It's
the
moment
any
journalist
would
avoid.
Interviewing
the
producer
of
a
film
while
the
Censors
are
watching
it
to
give
their
certification.
Arbaaz
Khan
sends
me
a
text
message
to
call
him
at
an
unusual
timing.
It
was
4.30pm.
An
unexpected
text
puts
me
in
frenzy.
I
call
him
at
4.38
for
the
interview
and
off
he
goes
in
a
flash
on
the
other
end.
His
voice
sounds
rapacious
when
he
talks
about
his
brother
Salman
Khan,
his
interest
in
Dabangg
sounds
obsessive,
when
he
talks
about
his
wife
Malaika
Arora
Khan,
he
sounds
unperturbed
but
then
again,
when
I
talk
about
his
father
Salim
Khan
he
jumps
back
putting
you
in
a
scratchy
situation.
In
short,
Arbaaz
Khan
is
like
an
eagle.
He
knows
his
job
and
hits
you
at
the
right
time
at
the
right
place
without
you
knowing
its
consequences.
The
result
is
obvious
-
The
day
he
announced
Dabangg,
other
biggies
got
unnerved
and
changed
their
release
dates
and
made
way
for
the
Salman
starrer.
All
the
above
defines
a
word
called
'Producer'.
In
the
words
of
Bob
Weinstein,
Hollywood's
most
famous
producer,
"Don't
let
your
fear
paralyze
you.
Prepare
yourself
not
only
technically
but
also
emotionally." This
special
correspondent
talks
to
the
first
time
producer
Arbaaz
Khan
who
can't
wait
to
unleash
his
creation
-
The
fearless
Dabangg.
Da
'bang'
of
Dabangg
The
first
promo
is
a
culmination
of
a
lot
of
things.
It's
not
just
a
very
well
cut
promo.
It's
got
a
lot
to
do
with
the
look
of
the
film,
the
characters,
the
dialogues,
production
values.
When
there
is
a
need
for
a
film
like
Dabangg,
you
know
nothing
can
stop
it.
People
have
been
watching
a
lot
of
multiplex,
frothy,
new
age
cinema.
Good.
But
here
comes
a
rustic,
rooted
and
the
typical
masala
film
of
the
1990s
where
the
hero
is
going
to
bash
up
all
the
baddies.
There
was
a
special
intent
to
cut
such
a
promo.
God
has
been
kind
and
I
love
this
overwhelming
response.
The
day
the
first
promo
came
out;
a
tidal
wave
has
been
created.
Backing
Dabangg
Production
was
always
at
the
back
of
my
mind.
It
was
something
that
I
wanted
to
embark
on.
So
when
Abhinav
Kashyap
came
with
an
offer,
Dabangg
became
a
catalyst
and
made
me
want
to
start
my
production
house
with
it.
I
liked
what
Abhinav
had
narrated
to
me
when
he
came
up
with
the
raw
stage
of
just
the
idea.
But
I
knew
that
the
forty
minute
narration
had
a
big
potential.
He
was
also
looking
for
a
producer
and
I
gave
him
an
offer
which
he
couldn't
refuse
(laughs).
I
told
him
to
relax
and
watch
how
Dabangg
creates
a
bang
which
he
would
not
have
even
seen
thought
of.
Salman
'Chulbul'
Khan
Salman
is
always
different
in
each
of
his
films.
He
has
grown
in
all
his
films
in
spite
of
few
of
his
films
doing
not
so
good.
There
are
films
in
which
you
are
very
good
because
you
are
a
trained
actor.
But
not
all
roles
you
do
fit
like
a
glove.
No.
Actors
do
a
role
for
many
reasons.
Personal,
friendly,
professional,
business,
etc.
And
then
there
are
roles
like
Chulbul
Pandey
where
actors
say
that
this
is
it,
the
role
of
a
lifetime.
A
role
which
excites
them,
a
role
in
which
they
can
sink
their
teeth
in,
a
role
which
they
were
waiting
for.
Salman
did
just
that.
