Blood, Sweat and Lunch.. with Salman Khan

Mumbai is baking at 40 degrees. And the temperature soars with the ever so hot Salman Khan. Clad in a white ganji, the actor looks cool as a cucumber as he saunters to give his shot. 

Pan wala ghumtis, tea stalls, the poor man's lodging.. all props for the actor where he is shooting with some junior actors, who play auto rickshaw drivers.

Shooting with Salman is like getting lost in a mela. There are some 400 people around, and they have nothing to do with the shoot in progress. Some are fans, some are directors, scriptwriters, some journalists, some ainvee... his following is stupendous. 

Chatting with him is a delight. No airy stars as he sits under the awning of his van, giving time to all and sundry.. autographs signed, photographs posed for, shot given and it's time for lunch. 

The Khan loves his food and the production has gone a bit overboard.. mutton biryani, fish fry, kababs on the tandoori and the ubiquitous Diet Coke. I am a happy soul.

The desserts were plenty, but this was specially ordered... a masseur on the set. As the sun climbed high, the luxury quotient increased. And taking away the stress and exhaustion was the man with the magic fingers... bliss..

But then boori nazar lag gayee.. In my sleepy state, I fell into a pot sized hole, wrenched my knee and twisted my ankle...

But what was there to complain??? Blood and sweat took a backseat in the illustrious company of food, massage and Salman.