This is one assignment I won't forget in a long, long time.
But then, Salman Khan is very unpredictable.
It all began when I asked the star why he was upset with his protege, Himesh Reshammiya, and why he hadn't met Himesh after Aap Kaa Surroor, the singer's debut movie, was released last month.
Salman, the gossipwallahs had insisted, was upset with Himesh after the singer-composer refused to score music for the actor's films and instead launched his career as an actor.
I couldn't believe what Salman did next.
He bent low, shook my spectacles, saying, "I have no problems with Himesh."
He gave my spectacles another shake, insisting, "Absolutely no problem with Himesh."
Maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised. After all, Salman is known for his antics with reporters.
But it didn't end there. I asked him about global warming as he seemed to be promoting Hollywood actress Sienna Miller -- who was also present at the event -- and Amitabh Bachchan's film Global Cool, which is meant to spread awareness of global warming.
"I have been told that if you don't take care of global warming, then in 20 years, Mumbai won't exist," Salman said, with all the authority of an R K Pachauri.
"Ice glaciers are melting and the sea level is rising. I live next to the sea, at Bandra's Bandstand. So I will be the first to go!"
He paused.
"Plant trees and save planet earth," he declared.
The occasion for the star's interaction with the media was the premiere of his new film Partner, hosted for 700 underprivileged children at the upmarket Infiniti Mall in suburban Andheri, Mumbai.
On the David Dhawan-directed film, Salman would only describe it in three words: "Comedy. Comedy. Comedy." Go watch it, the star, who is clearly one of a kind, added.
Photographs: Salman Ansari
