True-blue Salman Khan fans will know that before he made his big splashy debut in Maine Pyar Kiya, he had appeared in a little-known film called Biwi Ho Toh Aisi. The superstar himself stirred memories when he discussed the film recently. When he met the writer-director of the film, J K Bihari a few years back he apparently asked him why he had signed him on all those years ago.

With complete candidness, Salman declared, “Bihariji told me that he had approached numerous actors, big and small for the role but all of them refused it, as they did not like something or the other about the part. He was completely frustrated and one fine day, while he was at his garage turned office, he told his team that the next idiot to walk in would be signed for the film. And that idiot was me!”

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Salman also revealed that he had prepared well for the audition. “I knew he used to sit at the garage beside the building; so I entered in full speed and style. I thought I was signed because of that, not knowing what Bihariji had in his mind.”

The 1988 release, Biwi Ho Toh Aisi was a family drama that revolved around the lead pair, played by Rekha and Farooq Shaikh, who play a married couple. It's about how the character Shalu overcomes all obstacles in her married life to win over the acceptance of her domineering mother-in-law Kamla (Bindu). Salman had played Shalu’s young brother-in-law Vicky, who cannot bear the atrocities meted out to his sister-in-law and sometimes gets vocal in his protests against his tyrannical mother.

Talking about his entry into TV, Salman also shared that in 2008, when the show ‘Dus Ka Dum’ came to him, he had a very negative image in public. “I was indeed scared to show my original personality. But then I made my debut and from then I have realized that it is the most powerful medium,” he declared.

He also shared an anecdote from that time… “I was shooting for Wanted in Panvel and as usual I was out for a run. That farmhouse has been there from the time Maine Pyar Kiya released but suddenly I had an old lady come up to me and say, ‘’Dus Ka Dum’ ho na?’. And during those eight kilometres of run, the entire town was clicking pictures saying ‘Dus Ka Dum’. I really felt great that day and I also realized that people have forgotten my characters Prem, Raja, Arjun, Samir and now know me by my real name.”