'Presenting Salman Khan differently is a challenge'

After Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai, Bollywood director Ali Abbas Zafar is set to work with Salman Khan again in Bharat. He says presenting him differently in every project is a challenge.

In Sultan and Tiger Zinda Hai, Zafar managed to show Salman as a middle-aged wrestler and a RAW agent, respectively.

Asked how he approaches the task of breaking the star's on-screen image, the director says, "It is an interesting process to explore. I think it all starts with the script and the way we write the story. We always want to be sure not to repeat what he has already played on-screen. Sultan was a very different story from Tiger Zinda Hai."

He points out how Sultan saw Salman essay an emotional man who lost everything, but in Tiger Zinda Hai, he is seen in a crisis situation. "Salman is a quintessential hero and he has star power. His fans want to see him in a certain way. I had to do justice to both - that is why Salman fans loved both the films."

Zafar is collaborating with Salman for the third time in his upcoming film Bharat. He knows expectations are high. "I know that after two back-to-back hits with him, people have huge expectations. I know I have to deliver the best. I am already feeling the pressure. The film is in the scripting stages and it is too early to give out more details on it. Hopefully, people will like the story," he signs off.