Salman Khan took five months to agree to work with Sonam Kapoor due to 'age gap'

'Dabangg' star was hesitant to film romantic scenes with Sonam Kapoor due to her being his friend's daughter.

Bollywood megastar Salman Khan needed five months to agree to work with actress Sonam Kapoor in the 2015 blockbuster Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, directed by Sooraj Barjatya.

Despite Salman Khan’s illustrious career spanning over 30 years, working with many actresses across various age groups, he hesitated when it came to romancing Sonam, who is 19 years younger than him and the daughter of his close friend, actor Anil Kapoor.

Sooraj Barjatya, the director of the film, recently revealed that he was eager to cast a fresh pair for the movie.

Barjatya thought Sonam Kapoor would be perfect for the role of a princess after seeing her performance in Raanjhana. However, Salman Khan wasn’t convinced.

When Barjatya first showed him Sonam's pictures, Salman asked for time to think about it.

A month later, when approached again, Salman expressed his reservations.

“Sonam is much younger than me, and I’ve seen her grow up. How can I romance her on screen?” Salman Khan reportedly told Barjatya.

Salman was also concerned about her height, asking, “Isn’t she too tall for me?”

Sooraj Barjatya persisted for five months, trying to convince Salman that Sonam was the right choice.

Sonam, too, was excited about the opportunity and eager to work with Salman Khan.

Finally, Salman agreed to the casting, jokingly texting Barjatya, “From today, I’ll call Anil Kapoor ‘Anil sir’.”

Salman later acknowledged that Sonam suited the role perfectly.

“Even though I didn’t initially agree with it, Sooraj convinced me,” Salman said in an interview.

Sonam, on the other hand, didn’t find it awkward romancing Salman on screen, expressing her excitement, “I loved it! I’ve watched all his films.”

Despite their 19-year age difference, the on-screen chemistry between Salman and Sonam was praised by audiences, and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo became a massive commercial hit.

The film, made on a budget of Rs 90 crore, grossed Rs 432 crore at the box office, becoming the second-highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2015.

This marked the fourth collaboration between Salman Khan and Sooraj Barjatya, following successful films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Kick 2 officially confirmed by Sajid Nadiadwala, fans eagerly await Salman Khan's return

Moreover, producer Sajid Nadiadwala officially announced Kick 2, the much-anticipated sequel to Salman Khan's 2014 blockbuster Kick, through a social media post.

The announcement, featuring a captivating photo of Salman Khan (although his face was not visible), sparked excitement among fans, who have eagerly awaited the film's return.

The original Kick was a massive box office success, crossing the ₹200 crore mark, and its sequel has been highly anticipated ever since.

Nadiadwala revealed that a photoshoot for Kick 2 had already taken place but did not disclose further information about the film’s cast or shooting schedule.

The uncertainty surrounding the lead actress has only added to the building anticipation.

Fans have taken to social media, expressing their eagerness for the film and speculating about the possible cast choices.

Salman Khan, who was currently busy with the shooting of his next film Sikandar, was expected to start work on Kick 2 after wrapping up the project.

Sikandar is slated for an Eid 2025 release, and fans are already excited to see the Bollywood star return to the big screen in such major roles.