Salman Khan: playing a ‘simple’ man in Bajrangi Bhaijaan was challenging

"We’ve shown a typical Hindustani [Indian] character where people get a feeling, ‘What a nice guy’, ‘bechara’ [innocent],” says the actor.

Salman Khan and Harshaali Malhotra in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Courtesy Eros International

Salman Khan says he found it hard to "break" his macho image in his new drama Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

"It was a difficult thing for me right now to play after Dabangg, Wanted and other films. It was challenging to come back to play a simple character," said Khan, who is best known for his one-dimensional action films such as 2014's Kick, and the Dabangg films.

The 49-year-old actor said that while Bajrangi Bhaijaan does have action to some extent, it is all heart.

"There is action and everything in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, but it is simple and all heart. We've shown a typical Hindustani [Indian] character where people get a feeling, 'What a nice guy', 'bechara' [innocent]."

“All the action films we do, they need to be backed with emotions. Otherwise, action is pointless,” he added.

Released on July 17 in the UAE, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which is co-produced by Salman Khan Films (SKF) with Rockline Venkatesh, is about the bond shared by a young Pakistani girl who is mute, portrayed by Harshaali Malhotra, and an Indian man.

Director Kabir Khan is happy and content that the audience has been able emotionally connect with the film.

"It is a good thing that the audience is getting emotional as that means our story is working. If there wasn't any emotional connection, then we would have failed as movie makers," said Kabir Khan, whose last film with the actor was the 2012 action drama Ek Tha Tiger. "I think it was a story like that in which we needed a simple and loving Salman and it is a very beautiful story ... The way we have made it, that itself is a treatment which works for the film.

The film, which also stars Kareena Kapoor and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, made 1 billion rupees during its opening weekend.