Letter to Salman Khan

Here is an open letter to Salman Khan by Taran Adarsh – also sent to us!

This is addressed to Salman Khan, one person I am genuinely fond of. Read it as an Open Letter addressed to Mr. Khan.

Almost two months ago, in a heart-to-heart conversation with you in Malaysia, I categorically told you that you posses all the qualities to give a run for the money to your contemporaries, provided you get a little more serious about your career. You smiled at my observation. I even asked you the reason for not promoting JAAN-E-MANN as aggressively as SRK promoted DON [released on the same date]. Your answer didn’t satisfy me!

The next day, I was told that my conversation rang a bell. You were disturbed with my point-blank questions since it mirrored the truth. You even told a common friend that you respected my concern for you. Thanks!

In an industry that’s governed by box-office more than anything else, you’ve had a spate of turkeys one after the other, post NO ENTRY: KYON KI?, SAAWAN THE LOVE SEASON, SHAADI KARKE PHAS GAYA YAAR, JAAN-E-MANN and BAABUL. Note one more thing. All the above-mentioned films didn’t even fetch an opening on the day of their release. As for SALAAM-E-ISHQ, I wish to pose a simple question: What exactly did you see in this role?

Also, I am confused. Were you addressing yourself as Rahul or Raaoool? Were you trying to be funny? If that was your idea, let me tell you, it hardly evoked mirth.

I am often told that you listen to your heart and accept films without weighing the pros and cons of the project offered to you. But look at your contemporaries like SRK and Aamir Khan or even juniors like Hrithik Roshan and Abhishek Bachchan. Not only have they tasted commercial success consistently, they also have solid films to their credit. That’s because they think from the mind. And they think of themselves first and their loyal fans before they sign on the dotted line.

Don’t you think you owe to your loyal fans, who’ve been terribly disappointed by some of your films? Think about it. You need to do some introspection. You need to reinvent yourself. Everyone does it. Big B did it when he realized that MRITYUDAATA and LAL BAADSHAH sank faster than Titanic.

Will wait for your answer the next time we meet!

Taran Adarsh.