Salman does have a friend, it's Ajay!

Who said Salman Khan hasn’t a friend in

Step up and be prepared to get knocked down by Ajay Devgan! The two actors are friends. Though they’ve done only one film together — Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam in 1999, with the lovely Aishwarya Rai torn between both men’s love on screen.

That was ten years ago... my, how time flies! Now they are working together again in Vipul Shah’s London Dreams. But their friendship has endured the passage of time. This is not a Bollywood kind of yeh dosti, hum nahin todenge friendship, with the actors hanging together and being in and out of each other’s homes.

They have no virtual presence in one another’s life, but rather an quiet influence from which each actor derives a calming strength. And this goes back a long time, because before them, their fathers Salim Khan and Veeru Devgan — old Bollywood’s famous writer and fighter, were friends.

“We are the second generation, Ajay’s debut film Phool Aur Kaante came out more or less the same time as I did Maine Pyar Kiya,” revealed Salman.

“It’s not that were are in touch,” added Ajay, “but when we meet, we are comfortable in each other’s company.”

Good enough, given that Bollywood throws up some strange bedfellows, and once the lights have been switched off, pack-up announced, and makeup wiped off... how the stars claw and snipe one another off the sets is the kind of stuff that gossip magazines are notoriously fond of writing.

“I know there are 10,000 things being said of Salman, but I’ve not seen that side of him,” argued Ajay. “He’s a great guy, he’s honest with people who he believes are genuine, and never has issues with those that are straight.”

Salman returned the compliment, “Ajay’s the most chilled out guy I know, a super friend, and strangely our film London Dreams is about the journey of two friends between whom there is no jealousy, no complexities.” They are not surprised that Bollywood hasn’t pitched them together after Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’s success. “Actors don’t plan such things,” explained Ajay, “it’s not like I must do a film with Salman, we are hearing scripts all the time, this one seemed like the right one — so we went ahead.”

Their strong, silent and cherished dosti apart, the two actors have huge respect for each other’s work. “There’s no back-biting, no stealing of lines, no oneupmanship with Ajay, he concentrates on himself and does not interfere with his co-star,” said Salman, “it’s nice working with him, he’s not a chindi-chor, he won’t influence directors or grab your space.”

Surprisingly, this is more or less Ajay’s opinion on the famously difficult Salman, contrary to Bollywood’s experience of the actor being terribly cantankerous to work with. “There’s no stress, no tension, he’s funny on the sets,” insisted Ajay. There was just one question left: why didn’t they take their friendship to the next level?

“It’s because I hardly socialise,” replied Ajay. And Salman said, “Arre he’s a married man, he’s got a wife and child, and his own life... I’ve lots of time to reach that stage!”

Related Posts : Ajay Devgan, Salman Khan