`Kick` theme matches with Salman Khan`s personality: Chetan Bhagat

Mumbai: Four of his novels have made it to the big screen but Chetan Bhagat hopes his screenplay writing job on the upcoming Salman Khan starrer `Kick` will help him expand his horizon in Bollywood.

The offer to write the screenplay for `Kick` came from Sajid Nadiadwala, who was one of the producers on the movie adaptation of author`s `Two States`. Nadiadwala turns director with the film. Another reason that attracted Bhagat to the project was Salman Khan`s name. The actor had a cameo in 2008 movie `Hello`, based on the writer`s `One Night @ the Call Center`. "Sajid Nadiadwala had liked the story of `Two States` and he was looking to turn director with a dream project starring Salman Khan. He asked me to write the script. Another reason that attracted me to the story was that it matches with Salman`s personality. "The character in the film does everything for a high. That`s is something which matches with Salman`s personality. He is a man of moment and he lives from the heart and so is the character in `Kick`," Bhagat said. When asked whether screenplay writing will overtake his writing job, Bhagat said he rather saw it as an "extension and a learning experience". He also enjoyed collaborating with other writers on the movie. "I want to expand my horizon as a writer. I had other offers earlier but I declined them because I primarily want to remain an author but between books I can write screenplays. My next novel, a love story between a rural boy and an urban girl, will be out soon," he said. The author`s fifth novel `Revolution 2020` is also headed for movie adaptation with the UTV. Rajkumar Gupta of `No One Killed Jessica` is apparently aboard to helm the project but Bhagat professed ignorance when asked about Arjun Kapoor joining the project. "I have been busy with my novel so I will focus on `Revolution 20/20 now. The cast and crew are not finalised but it will be a big film," Bhagat said. Bhagat faced lot of criticism during the controversy over the credits in '3 Idiots'. When reminded of it, the writer says the incident helped him learn a lot. "After that, I decided to work really hard and decided that my work will never be questioned again. I learned how to handle my relationships, contracts and communication better which is true for everyone," said Bhagat. He feels Bollywood has made him wiser and more evolved. "I am five films old now and have evolved a lot by working here. I have learned that you can't compromise on talent and hard work," he said. Asked him whether he has ever given a thought to directing, Bhagat said Nadiadwala has been encouraging him for that but he is not so sure. "Never say never. It may happen someday but right now I don't think it is possible. Directing is very time consuming."