EXCLUSIVE: Kabir Khan explains how Bajrangi Bhaijaan is an anomaly in Salman Khan’s career, ‘It’s an antithesis of…’

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Kabir Khan is elated as he marks the 10th anniversary of his acclaimed film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Recently, in a heartfelt phone conversation, the renowned filmmaker opened up about the creative journey and production of this iconic work starring Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Harshaali Malhotra, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, and others. He also shared some details on his upcoming cinematic ventures.

Kabir Khan Clarifies That Salman Khan Was Always His First Choice To Play Pawan In Bajrangi Bhaijaan

In the movie “Bajrangi Bhaijaan”, director Kabir Khan initially conceived Salman Khan as the ideal choice for the title character. Although the story, written by V. Vijayendra Prasad, might have originally been proposed to Aamir Khan, Kabir found that only Salman could convincingly portray Bajrangi’s innocence and compassion. According to Kabir, Salman was deeply invested in the film’s themes of humanity and unity. This strong commitment made Salman an excellent match for a role that was different from the action-packed characters he was recognized for at that time.

Kabir Khan Explains How Bajrangi Bhaijaan Is An Anomaly In Salman Khan’s Filmography

After the triumph of Ek Tha Tiger, Kabir decided to take a different approach with Bajrangi Bhaijaan, surprising many in the industry. People questioned why he would deviate from something so well-received, but he felt it was necessary. The film was a stark contrast to the action-packed blockbusters that were popular during Salman’s career at that time. Kabir described Bajrangi Bhaijaan as an “outlier” in Salman’s filmography, a project that stood out for its emotional depth and simplicity rather than action or style. Salman was deeply passionate about the story and threw himself into the role with an unmatched level of dedication, which contributed to the film’s massive success.

Kabir Khan Shares A Golden Rule About Screenplays That He Still Implements

In the crafting of his movies, Kabir emphasizes strict adherence to discipline, especially during the scriptwriting phase. He devotes ample time to refining his screenplays, making certain each scene holds significance. His method for evaluating a screenplay is straightforward: “If removing a scene doesn’t affect other scenes, it shouldn’t be part of the script.” This principle, gained during the production of New York, has since been an integral part of every subsequent film he has produced.

In the course of my collaboration with Aditya Chopra, I was counseled by Yash Chopra to abstain from filming unnecessary scenes. He once told me, “If you don’t intend to preserve it, that scene never truly existed.” This piece of wisdom, he called it, has been a guiding principle for me ever since.

Why Does Bajrangi Bhaijaan Not Have Any Deleted Scenes?

The reason Bajrangi Bhaijaan has very few, if any, deleted scenes is because Kabir, its screenwriter, meticulously plans out crisp and concise scripts, eliminating unnecessary moments before filming begins. He mentioned that most of his films have no deleted scenes at all. In Bajrangi Bhaijaan, there was a small interaction between Salman Khan and Sharad Saxena that didn’t make it to the final version, but it was too insignificant to be considered a complete scene. This attention to detail ensures that every scene in his films serves the story, with no room for superfluous content.

Kabir Khan’s Upcoming Projects; Is Bajrangi Bhaijaan 2 Happening?

In the future, Kabir maintains regular contact with Salman Khan, often discussing prospective film projects. Both of them are interested in a Bajrangi Bhaijaan sequel, but they are careful not to produce it hastily. “We won’t make it merely to boost our list of successful films,” Kabir emphasized.

Over the last nine months, Kabir has been engrossed in creating three fresh scripts. Within a month, he intends to unveil his upcoming project. Additionally, he’s preparing to delve back into the action genre, marking a return since his work on Phantom.

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2025-07-17 10:52