“Salman is too secure in his stardom to crave external validation. The only reason I still share a relationship with Salman is because he never played the superstar card. During Ek Tha Tiger, he could’ve easily said, ‘Who are you? I’ve done 50 blockbusters and you’ve made two films—why won’t you listen to me?’ But he never did. Even when we disagreed, he never threw his weight around. There was always space for discussion and debate”Filmmaker Kabir Khan gave Salman Khan two of his most career-defining films with Ek Tha Tiger and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Their third collaboration, Tubelight, didn’t hit the same highs, but the heart was always in the right place. So, on Salman’s 60th birthday, we asked Kabir to decode the man behind the superstar—the person he has known closely for over two decades. Excerpts…
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Knows far more than he lets on Kabir believes, Salman knows far more than he lets on. He recalls, “I was a documentary filmmaker from Delhi. I had a script (Kabul Express) that I was trying to pitch to everyone. A friend of mine, Apoorva Shah, was kind enough to take me to bhai. He told Salman that I was trying to make a film in Afghanistan. I narrated the whole story to bhai, showed him videos. He got interested and said, ‘oh, I’ll do this role. I’ll play the Taliban’. We thought he was joking and left. Couple of years passed, I moved on to making New York with YRF and met Katrina Kaif for that. She wasn’t convinced because it didn’t sound like a regular Yash Raj film to her, but it was Salman who urged her to sign the film after discovering that I was directing it. He told her, ‘aankh bandh karke picture sign karlo. I have met the boy.’ He had met me three years ago and remembered that meeting. After New York succeeded, Salman reminded me of his earlier offer, reaffirming his sharp memory and quiet conviction.”
Kabir Khan with Salman Khan
Talented but blasé Kabir firmly believes that while Salman is a massive star, he remains underrated as an actor. Reflecting on their work on Ek Tha Tiger, he says, “He’s a good actor when he wants to. Salman is a strong performer who sometimes chooses not to fully tap into his abilities. Acting is half talent and half craft, and he has both,” Kabir explains, adding that Salman often appears blasé and reluctant to showcase his range. This is why, after Tiger’s success, Kabir was determined to do something different and explore Salman’s vulnerable side—one he had glimpsed during their personal conversations. That intent eventually led him to make Bajrangi Bhaijaan.
Salman with Kabir Khan on the set of Bajrangi Bhaijaan
Didn’t succumb to commercial aspects to protect the purity of Bajrangi Bhaijaan Kabir took Bajrangi Bhaijaan to Salman at a time when his action image was at its peak, half-expecting a rejection. Instead, Salman immediately embraced the story, and it became their first co-production. Kabir reveals that Salman deeply believed in what the film stood for—peace, love and humanity—and chose to both produce and act in it to protect its purity from commercial dilution. Despite a modest opening, Bajrangi Bhaijaan went on to become one of Salman’s biggest hits and most acclaimed performances. Kabir also recalls nervously showing the film to Salim Khan, who stood up at the interval and declared, “Yahi tak release kar do, toh bhi blockbuster hai.” 
Kabir Khan with Salman Khan
Doesn’t crave external validation Kabir acknowledges that Salman can seem intimidating and guarded at first but insists he is far more genuine and unpretentious than commonly perceived. Salman, he says, doesn’t seek validation and is completely secure in his stardom—there’s no vanity, no fuss over appearances, and no need to project indifference. “He genuinely doesn’t care what people think. He just doesn’t give a shit. He lives strictly by his own beliefs and yardstick, doing everything on his own terms. While this independence can be a strength, it can also be detrimental because cinema is a collaborative effort, where few have the courage to push back against a star of Salman’s stature. Even without intending to, his sheer presence can be intimidating.” 
Salman with Kabir Khan
Never played his superstar card even during arguments Kabir admits that he had several arguments with Salman during Tiger. He says, “An actor who’s interested in the film and wants to make the film better will offer suggestions. The one’s who don’t are either brain dead or not interested. The only reason why I have a relationship with Salman even today and will aways do, is because when he could have, he never played the superstar card on me. He never threw his weight around even when we disagreed. There was room for discourse and discussions. He could have in those arguments easily said, who the hell are you? I’ve done 50 blockbuster films. You’ve made two films. Why are you not listening to me? But he never said that. Either I had to convince him, or he had to convince me. I know actors in this industry, forget superstars, people with two hits under their belt, who start behaving a certain way. This is why I respect Salman and a lot of people don’t know this side. He didn’t do Bajrangi with me because Tiger was successful. He did it because he believed in it.”Salman at 60 As Salman turns 60, Kabir credits his spirit and resilience to his close-knit family and strong values. Despite his larger-than-life image and occasional controversies, Kabir notes that no one can truly call him battameez. He shares that Salman often brings food from home for nearly 30 people on set, inviting everyone to join—an act of generosity few stars practice. Kabir believes his family has played a vital role in keeping him grounded and real. In closing, he wishes Salman the freedom to live life on his own terms—cycling freely, doing what he loves—and hopes that through his cinema, Salman can continue to give audiences the enduring version of himself they deeply miss. ‘On his 60th, I wish Salman the freedom to live without threats—without the constant presence of a battalion of security guards’, he concludes.- Kabir Khan spoke to Renuka Vyavahare, Bombay Times, ahead of Salman Khan’s 60th birthday.