Carving a niche in Bollywood without industry guidance can be an uphill battle, but Pulkit Samrat Said he was lucky to have Salman Khan By his side in the early years of his career. The actor recently reflected on how the superstar’s words ahead of the release of his debut film Bittoo Boss helped him overcome his anxiety and taught him valuable lessons on how to handle success and failure.In a conversation with Variety India, Pulkit also shared what he learned from watching Salman work behind the scenes, revealing that the actor’s dedication to films and humility continue to inspire him.
Salman Khan’s advice eases Pulkit’s debut nerves
Recalling the days leading up to the release of Bittoo Boss in 2012, Pulkit admits that he was extremely nervous. Like all newcomers, he was concerned about how audiences would receive the film and his performance.“I was very anxious wondering how the audience would receive the film and my performance. Salman bhai just looked at me and said, ‘Pulkit, I am Salman Khan. Even I have no guarantee of next Friday. So, who do you think you are? What do you achieve by highlighting it?'”The actor said those few words immediately changed his perspective on the uncertainty of the film industry. “It made me realize that if someone like Salman Khan can’t guarantee the box-office success of his next film, there’s absolutely no reason for me to take that pressure.”
Watching Salman at work becomes a lesson in dedication
Pulkit said the biggest thing he learned from Salman was not just advice. Observing the superstar’s work ethic gave him a clearer idea of what it takes to enjoy a long career in the film industry.Contrary to the laid-back perception of Salman, Pulkit describes him as someone who is always focused on filmmaking.“He eats, sleeps and breathes movies 24/7. Even on a lucky day when he only gets three hours of sleep, he’s constantly thinking about his projects, whether it’s finding the perfect person for a role or brainstorming ideas for a big action movie that audiences will love in theaters.”Inspired by this dedication, Pulkit said he realized he had to work harder to build his career.“Seeing that level of commitment made me realize that if I wanted to achieve 50 percent of what he had, I needed to give 500 percent of the effort. From that point on, hard work became innate to me.”
The biggest gain is not just the movie
Over the years, audiences have often noticed shades of Salman Khan in Pulkit’s on-screen persona. However, the actor believes that the most valuable lessons came from observing Salman’s behavior away from the camera. “The way he cared about his employees was a valuable learning experience.”Pulkit also admires the superstar’s relationship with his family, especially the respect he has for his father, veteran screenwriter Salim Khan. “At the end of the day, he is still Mr. Salim’s son. He would not lift a finger without his father’s permission. That deep respect and unconditional love for his family is what I witnessed constantly in his home, and it is a quality that I deeply admire and strive to emulate.”Pulkit Samrat was recently seen in Netflix’s Glory, which earned him appreciation from the audience. He also made a special appearance in Homi Adajania’s Cocktail 2.
