Sallu's an older brother!

Kadar Khan's son Sarfaraz says he owes his career to Salman Khan

Kadar Khan's son Sarfaraz says he owes his career to Salman Khan

Sarfaraz Khan, son of yesteryear actor Kadar Khan was last seen as Aslam in Salman Khan starrer Wanted. The actor says he went against his father's wishes to become an actor. Starting off with Kya Yahi Pyaar Hai in 2002, the actor got noticed by Salman in Maine Dil Tujhko Diya. Khan picked him for Tere Naam ('03).

Sarfaraz Khan

Later he was seen in a negative role withu00a0 Arbaaz and Sohail in Kisaan. He says he owes his career to Salman, and has been in most of the actor's films. His next release will be Satish Kaushik's Milenge Milenge. Here Sarfaraz talks about his equation with his father, with Salman and films. Read on...

Is it true your dad didn't want you to become an actor?
Yes, I remember telling him that I wanted to get into films many times, and he'd say no. I started off as a theatre actor at the age of eight. We had formed a theatre group with a couple of friends and I have acted and directed some of my dad's plays like Taash Ke Patte. My father would ask me point-blank, 'What do you have in you that you want to become an actor? He didn't trust me, but I think at that point in time he was right. For him, acting was an art and a religion and at that age, I didn't have the insight to know that.

Did you tell your dad when you signed your first film?
No, I didn't have the guts. Not many people know the real him. He's a very different man from what we see him on screen. At home, we didn't even know what movies he was working on. He would finish his shoot and then switch off to become a different person. He was a professor teaching languages and poetry. So when he came home, there was no discussion about movies at all.

What does your dad think of your acting?
He doesn't say much. In fact, he doesn't like me discussing acting with him at all. The only time I saw appreciation in his eyes was when I showed him Tere Naam. He was quite pleased with my role. Dad is busy travelling around the world where he has his concerts on Mirza Ghalib, Urdu scripts and other academic stuff. He keeps shuttling between Dubai, Mumbai and Kuwait.

When did your friendship with Salman start?
He saw me in Maine Dil Tujhko Diya and liked my work. He asked me to act in Tere Naam. Salman bhai acts on his instinct and is totally genuine. I think the more time I spent with him, I got to know him better. We have an equation where even if we don't say a word we know what's going on in each other's minds. He's like an elder brother to me and I owe a lot to him. He's often misunderstood, but deep down he's just a normal guy. Working with him in Wanted was something I will never forget. Then I also got a chance to be with him in a special episode of CID. He looks after me, and whenever he thinks there's a chance for me to do some role, he calls me.

Do you go to Salman for personal and professional advice?
Yes, there are times when I am in doubt or am not sure, I just pick up the phone call him and speak my heart out. There has never been a time when he's told me he's busy or can't attend to my grievances. He has always encouraged me to explore different roles and do more films.

Tell us a bit about your family...
Well I am happily married with two kids and I stay with my mom who's a housewife. I have two brothers who are in Canada. I have to thank my dad for getting me married early in life so I could settle down soon.