Mumbai, September 22 (NationPress) Nikhil Dwivedi, the Bollywood actor-turned-producer, has expressed his views regarding the recent comments made by filmmaker AR Murugadoss about Salman Khan arriving late on the sets of Sikander, which has been affecting the shooting schedule for the cast and crew. Abhinav Kashyap also previously made striking claims about Salman.

Nikhil, who collaborated with Salman on 'Dabangg 3' as a producer, subtly challenged Murugadoss' assertion, stating to IANS, “Consider this – for the past 10 to 15 years, Salman's films have primarily been released during Eid, indicating that he is working continuously to meet specific deadlines.”

Countering the notion of “Salman being late,” Nikhil remarked, “How do you believe he has managed to meet these Eid deadlines for the last decade and a half without completing his films on schedule? If he isn’t shooting enough, how can he finish on time?”

He further elaborated, “Are we implying that an artist needs to arrive at 9 AM to prove dedication? Or should the focus be on the amount of time spent on set, actively working to meet those deadlines? While opinions on the films can vary, it’s essential to recognize that these are large-scale projects. Filming with Salman typically requires 120 to 180 days, meaning he is engaged in non-stop work for six months.”

Nikhil continued, “Moreover, Salman is involved with Bigg Boss. Has there ever been a weekend where he failed to show up or was late without a legitimate excuse? It's usually because he’s either abroad or engaged in another shoot. Thus, he is clearly committed and honoring his responsibilities.”

He emphasized that artists should be granted the flexibility to choose timings that suit them for shooting. “Perhaps everyone expects the shoot to start at 11 AM — but what if the artist prefers to begin at 2 PM? That’s their choice as an artist; they know when they work best. This entire debate seems exaggerated. Salman’s reputation speaks for itself,” added Nikhil.

He also mentioned, “Salman never clarifies anything, nor does he defend himself. Because he doesn’t provide explanations, it has become easy to label him as unprofessional!”

Reflecting on his collaboration with Salman while producing Dabangg 3, Nikhil shared with IANS, “Firstly, Salman produced it, and he allowed me to be involved as a producer.”

Nikhil expressed, “I must say he is the most easygoing actor anyone could work with, and I genuinely mean this. He has no demands.”

He added, “Salman is so adaptable that if you provide him any vehicle, he won’t even check the model and is perfectly fine with whatever is available. There’s been absolutely no difficulty in working with him.”

Nikhil, who recently garnered acclaim for his film 'Bandar' at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival, expressed his excitement. “This was my first time, at least as a producer; this is one of my initial films showcased at a major film festival, and the reception was incredible.

The film received significant appreciation. Ultimately, that’s what we strive for when launching a project. We all returned very satisfied and thankful. The thunderous applause as the end credits rolled – that’s the moment you decide to pursue filmmaking. 'Bandar', directed by Anurag Kashyap, has been characterized as a controversial film.

Regarding this, Nikhil commented, “I don’t consider it controversial. Sometimes, people misuse the term, so they label it controversial. I believe the film stimulates thought. It encourages conversation and debate.” He added, “That’s often the purpose of art and cinema. You engage in discussions. The film’s subject is designed to polarize opinions, which is precisely the intention. It’s vital for discussions to emerge regarding the issues we aim to highlight through the movie.

'Bandar', written by Sudeep Sharma and Abhishek Banerjee, features Bollywood superstar Bobby Deol in the lead. It has been directed by Anurag Kashyap and produced by Nikhil Dwivedi.

–IANS