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The trailer launch for ‘Hero’ starring debutantes Sooraj Pancholi & Athiya Shetty began no less than 2 hours late! In most cases, the moody mass media would have staged a walkout. Here, instead, senior journalists & major media houses waited patiently, for Salman Khan had turned producer for this film.
Enter Salman Khan & Subhash Ghai onstage to announce the trailer launch and the fun began. Salman pulled the showman’s leg as much as he could even as Ghai, who has co produced the film, called himself a ‘farzi’ (fake) producer while giving credit to director Nikhil Advani & Salman Khan.
After the trailer was showcased, Sooraj & Athiya entered onstage. Touchingly, Sooraj Pancholi simply couldn’t hold back his tears! He cried even as Salman Khan hugged him. On the other hand, Athiya seemed composed & erudite for a newcomer. Sooraj has faced tons of negative publicity when his name got linked to Jiah Khan’s suicide and he was questioned by police authorities. A lot must have been playing on his mind today during this trailer launch.
At the event, Salman reminisced about his decades old relationship with Sooraj Pancholi’s father Aditya and a special friendship that he shares with Suneil Shetty, Athiya’s father. Clearly, his decision to acquire the classic filmy love story ‘Hero’ from Subhash Ghai and remake it for these two young actors is a salute to his long lasting friendships.
Perhaps the highest praise that Salman could shower on a young actor came Sooraj’s way when he said that he believed junior Pancholi could fill his rather large, superstar shoes! Sooraj chose to remain humble and grateful, stating that he still has a long way to go.
A closing photo op with both dads Sunil & Aditya, along with their star kids Athiya & Sooraj, with a beaming Salman Khan in the centre (calling the dads the ‘original producers of his film’s stars), has ensured that the ‘Hero’ onscreen couple definitely grabs plenty of eyeballs right at the start.
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