I'm here because of Salman bhai: Arjun Kapoor

In conversation with Arjun Kapoor on his debut and mentor Salman Khan

Your first ever interview on India's No.1 Bollywood channel... I'm glad to be here. I'm a regular viewer of the channel. People watch news channels to get news; filmi people watch zoOm to get the latest on B-town. It's great fun to catch up on stars' lives and there's gossip, entertainment and the works.

Was it all too easy for you? It wasn't like that at all! I auditioned, I worked on my role and I convinced people that I was the right fit.

But acting wasn't part of your plan, right? I never saw myself as an actor. I was fat, but even then, I was happy-go-lucky. Until one day, when Salman bhai took me aside and said now is the time to be an actor. I just looked down at myself (read: belly) and thought, "Are you serious?" It was his faith that got me here. I practically lived with him while he trained and groomed me.

Is he your Godfather then? I don't know if Godfather is the right term, but I'm here only because of the motivation of one person - Salman bhai!

Sonam, Priyanka, Katrina and Bipasha - all the lovely ladies are rooting for you... Every man craves for female attention, so I won't deny that I am excited. I hope to work with them someday.

Less than a month to go, are you feeling the heat? One poster changed everything. I was blissfully unaware of expectations, shooting in a small town, doing my thing. But the teaser poster, promo and the appreciation that followed have made me anxious. Now, I am on the edge.

So, this a dream debut? Yes, it's the perfect launch. I had a word with my father and uncle (Anil Kapoor), and we thought it was better starting out on my own merit than launching with my home-production.

Salman refuses to promote Arjun Kapoor on twitter

Everybody knows that Salman Khan has helped many newbies in the industry in giving them a great launch pad and further even in shaping their careers.

Katrina Kaif, Sonakshi Sinha, Himesh Reshammayya are some of the best examples in Bollywood. He also helps many small time actors get good roles at least in his films. So obviously producer Boney Kapoor expected Salman who is a top star now, to help out his son Arjun in promote his upcoming film Ishaqzaade.

Salman has worked in Boney Kapoor's films such as Wanted and No Entry and they share a good relationship. Arjun too was supposed to have great equations with the star who helped him groom and especially sorted out Arjun's weight issues and body-building. The two shared great relationship also because Arjun was once dating Salman's sister Arpita but the affair did not last long.

Aware that Salman is huge on twitter, apparently Boney asked him to tweet about Arjun's film. But Boney was in for a rude shock when Salman refused outright to do so. Boney didn't know what hit him. And the industry sources blame Arjun and his past misdemeanours for it. Has it got something to do with Arjun's reported liaison with his sister-in-law Malaika Arora Khan?

'Only Salman Khan can be Tiger'