By Hindustan Times
Action films take a toll, says Salman Khan, who's recovering from a facial nerve disorder, and adds disarmingly that a Tiger can't make excuses like "IT'S NOT THAT I AM well" , a reference in fact to his action film Ek Tha Tiger.
"I am the 'Tiger', I WILL NOT make excuses like 'I am unwell, I CANNOT do it'," Salman, who recently underwent treatment for trigeminal neuralgia within the US, told IANS in an exclusive interview.
"I have done every little thing like running, beating, falling, jumping from one place to a different.... if you're physically fit, you'll perhaps do all this. But it surely takes a large number of toll in your body as you might be doing the similar thing the entire day," he explained.
Salman's labor appears to be paying rich dividends as his espionage romp Ek Tha Tiger raked in Rs. 33 crore on its opening day.
Now Salman desires to return to the romantic genre.
"I am doing a romantic film soon. Action could be very tough... One has to stand up at odd hours, like early morning, to do action films, work till late night, do action in worst conditions like in hot weather, fighting on rooftops and dirty places. It's difficult," he said.
The 46-year-old is destiny's child. Controversy, it appears, may well be his middle name; he's neck deep in legal battles and health issues and has yet emerged box-office king with back-to-back action blockbusters - Wanted, Dabangg, Ready and Bodyguard.
All of them entered the Rs. 100 crore club and Ek Tha Tiger is on a record-breaking spree too. After setting a brand new record by raking in Rs. 33 crore on opening day, it has also smashed the weekend collection record by earning Rs. 45 crore.
In Salman's view, with the increasing choice of theatres and the upward thrust in ticket prices, Rs.100 crore could soon be akin to Rs.10 crore.
"The exact collection starts from single screens and multiplexes in cities and small towns. With ticket prices and selection of theatres also increasing, the flicks tend to do an enormous amount of industrial. Soon, this Rs. 100 crore could be like Rs. 10 crore," Salman said.
"And talking concerning the overseas business, who knows what business the film is strictly doing in overseas? Once the distributor starts giving actual figures, the numbers will certainly go up."
Salman forayed into Bollywood with 1988 film Biwi Ho Toh Aisi in a small role as Rekha's spoilt brother-in-law. Success was his the very next year with the 1989 romance Maine Pyaar Kiya.
There was no in retrospect after that. He climbed the success ladder rapidly and churned out romantic hits like Love, Saajan, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and Hum Dil Chuke Sanam.
He then did romantic comedies like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya and Partner. In 2009, he endorsed action with Wanted, the primary within the series to hit the screen.
