New Delhi: Salman Khan recently revealed that he was going through a difficult phase in his career, from court cases and relationships to films, but the reality game show, Dus Ka Dum, saved him.
In the latest Weekend Ka Vaar episode of Bigg Boss Season 20, Khan said he had almost turned down the 2008 television game show. However, his father, screenwriter Salim Khan, advised him to take up the show.
“I want to give you an example from my own life. I did Maine Pyaar Kiya (1998) and many other films, and then I came on TV after I got a show. And at that time, there was a lot of negativity about me everywhere, from court cases, relationships, to my films,” he said.
The 60-year-old added that he didn’t want to do it at first because of all the negative publicity.
“Every newspaper and TV channel was thrashing me left, right and centre. I spoke to my father about it and asked for advice,” Khan said.
Khan recalled the advice from his father that helped him deal with the negativity, reshaped his public image and helped connect with audiences on a more personal level.
“He said, ‘Don’t you trust your personality, heart, and upbringing?’ I said yes, and he asked me to say yes to the show. He told me to be myself in the show. In that one show, they got to know who I was,” Khan recalled.
According to him, everyone forgot Hum Aapke Hain Koun (1994), Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Karan Arjun (1995), and all his other blockbuster films.
“They just watched me on Dus Ka Dum because they didn’t see an actor; they saw a person,” he said.
Khan also recalled how Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC) gave audiences a glimpse of a different side of Amitabh Bachchan, and the superstar found a new audience.
“The same thing happened with Mr Bachchan. The day he did KBC, he became ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati uncle’. So, they forgot all my film work and only remembered Dus Ka Dum. I did two seasons there, and then I have been hosting Bigg Boss for 17 seasons. My image in the media was cleared in one episode. There were ups and downs after that as well, but you have to show who you truly are,” he added.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)