Prince of tides

Expect him to do the unexpected. Salman Khan, who enjoys the reputation of being a late-comer, is already parked on a chair outside his vanity van at Mehboob Studio.

He may have earned reputation as an entertainer, but Salman Khan hates to talk

Expect him to do the unexpected. Salman Khan, who enjoys the reputation of being a late-comer, is already parked on a chair outside his vanity van at Mehboob Studio. Dressed in a brown tee, media8217;s favourite bashing boy patiently indulges in elaborate interviews. His personal staff8212;secretary, media relations, body guards, tea vendor and assorted 8216;friends8217;8212;hang around to ensure his comfort, bringing the otherwise deserted studio alive.

His media friendliness is apparent but he candidly attributes it to his 8220;duty8221; towards his producers.

8220;With three films ready for release, the producers are on my head to promote them. It isn8217;t that I hate the media8212;I8217;m just not the sort who talks. Why talk when a look can convey it all?8221; he winks.

The last two years have been rather unusually quiet for Salman at the box-office8212; he8217;s done special appearances in films by his friends and family, each of who have carried a thank-you note in the credits.

He insists it embarrasses him. 8220;I wish they8217;d stop,8221; he states as his volume drops a notch. In the same breath he stresses that he never does a film for his loved ones if he doesn8217;t like the script.

After teasing his fans with cameos, Khan8217;s next, Yuvvraaj, is one of the biggest releases for the year. Khan affirms that the film8217;s family plot is what made him sign it. 8220;But I8217;m not a family man yet,8221; he says with his signature sarcasm intact.

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This is the first time he8217;s working with director Subhash Ghai. 8220;I thought he8217;d bore me, pakao me, but he was okay,8221; he smiles mischievously.

The actor shares camaraderie with Anil Kapoor but Zayed Khan had him impressed. 8220;More than shooting, we were partying at each other8217;s expense.8221; The formal look he sports, designed by Ashley Rebello and sister Alvira Khan, is a sharp contrast to his popular shirtless avatar, but he doesn8217;t mind that for a change.

His sole complaint: 8220;They made me spike my hair blonde.8221; That8217;s only one of Salman8217;s three looks in Yuvvraaj. 8220;I later pull my hair back as it grows out; and then there8217;s this advantage of working with Ghai8212; he makes his actors wear caps,8221; he laughs.

With four releases lined up, 2009 is going to keep Salman, who turns 43 next month, busy. While Main Aur Mrs Khanna and London Dreams are romantic dramas, Wanted: Dead and Alive and Veer end his hiatus as an action hero after Garv in 2003. 8220;Wanted was painful8212;there are a lot of gory scenes8212;and all the stunts have been done by me,8221; he says.

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On a lighter note, there8217;s a sequel to Andaz Apna Apna, a film that never worked at the box office but was 8220;a blackmarket hit8221;. 8220;It8217;s my favourite but Katrina girlfriend Kaif didn8217;t even smile when she saw it,8221; Khan adds, seemingly disappointed. 8220;I feel sorry for the producer8212;he must be dying of poverty somewhere.8221;