Scriptwriter Salman

He’s known to be different, effortlessly at that. So when every actor worth his greasepaint is wielding the megaphone, Salman Khan has picked up his pen reports TNN. Khan has scripted a film called Veer, a period film set in the India of 1850-1900s. Besides, writing runs in his blood. “There’s nothing unusual about it, since his father, Salim Khan, is a scriptwriter,” says director Anil Sharma, adding, “This is a story he’s had in mind for the last 20 years. He wrote the first draft when he wasn’t even an actor.” The film’s in pre-production with the dialogues and the script being worked on. But the screenplay is not written by Salman, says the director. “My team is writing it,” he reveals. Salman’s involvement with the film doesn’t end with scripting it. He’s also the male lead in it. Although the rest of the cast hasn’t been finalised, the buzz is that Priyanka Chopra and Jean Claude Van Damme’s daughter has been approached for it. “That’s not true. We haven’t started casting. We’ll be flying to the US to finalise the international casting,” says Anil. So will Salman have a say in the casting, considering lady love Katrina is reportedly egging him to launch her sister in the film? “He’ll not decide the casting. He’s an actor and his job ends there,” confirms Anil. The director is tight-lipped about the storyline. “It’s an interesting musical love story, but it’s too early to talk about it,” he says. The film’s going on the floors in August. “It’ll be released next year. It’s the kind of film that’ll take a year to be made,” states Anil. And is Salman really piling on kilos for his role? “Yes, he’s required to build his body since he plays an Indian gladiator. And the title of the film says it all,” he points out