Salman is Actor with Writer in Veer

Salman was not just the main actor in `Veer`, he was also the writer. We had a lot of differences of opinion. The way he narrated the story and the way I perceived it as a director were different.

"Moreover I brought in other writers Shailesh Verma, Shaktimaan (who wrote my `Gadar`) and Krishna Raghav. Raghav did all the research. So Salman`s story has been interpreted in the way I thought right."

He said Salman insisted that Anil watch his source of inspiration, the Yul Brynner-Tony Curtis 1962 film ‘Taras Bulba’. "But we couldn`t get a single print of the film. So I had to make do with the images that I had in my mind from childhood.

Anil admits he never wanted Salman`s favourite composers Sajid-Wajid to do the music of "Veer". "I had heard their tunes in his earlier films and I was sure Sajid -Wajid weren`t the right ones for a period drama like `Veer`. I met them reluctantly and was surprised by their understanding of Hindustani music. We worked really well together. And the fact that I could convince Gulzar saab to work with Sajid-Wajid was a stroke of luck."

SALMAN used his different formet in "VEER"

"Veer", slated to release Jan 22, is a story of bravery, treachery and love. The story revolves around the 18th century Pindaris who preferred death to dishonour and fought to their last breath to save their land. Salman plays the lead role.

The language has undergone a huge change. The dialogues are in contemporary language but would show that people of that time used to speak and behave like this, ust two weeks were left to start the film and we didn`t have anyone who would fit the role. We were searching left, right and centre and met her by coincidence on the set of Subhash Ghai`s `Yuvvraaj`."

Salman denies any resemblance between Zarine and his girlfriend Katrina Kaif.

"Except being fair and having a sharp nose, I don`t see any similarity between them. Give god that credit for not making two people identical," said Salman.

The film`s story has been written by Salman himself and while scripting it he was scared whether his father Salim Khan, a noted writer, would approve. "I showed the story to my father and the biggest fear was what is he going to say. But he said it`s a good story."

When asked why he chose to make a period film now, he said, "I had written the story 20 years ago but at that time it wasn`t possible to make the film. I thought now is the right time to make it, so I did."

Salman Khan says period dramas usually give the impression that people in past eras never used to laugh, but promises that his new movie ‘Veer’ will have its light moments.