Shreya Gupto, who stars in Sikandar, opened up about her special connection with Salman Khan, shaped by her mother’s small role in Kyon Ki…. In an exclusive chat with ETimes, she shared her awe of the superstar, the tight security on set, a heartwarming moment that revealed Salman’s generosity and more. Excerpts…
You have a very special connection with Salman Khan (through your mom). Can you tell us about it and how special that makes your collaboration with him?
I was raised by a single parent, and my mother did everything she could to support me. One of her jobs was a small role in the movie Kyon Ki…, a moment I recently shared on social media. I remember accompanying her and thinking, I need to be the person next to Salman Khan, not standing behind.Since childhood, I’ve dreamed of becoming an actor. As an outsider, it takes years of effort and countless auditions to make a mark, which is why Sikandar feels even more special. My mother unknowingly gave me the vision to pursue acting, but beyond that, her hard work and dedication shaped my journey—both financially and as a nurturing force in my life.
Did you get an opportunity to have a chat with Salman off camera on the set? If so, what was it like?
Trust me, I was awestruck every time I saw Salman Khan on set. I remember the first day of the shoot—it was also my first scene in the film. I had long dialogues, and I kept thinking, You have to nail it; he’s a star, you can’t fumble. These were probably just my own assumptions and inhibitions. What if I fumble? What would he say? But honestly, he was incredibly collaborative.
I didn’t get the chance to chat with him off camera much because, most of the time, I was just awestruck. I would simply observe him, thinking, Oh my God, this is the man who danced to Oh Oh Jaane Jaane, bare-bodied. Am I really working with him? If I had pushed myself to talk to him, I’m sure he would have been welcoming. But security was tight on set, and we weren’t allowed to bring our phones since the makers were strict about preventing any behind-the-scenes footage from leaking.
Salman boasts a huge fan following in the country. Meeting him in person, do you feel like the craziness around his stardom is justified?
I watched Sikandar in Gaiety Galaxy for a reason. The stardom Salman Khan has maintained over so many decades speaks for itself. I’m not even in a position to comment on it because I’m sure it takes immense dedication and hard work to be a star of his calibre.
How is he as an individual and as an actor?
Let me tell you a fun story. There was a scene where Salman Khan’s character, Sikandar, had to buy things for many kids in the film. And he actually bought them. He took all the kids to the mall and personally purchased everything. That day, I truly realized how generous and kind he is—giving comes naturally to him.
I also noticed that many people in his team have been working with him for decades, which speaks volumes about the kind of person he is. His stardom is absolutely justified—it’s the result of years of relentless hard work. People assume stars have it easy, but in reality, it takes dedication and consistency to sustain that level of success.
