Top News

Mumbai: Television actor and host Vishal Malhotra recently shared some rare memories from the infamous Salman and Shah Rukh Khan fallout years ago.

Praising Salman and Shah Rukh for handling their differences in a matured manner, Vishal revealed during a one-to-one with News18 that the actors never badmouthed each other in public even if someone tried to provoke them.

Recalling his first meeting with Shah Rukh during the post-production of Shahid Kapoor-starrer ‘Kismat Konnection’, Vishal said, “There’s a studio run by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy where we were dubbing,” Vishal remembered. “Shah Rukh sir came in to do his part. We were all sitting around, and it took him just 30 seconds to make me feel like I had known him for years. Not just that, he made me feel special, like I was someone important. He made me feel like I was the superstar, not him.”

Sharing how Salman and SRK behaved at Riteish Deshmukh’s birthday party during their fallout, Vishal said, “There was definitely tension in the air because everyone knew what was going on between them. But one thing I know for a fact, neither Shah Rukh sir nor Salman sir has ever spoken negatively about each other in public. And even if someone tried to instigate them by badmouthing the other, the first thing they’d do was tell that person to shut up and leave. That, to me, is maturity, and I found that really admirable. I saw this happen first-hand.”

Talking about Salman’s star presence on the sets of ‘Salaam-E-Ishq’, he said, “The shoot was happening at Mehboob Studios. Suddenly, there was this buzz – ‘Salman Bhai is coming!’ Everyone was on alert, waiting. An hour passed with everyone saying he’s about to arrive. And then he finally walks in, wearing a black ganji, black shorts, and looking amazing. It’s that natural charm he’s been blessed with.”

“While director Nikkhil Advani was explaining the shot to me, someone came up to Salman to fix his hair and puff his cheeks. He pushed them away, saying ‘no need for that.’ Then a stylist handed him a black jacket, which he casually threw over the ganji and shorts. It was unusual, weird to see him like that. But then he gave the shot. That shot went on to be the first promo of what was one of the biggest films of the year,” Vishal added while sharing that Salman’s simplicity stood out most.