He
got
so
submerged
into
the
role,
the
result
is
out
for
you
to
see.
Salman
enjoyed
every
bit
of
Chulbul
and
took
it
to
another
level.
Sonakshi
'Sexy'
Sinha
Sonakshi
was
completely
Salman's
choice
for
Dabangg.
We
could've
gone
and
made
this
film
with
an
established
actress
but
we
decided
not
to.
Then
the
questions:
What
if
we
take
a
new
girl?
What
are
the
positives
if
we
take
a
new
face?
Will
a
new
face
have
the
looks,
the
talent,
the
appeal,
etc.
So
when
Salman
met
Sonakshi
at
Amrita
Arora's
sangeet,
he
came
up
to
me
and
said,
"We've
got
the
new
girl".
I
asked
him,
"Who?" and
he
replied,
"Sonakshi."
I
was
stunned.
I
wanted
to
start
the
next
day
itself.
Sonakshi
is
a
dear
family
friend
of
ours
since
many
years
and
then
being
Shatrughan
Sinha's
daughter
just
doubles
it
up.
She
did
have
some
training
learning
the
dialect
and
all
but
she
was
a
thorough
professional
from
day
one.
She
is
brilliant.
Malaika
'Munni'
Arora
Khan
Yes,
Munni
is
a
hit,
isn't
she?
(Laughs).
Thanks
to
me
too
because
I
have
a
hand
too
in
her
selection.
Every
song
she
does,
she
takes
my
feedback.
If
the
song
is
not
good,
even
if
a
big
star
does
it,
it
will
go
unheard.
It's
not
that
she
is
dancing
with
SRK
or
somebody
else.
Why
a
song
does
well?
I
personally
believe
even
if
Malaika
was
not
there
in
'Munni'
number,
it
would
still
have
been
a
hit.
Choreography,
Salman's
entry
and
Malaika
took
the
song
to
another
level
but
the
overall
credit
has
to
go
to
the
music
director.
Sohail
'contribution'
Khan
Yes,
Sohail
has
given
a
lot
of
inputs
in
Dabangg.
Sohail
was
very
much
involved
in
this
film.
He
wasn't
so
much
involved
creatively.
But
cinema
isn't
alone
about
creativity.
It
is
about
the
business
too.
There
is
administration
aspect
too
without
which
you
cannot
make
a
movie.
Sohail's
entire
support
for
Dabangg
came
from
his
expertise
in
business,
in
getting
things
organised.
I
garnered
support
from
him.
Arbaaz
'twitter'
Khan
No,
no,
no.
I
am
on
twitter
thanks
to
Mr.
Salman
Khan.
Twitter
should
thank
Salman
too
(laughs).
I've
had
some
great
response
from
the
networking
sites.
You
have
to
use
these
sites
to
promote
your
film
and
what's
wrong?
I
will
do
my
films
publicity
to
get
the
visibility
and
will
go
to
any
extent
in
doing
so
because
my
money
is
at
stake.
I
am
not
apologetic
and
this
isn't
a
promotional
gimmick.
You
have
to
get
people
to
see
your
film
and
Twitter
is
just
a
medium
through
which
we
are
making
sure
it
happens.
Salim
'writer'
Khan
Only
Salman
has
worked
in
the
script
written
by
my
father
so
far.
It
was
Patthar
Ke
Phool.
My
dad
has
not
been
completely
involved
with
writing
but
he
has
either
doctored
it
or
given
a
suggestion.
How
much
of
that
we
take
is
our
decision.
My
dad
is
now
retired
and
we
want
him
to
enjoy
his
life.
He
has
worked
hard
and
has
been
at
his
peak
while
he
was
working
with
Javed
Akhtar
as
Salim-Javed.
Now
all
a
father
wants
is
his
sons
to
progress
and
we
are
doing
just
that.
My
dad
is
not
at
a
stage
where
he
has
to
run
around
and
please
the
people
only
because
they
want
to
write
better.
But
you
never
know,
may
be
in
a
near
future
Sohail
and
I
might
have
a
script
which
we'd
want
my
dad
to
do.