How do you make Salman Khan’s role distinct from the plethora of cop characters he has played on screen before? That was Mahesh Manjrekar’s foremost concern when he started giving shape to Antim: The Final Truth that sees the superstar as a morally upright police officer. “He has played a cop in so many films — the Dabangg series, Wanted [2009], Garv [2004] and Radhe. So, Salman and I sat down to discuss how to make this character different. It was his idea to give the character a turban. Salman decided to grow his beard; he was [against the idea of] wearing a fake beard because it restricts one’s facial movements and affects the performance. He took a lot of trouble to do justice to the role,” says the director, evidently pleased with his leading man’s commitment to the project.

Mahesh Manjrekar