Friend, Philosopher, Guide

Just one of the many moods of the controversial star, that enter and exit within a space of a couple of hours. He flits swiftly from mood to mood8212;philosophical, resigned, happy, dismissive, rational yes, you got that right and often, optimistic.

This star of cinemadom8217;s biggest blockbusters may be pushing 40, and is burdened with the reputation of being Bollywood8217;s bad boy, but the last thing he is, even today, is predictable.

8220;It feels like yesterday,8221; he drawls in his make-up van, talking about the 14 years that have elapsed since Maine Pyar Kiya. 8220;Then a few more years from now, you will be dead and gone.8221; If he has just taken the wind out of your sails with his pop psychology, there8217;s more.

A hit doesn8217;t make him 8220;go crazy in the head8221;, and failure means 8220;not being able to save a person8217;s life8221;. Something doesn8217;t add up.

However much Salman would have you believe that what you see is what you get, nothing is further from the truth.

In his new movie Tere Naam, he plays a honest, clean guy from a decent family, a true friend and a misunderstood lover. 8220;It is a beautiful, romantic story where the only negative force is destiny. The girl only sees his bad side,8221; he explains. Rumours do the rounds about Tere Naam being Salman8217;s version of his relationship with Aishwarya Rai.

His character8217;s name is Radhe Mohan, so you feel faintly ridiculous bringing it up. 8220;Everyone knows this movie is a Malayalam and Telugu remake. So it8217;s so much fun answering this question,8221; he mumbles under his breath. What about rumours that Salman actually cried while watching its rushes? 8220;Who said that?8221; he asks incredulously, 8220;I cried for E.T. and Armageddon as well8230;8221; No, he is nothing like Radhe Mohan.

The real Salman gets away to Arpita, his farm in Panvel, around 60 km from Mumbai. He plucks vegetables, fishes, swims and hangs out with his family. Oh, and cycles8212;even though he isn8217;t the MPK daredevil Prem anymore.

8220;It8217;s difficult now. I fell off the cycle recently while trying one of those old stunts. But I8217;m getting there,8221; he grins.

Salman flaunts his injuries8212;claiming to have hurt his head, shoulder, wrist, shin, thigh; 8220;Sixty per cent of my spine is gone, my left leg locks every month for five minutes.8221; But he still runs at Bandra8217;s Bandstand at midnight, and gets on the treadmill during the day.

Lately he8217;s been too busy shooting, but otherwise he works out one hour, six days a week.

He insists there isn8217;t anything he couldn8217;t live without because 8220;destiny could take you away any day8221;.

What about Salman, the natty dresser? 8220;I could wear banian and jeans, shorts and slippers. I can8217;t help the way I look.8221;

Almost a regular guy. So where8217;s the Mr Hyde? 8220;I can8217;t be held responsible for what people say about me. I used to feel that just because I didn8217;t retaliate, I was the favourite punching bag. But it doesn8217;t bother me. You can8217;t live if you keep thinking of death.8221; Still, that doesn8217;t help dispel the image that he8217;s a walking time bomb. 8220;I never lose my cool. I think I8217;ve lost it twice in my whole career. Take the time when Abhishek and I were having a great time. You talk like this,8221; he points, 8220;but people were freezing frames and made up a story. And then, they talk of role models.8221;

On the subject though, Salman starts looking confused and uncomfortable. 8220;I don8217;t know if I am a role model. I guess I do have responsibility. But films are only a form of entertainment to get away from reality.8221; The star confesses that he doesn8217;t know if films are his ultimate goal anymore; he8217;s trying to figure out what to do with his life.

Plans include a foundation8212;dealing with 8220;poverty and education8221; from Bandstand to Khar Danda8212;that sister Alvira will manage. No politics, though. And when he turns director, Salman will make 8220;very positive films. No preaching, but where the hero don8217;t do no wrong. Like Hum Aapke Hai Kaun..!, with a lot of culture,8221; he rolls his Rs.

Salman wings the personal questions that come his way with a resigned air. Yes, he8217;s cool about acting again with Aishwarya; he doesn8217;t play cards so he doesn8217;t know whether marriage is on them.

But the temperamental star is emphatic on one point. He has no fears and no regrets.