Making a place in Bollywood without industry guidance can be an uphill battle, but: Pulkit Samrat says he is lucky to have Salman Khan: by his side in the early years of his career. The actor recently reflected on how the superstar’s words before the release of his debut film ‘Bittoo Boss’ helped him overcome anxiety and taught him a valuable lesson about dealing with success and failure.In a conversation with Variety India, Pulkit also shared what he learned from watching Salman work behind the scenes, revealing that the actor’s commitment to cinema and his humility continue to inspire him.
Salman Khan’s advice eased Pulkit’s debuts
Looking back on the days leading up to the release of ‘Bittoo Boss’ in 2012, Pulkit admits that he was consumed with nervousness. Like any newcomer, he was worried about how the audience would receive the film and his performance.“I was very worried, wondering how the film and my performance would be received by the audience. Salman bhai just looked at me and said, ‘Pulkit, I’m Salman Khan. Even I don’t have a guarantee of my next Friday. So, who do you think you are? What can you achieve by promoting this?'”The actor said that some words changed his view of uncertainty in the film industry. “It made me realize that if someone of Salman Khan’s stature cannot guarantee box office success with his next film, I really have no reason to carry that stress.”
Watching Salman work has been a lesson in dedication
Pulkit says his biggest learning from Salman is not limited to advice. Observing the superstar’s work ethic gives him a clearer understanding of what it takes to enjoy a long career in cinema.Contrary to the perception that Salman is laid back, Pulkit describes him as a man whose mind is always occupied with film making.“He eats, sleeps, and breathes movies 24/7. Even on a lucky day he only gets three hours of sleep, he is always thinking about his projects, whether it’s finding the perfect person for a character or brainstorming a big action piece that will make the audience love the theaters.Encouraged by that level of commitment, Pulkit said he realized he had to work harder to build his own career.“Seeing that level of commitment made me realize that if I want to achieve even 50% of what he has, I have to work 500% harder.
The biggest takeaway lies beyond the films
Over the years, audiences have often noticed shades of Salman Khan in Pulkit’s screen presence. However, the actor believes that the most valuable lessons came from observing Salman’s behavior away from the camera. “The way he takes care of his people is a great learning experience.”Pulkit is also impressed by the superstar’s relationship with his family, especially his respect for his father, the veteran screenwriter Salim Khan. “At the end of the day, he is still Salim sir’s son. He will not even lift a finger without his father’s permission. That deep respect and unconditional love for the family is what I have always witnessed in his house, and it is a quality that I admire and try to follow.”Pulkit Samrat was recently seen in Netflix’s ‘Glory’, which earned him appreciation from the audience. He also made a special appearance in Homi Adajania’s ‘Cocktail 2’.
