‘After I met him on the Bigg Boss set, he greeted me in the identical method that he would throughout Dabangg, “Aur Chedi Singh, kaise ho?”‘

IMAGE: Salman Khan and Sonu Sood in Dabangg.

Everytime you consider Dabangg and Chulbul Pandey, a reputation that instantly involves thoughts is Sonu Sood.

The actor performed the antagonist Chedi Singh within the first movie of the franchise.

As Salman turns 60 on December 27, Sonu appears again his affiliation with the celebrity and tells Rediff Senior Contributor Roshmila Bhattacharya, “As an actor, he’s centered, devoted and all the time rehearses his strains correctly. As an individual, he’s heat and humble, a implausible host who desires everybody to take a seat with him throughout lunchtime and takes excellent care of them.”

 

‘That was a line I had written and Salman smiled when he heard it’

IMAGE: Salman Khan and Sonu Sood in Dabangg.

I keep in mind assembly Salman in his workplace for the primary time when Dabangg was supplied to me.

I wasn’t certain of the function then and had initially declined the supply.

However I had just a few concepts which I performed out to him after we met.

For example, there was that scene the place Chedi Singh — the character I play — tells Salman’s Chulbul Pandey, ‘Bachcpan se hum aapke pyaar ko hero samajhte aaye hai, aur tum mujhe villain bolte ho (Since my childhood, I’ve seemed as much as you as a hero, and you’re calling me a villain)’

That was a line I had written and Salman smiled when he heard it.

However he wasn’t satisfied if he needed Chedi to be performed the way in which I needed.

He was significantly uncertain concerning the comedian slant I had given the character.

‘However I need you within the movie, so let’s make it occur,’ he asserted.

‘Bhaiyaji, smile’

IMAGE: Salman Khan and Sonu Sood in Dabangg.

I finally satisfied each Abhinav (Kashyap, writer-director) and Salman to retain the humour.

I reasoned that it set Chedi other than the common villain and guaranteed Salman that he would like it.

‘Bhaiyajismile,’ the cult dialogue from Dabangg was additionally my brainwave and it grew out of private expertise.

After I was learning engineering in Nagpur, I might hang around with half-a-dozen fellow college students from Bihar, three of whom have been my roommates.

They have been a bunch of hot-headed guys, all the time prepared for a combat, however in addition they had a prepared smile for the digicam.

I copied their Bihari dialect and aggressive physique language, additionally suggesting {that a} photographer comply with Chedi round to doc his exploits.

From time to time, he would prepare his lens on him with that now-famous one-liner, ‘Bhaiyaji, smile.’

That dialogue has adopted me for the final 15 years.

As I had promised him, Salman liked my efficiency.

Once we noticed the movie collectively for the primary time at a preview theatre in Movie Metropolis, he put his hand on my shoulder and mentioned, ‘You have been proper, the comedian angle actually works, good job!’

‘”They’re fabulous,” he applauded’

IMAGE: Salman Khan, Sonu Sood and Malaika Arora within the tune Munni Badnaam Hui in Dabangg.

My first day of shoot with him was for Munni Badnaam Hui.

Farah Khan was choreographing the tune, however I used to be allowed to do my very own factor.

As soon as once more, I adopted my faculty buddies, and regardless of being out of step, and simply being Chedi, I impressed not simply Farah, however everybody round.

Once we have been filming in Wai, a city in Maharashtra, Salman was on the set despite the fact that it was my scene and he wasn’t required.

He later confided that he had seen some pictures that we had canned with out him.

‘They’re fabulous,’ he applauded, including, ‘It will be loopy!’

‘Whereas taking pictures the climax of Dabangg, a fighter broke my nostril’

IMAGE: Salman Khan and Sonu Sood within the Dabangg climax scene.

Whereas we have been taking pictures the climax of Dabangg, a fighter mistimed his shot and broke my nostril.

I used to be rushed to hospital the place I received my nostril fastened briefly and returned to the set.

Salman was very upset by what had occurred, but in addition impressed to see me proceed taking pictures regardless of the ache and never letting the unit endure.

As an actor, he’s centered, devoted and all the time rehearses his strains correctly.

As an individual, he’s heat and humble, a implausible host who desires everybody to take a seat with him throughout lunchtime and takes excellent care of them.

Even his household may be very heat, and every time I’ve visited his residence, I’ve observed how they handle everybody and be certain that they’ve eaten.

‘I used to be presupposed to return as Chedi’s twin in Dabangg 2 however..’

IMAGE: Salman Khan in Dabangg.

Dabangg was a blockbuster and we had anticipated the journey to proceed.

I used to be presupposed to return as Chedi’s twin in Dabangg 2, however I used to be not satisfied with the script.

I did not suppose it was the precise function to hold the legacy of Chedi ahead.

I shared this with each Salman and Arbaaz bhai (Arbaaz Khan, who directed Dabangg 2) and stayed away from the sequel.

However even at present, Salman and I share the identical cordial relationship.

After I met him on the Bigg Boss set, he greeted me in the identical method that he would throughout Dabangg, ‘Aur Chedi Singh, kaise ho?’

He liked the efficiency!

And he loves my philanthropic facet.

Every time we communicate, he says, ‘Chal raha hain na tera charity ka kaam? (is your charity work occurring nicely?). Maintain it going, folks love you numerous for it.’

Salman loves children.

My youthful son’s birthday was celebrated on the Dabangg set with Ayaan slicing a cake.

Salman is a real gentleman, one of many nicest souls I’ve come throughout, and on his birthday, I want him the easiest.

However I do not see him as 60. For me, Salman Khan continues to be 30.

Pictures curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff