Bollywood star Salman Khan says he is amazed at the hype over the reported similarities between his Veer co-star Zarine and actress Katrina Kaif insisting that if there were any he would have been the first to notice.
The actor added he does not see any resemblance between the two except the fair skin and sharp nose.
"I am amazed at the hype over the reported similarities. I don't see any resemblance except the fair skin and sharp nose. God has never made two people look alike. If there was any resemblance, I should have noticed it first," Salman told PTI.
He said producers of the film, which he has scripted, wanted a new face for the role of the Rajput princess.
"The presence of an established actress would have looked like as if the actress is playing the role. We wanted a yesteryear look and hence the need for a fresh face," Salman, who met Zarine at Subhash Ghai's sets of Yuvraj, said.
Apart from acting and scripting Veer, Salman was actively involved in the creative process of the movie.
"The intense discussion and fights on the sets between me and director Anil Sharma has resulted into a good product. We have not followed the regular format for a period drama and tried to give it a very contemporary look with elements of emotions, drama, comedy and romance. It should not look like period films are very serious," he said.
Salman said he does not feel the pressure of the huge box office success of Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots to assert him in the number race.
"If my film is good, it will work with the audience. There is no question of pressure at all. Just because I have written the film does not mean that it is good. Audience has to like it," he said.
To a question on why he chose to write a period film rather than a contemporary one, Salman said, "It is because the story is about being true to your word, enemity, love and
how such sentiments are carried on by the next generation too."
"Pindaris were not barbarians as they were made out to be. All they wanted is Azadi," he said.
Salman admitted that Veer is over-budget. "Audiences are not concerned about the budget. All they want is a good entertaining film. The movie is larger than life. I am not making a film to depress people," he said.
Speaking about why his last two films Main Aur Mrs Khanna and London Dreams could not sustain the positive impact of Wanted at the box office, Salman said, London Dreams was 25 to 30 minutes longer.
"It was an amazing film but the length should have been 2 hour 20 minute. The film's length was trimmed, five days after its release. The length has to be kept as long as it is interesting. Even 3 Idiots is 2 hour 50 minutes but it is an interesting film," he said.
"I was bored seeing my own film then how do you keep the audience hooked," he asked.
Salman said Mithun Chakraborty's children convinced him to play the his father's role in Veer as he was not initially interested because the role required him to be physically fit and have a toned body.
"All three children address him Mithun and they share an amazing relationship. The same emotions and bond has been translated on screen. Besides, he always remembers the moral support my father gave him when he was struggler," he said.
Salman said he has not given an thought to direction. "I would not like to direct a film as of now," he said.
Blame it on the Bollywood hottest hunk John's times or Team India's swashbuckling skipper Mahendra Sigh Dhoni, apparently Rs. 30 crore is riding on Dhawan's 'Hook Ya Crook'.
