Salman Khan, renowned for his muscular physique and shirtless appearances in Bollywood films, faced a unique challenge while shooting for his 2016 blockbuster Sultan. The film, directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, demanded Khan to don a langot—a traditional Indian undergarment worn by wrestlers—during its wrestling scenes. This specific requirement pushed Khan out of his comfort zone and presented a new kind of challenge for the seasoned actor.
In an interview from 2016, Khan candidly shared his struggles with wearing the langot, revealing, “The toughest part of doing this film was wearing the langot. I finally understood how actresses feel when they have to shoot in swimsuit shorts. Ali Abbas Zafar insisted that I wear a langot instead of shorts because it wouldn’t look authentic otherwise.” His reluctance was palpable as the langot was a significant departure from the more conventional outfits he was accustomed to, especially in his action-packed roles.
The discomfort Khan experienced was compounded by the sheer scale of the filming environment. During the crucial scene, approximately 5,000 people were present as part of the crowd. This large audience made the situation even more daunting for the actor. Khan expressed his discomfort to Ali Abbas Zafar, explaining that he felt uneasy about performing the scene in front of so many people, especially with women in the audience.
The situation reached a tipping point when Khan was adamant about not filming the scene in a langot. Zafar, understanding the gravity of the situation, suggested postponing the film’s release to the following Eid to allow Khan some breathing room. This offer of a delay, however, seemed to be a strategic move to encourage Khan to follow through with the scene as planned. Faced with the potential of a delayed release, Khan reluctantly agreed to shoot the scene.
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Khan recounted that he even took additional steps to maintain his dignity during the shoot. He wore a lungi to cover himself while moving from his van to the filming location. The actor admitted that he had tears in his eyes during the entire filming process, emphasizing how uncomfortable and challenging the experience was for him.
Despite these hurdles, Sultan was met with tremendous success. The film tells the story of an underdog wrestler, Sultan Ali Khan, who, after achieving great success and retiring due to a personal tragedy, makes a dramatic comeback through an international MMA tournament. The movie not only showcased Khan’s physical transformation but also highlighted his dedication to portraying the character authentically. Sultan proved to be a massive box office hit, becoming the ninth highest-grossing Hindi film of all time.
The film’s success demonstrated Khan’s willingness to push boundaries and take on challenges to deliver a compelling performance. It also reinforced his commitment to authenticity in his roles, even when it meant stepping outside his comfort zone.
As Khan prepares for his next project, Sikandar, where he collaborates with renowned Tamil filmmaker A.R. Murugadoss, fans can look forward to another display of his versatility and dedication. His experience with Sultan serves as a testament to his resilience and ability to overcome personal discomforts for the sake of his craft.
