked by professional wrestlers Salman said, “I felt like…like…” Anushka Sharma sitting pretty next to Salman giggled mischievously, “Felt like what, Salman?” He grinned and added, “I felt like killing them.” Host Kapil smirked to the audience, “Now-a-days one has to be very careful about what one says. And you all laughing out there can also get into trouble.”