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I don't understand why people still like me, says Salman

Bollywood's enfant terrible Salman Khan is riding a new wave of success after Garv and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. With his star appeal intact at 38, the actor still manages to charge a whopping Rs 2.5 crore for each film he does. But in a freewheeling interview, Khan admits the stakes today are higher than ever before and there is a conscious effort to reinvent himself to retain his popularity among the masses.

How does it feel to have delivered three successive hits in Tere Naam, Garv and Mujshe Shaadi Karogi?
I fail to understand why people still like me. Though I'm extremely grateful to my fans for loving me despite my limitations but their love really baffles me. I think the media should tell me what it is that clicks with my fans despite the fact that I do such average films.

What according to you is the secret of your success?
Frankly I'm not very sure what makes me successful. However one thing is certain - I will continue to work as long as people want to see me. I am a person who doesn't believe in using force for anything in life. When time comes for me to pack my bags and leave, as is inevitable, I will do so quietly since I hate to impose myself on others and stick around when my presence is not required. Having said that, let me also add that currently I am trying to reinvent myself - both in my choice of roles and the kind of life I wish to lead. Hopefully there should be lots more meaningful cinema for me in the days to come.

You are regarded as one of the pioneers of the fitness craze in Bollywood. Please comment.
If you are part of showbiz, then it becomes imperative that you look good. A healthy body is an essential job requirement. But more importantly I feel everyone should follow a fitness regime regardless of what work they do.

How do you react to strong rumours in the industry that you are contemplating marriage?
I don't understand the curiosity about my personal life. I have no intention of going public with what I do when I am off camera - who I am seeing or who I plan to marry. If and when I reach a decision about love or marriage, I will first tell my parents and then shout from the rooftops. But till now I haven't discussed anything with my family, so it should be obvious that whatever you have heard is nothing more than speculation and gossip.

What projects are you currently working on?
First there's Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha, with Preity Zinta and Bhumika Chawla. Atul Agnihotri is directing the film and it will release in September. Then there is Revathy's Phir Milenge. I'm also doing Sanjay Leela Bhansali's period drama Bajirao Mastani. After that there is an English film called Marigold that is at a pre-production stage. There are also a couple of other projects in the pipeline. So you will be seeing a flood of Salman Khan films in the months to come!

Tell us about Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha. Whom did you give your heart to in the film - Preity or Bhumika?
If I disclose who ultimately wins my heart, wouldn't that be giving the story of the film away? Both Preity and Bhumika have well-defined roles in Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha. While Preity plays her effervescent, vivacious and bubbly self in the first half of the film, Bhumika is likewise calm, cool and composed in the latter half. Together they help flesh out the film. And I quite like the way I get their attention in the process.

What is the story like and your character in the film?
Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha is an intense love story and I simply adore the name of my character in the film - Rishabh. Although I don't know what it means, I just like the sound of it. I play a partner in an upcoming media company while Pari (Preity) is a doctor. Pari and Rishabh are in love with each other. But there's a twist in the story when Pari dies and Dhani (Bhumika) enters the film. Dil Ne Jise Apna Kaha is about these three characters and the emotional interplay between them.