New Delhi: Kabir Khan, whose first project with Salman Khan hits theatres tomorrow, says the Bollywood superstar gave his inputs into the film`s making but respected his views as the director.
The 46-year-old actor, who plays a spy in `Ek Tha Tiger`, apparently suggested many changes in the scenes that were already sealed.
"Though he is a mega star, he never gives suggestions from the place of power. He would give suggestions on lines and scenes but ultimately it is your call as a director and he respects that as well. There is no ego whatsoever in Salman," Kabir told PTI.
The director said he has had a warm relationship with Salman for a long time, even though it took him some time to work with the actor.
"Not many know that I had first narrated the script of `Kabul Express` to him. It wasn`t as if I thought that he would do it; it is just that a friend told me to narrate the script to him just to gain some inputs.
"I went with no expectations and could see that he had developed a liking for me. I showed him a documentary that I had made on Afghanistan and that he was very excited. He was very encouraging and supporting towards me," said Kabir.
Even though Salman is playing a spy in the film, Kabir says the role is nothing like that of James Bond.
"Salman is playing a spy but the attempt is not to make him a James Bond here. I think when filmmakers try to do that, they end up taking the charm from telling a real story."
"I strongly feel that James Bond can`t work in our country. Heroes in our country is anyways not less than James Bond. He does impossible things with ease. I always wanted to make a film with a big star, especially with a story like `Ek Tha Tiger` but then wanted to keep it real," said Kabir.
With his larger than life image fetching Salman four blockbusters in a row, Kabir says the scale of `Ek Tha Tiger` suited him very well.
"Salman has an inherent larger than life quality to him. `Ek Tha Tiger` compliments that with the kind of scale and spread that would fascinate audiences worldwide."
PTI