"Shah Rukh and I are no longer friends" - Salman Khan

By Harneet Singh (The Indian Express), August 11, 2008 - 11:44 IST

Salman Khan on the big fight and his equations with Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif, Akshay Kumar and God!

Since your film, God Tussi Great Ho, is releasing this Friday, it'll be interesting to know in which situation do you say the film's title?
I say that in each and every situation. No matter what happens I always thank God. Agar yeh nahi bologe toh aap nashukr ho (if you don't say this then you're thankless). God has given me so much and I just have to appreciate it.

What kind of a relationship do you share with God?
(He blows a kiss to the sky) That's my rapport with God. I talk to him all the time. I always get my answers from him. Sure, there have been instances when he doesn't listen to me and doesn't give me what I ask for but he does that only when I don't deserve it. I've observed that whenever God hasn't given me what I asked for, it's for the best.

You do a lot of comedy films, what is it that clicks with the audience about your comic style?
I think it's the sincerity and the person's personality that the audience relates to.

Which is your all time favourite comic film?
Andaaz Apna Apna. I've only seen the whole thing once but whenever I happen to catch it on television I end up being glued to it.

Is it true that there is going to be a sequel to Andaaz Apna Apna?
That's what I hear. Aamir (Khan) wants to do it. It all depends on our director Rajkumar Santoshi. I'm game for it.

You come across as a very warm and affable host on 10 Ka Dum, how do you make sure to be always in a good mood?
It's very simple. If you come to my house and you are being nice to me so why wouldn't I be nice to you? I don't fake anything. If I'm not in a good mood then that too shows on screen. But bad mood doesn't mean that I've to behave badly. I try and be a good host.

But you're not comfortable with women hugging you?
(Shrugs) They come in, they are very sweet to me and I don't mind it if they hug me. That's their way of showing affection and I respect that.

But are you a hugging person?
Nope. I'm not an exhibitionist, not a demonstrative person. No hugs for me.

But you do know how to throw the most talked about party?
It was Katrina Kaif's party. Maybe it'll be talked about for decades to come but definitely not by me. I'm not going to speak about it.

But was there a fight with Shah Rukh Khan?
Yeah.

What led to the fight?
Have you ever known me to speak about anybody? Whatever happened is between me and Shah Rukh. It's personal.

Is Shah Rukh your friend?
Not anymore. I'm not going to deny that there are issues between us. I'm a primitive man born in today's time. I can't fake anything. If there is a problem then I'm not going to deny it. We've had problems before also but this time I don't think we can sort them out. We are two different people. Our values and way of thinking are different. I don't think we can be friends. I think it's better to declare that then put on a fake façade of being friends and back-biting each other.

But there is a lot of shared history between you and SRK, didn't he stay at your house in his struggling days?
(Smiles) Yeah but I've only been to his house twice in my life. The first time I went on my own and the second time was when he came and took me to his house for a chat.

The buzz is that professional rivalry between the two of us especially with regards, your respective shows, Kya Aap Paanchvi Paas Se Tez Hain and 10 Ka Dum, led to the fight?
No, I don't think it's because my show is doing better. I don't think he's that insecure. The reason of the fight is personal.

Is it because he refused to act in your home production, Main Aur Mrs Khanna?
Let me make it clear once and for all that Main Aur Mrs Khanna was never offered to SRK. I was always doing the film. It's just that when Shah Rukh used to come to my home to ask me to appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati and Om Shanti Om, I just mentioned it to him that it'll be nice if he has the time to listen to the story. That's all.

It seems you and Aamir Khan are the latest best friends. You're gifting him paintings etc?
Aamir and I have always got along. I made his portrait and gifted to him. What's the big deal?

There are rumours that you and Akshay Kumar share cold vibes too. True?
No, no, not at all. Akshay is a colleague. He's a nice guy. He is very hardworking and keeps to himself. Akshay will work hard to bring himself up and not to bring someone else down.

Every second day there are stories of you and Katrina Kaif either breaking up or making up. What's the status?
First of all, I want to know who are all these friends, sources close to me and my family who speak on our behalf? My friends will never speak like that about me or anyone close to me because they will give their life for me. Obviously it's someone who is insecure, jealous and friendly to the press. Maybe they are someone else's friends.

That doesn't answer my question.
What do you want to know?

Just tell me are you and Katrina together?
Yeah.

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