The buzz around Salman Khan’s next release, the home production Dabangg is really strong. And many of the crew members insist that Salman has taken very keen interest in shaping the film.

Says the source, “Salman loved Abhinav’s script. But he wanted Dabanng to be a full-on action film with the slickest possible action sequences seen in a Salman starrer, far bigger and better than Wanted”.

Five lengthy action sequences including a climactic eruption lasting 20 minutes were devised specially by Salman in collaboration with action director S. Vijayan, who did the stunts for Salman in Prabhu Deva’s Wanted.

Salman’s brief to Vijayan was simple. “Make the action sequences bigger and better than Wanted.”

Producer Arbaaz Khan doesn’t deny the fact that a lot of Salman’s inputs were incorporated into Dabangg even after the film was completed.

“And why not?” argues Arbaaz. “Salman is a very experienced superstar. This happens to be his brother’s production which makes it a ghar ki baat. He is the star of the film. I considered every suggestion from Salman and incorporated them accordingly. Yes, Wanted was his big action release in 2009. We want Dabangg to be his BIGGER action flick in 2010. I can’t deny we devised the stunts accordingly.”

Arbaaz admits the stylized action sequences were Salman’s idea. “There was this prevalent belief about Dabangg that it was a gritty realistic offbeat kind of film. We didn’t want that kind of branding for Dabangg. We wanted this to be a full-on action film, bigger than Wanted. In fact bigger in terms of action than anything Salman has done before.”

The five action sequences, the film’s highlight were shot over a period of 60 days. And though Arbaaz isn’t willing to reveal it, the fight in the climax alone is 20 minutes long.

Says Arbaaz, “Let’s just say we shot the action scenes for 60 days which is the time spent shooting an average full-length feature film. These action films are done with special effects, the way Jackie Chan’s stunts are shot”.

Apparently, Salman conceived the fights in collaboration with his stunt director.

Says Arbaaz, “I don’t think Salman has contributed more from behind-the-camera to any of his films. Earlier in some of his films he tried to make suggestions, which were unfortunately not taken well. In Dabangg we welcomed Salman’s inputs warmly. He has added considerably to the film’s overall mood and feeling, especially in the action scenes”.

Apparently, Salman is now all set to direct his own film.

– Subhash K Jha/Sampurn Wire