Mumbai, May 23: Even though filmmaker Arbaaz Khan struggled in the industry for a good 15 years, it was not even once that wife Malaika Arora Khan lost faith in her husband. “I knew that he had the ability to spot talent and I trusted his sensibilities. I knew that one day he will make it as a filmmaker also, but I could never imagine that he would strike platinum with his first venture itself,” says Malaika.
She admits that the script of Dabangg, which has now been given a National Award, was rejected by a few filmmakers before it landed in Arbaaz’s lap. She says that everybody around Arbaaz, including her had suggested that he doesn’t go ahead with the film.
“Yes, Dabangg as also rejected. Everybody said ‘Are you crazy! The script is new, the writer is a debutant, you shouldn’t go ahead with it’. Even I was doubful if it would be worthy or not but Arbaaz was convinced that he is making the right investment,” she says.
When Malaika asked Arbaaz if he thought that the film would work or not, Arbaaz asked her to trust him. “He just asked me, ‘Do you trust me?’ I said that I trusted him blindly.
From that time on I knew that what was coming up was a great film. By the time the first promo was out, I knew that we had a hit in our hands. When it was just released, we knew it was a superhit. But it is now being referred to as a cult film (commercially) as it is the highest grossing film of all time,” Malaika says.
Though Arbaaz says that he is not pressurised by expectations of the audience, Malaika says that she feels it. “Munni was my best song till date. I feel the pressure to deliver a hit sequel but Arbaaz doesn’t feel any pressure,” says Malaika.
–Agencies