Salman Khan on Dangal, Neerja, Bajrangi Bhaijaan... and BFF Sooraj Barjatya

Bollywood actor Salman Khan won the Best Actor Popular Choice at the Zee Cine Awards 2016, for his performance in Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Even though the actor never accepts his award, he thinks that a film like Bajrangi Bhaijaan deserves to be honoured.

As he walked the red carpet at the awards last night, Salman answered a few questions asked by the media. Here are 5 interesting statements he made during the press interaction:

On Neerja:

Yes, the film (Neerja) has got a good response. I haven't seen the film but I know about it. I've seen some rushes (clips). She (Sonam Kapoor) had showed me a few rushes of the film while shooting for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. I am quite sure about the capacity of the film. And I knew that it was going to generate good response. That people are going to see this film.

Sonam is a very hardworking girl.

Also read: Salman, jury or Harshaali: How does Zee Cine Awards 2016 winners list differ?

On Bajrangi Bhaijaan:

I think a film better than Bajrangi Bhaijaan should have arrived. But this couldn't happen. I really wanted that the films that released the last year should have been better than Bajrangi Bhaijaan, because it's good for all of us. It makes me work harder and the industry also prospers.

Photo: a screen grab

On winning awards:

I get very happy when my fellow industry friends win awards for their work, but the awards don't matter to me at all. I like to attend these functions as they are a form of get together for me. I think these award functions should not nominate me at all.

I have been here for 25 years, so I think instead of nominating me; they should give the younger generation a chance. I can come and perform, I can attend, but I think younger generation should get the awards.

Also read: #CatchChitChat: Neerja should trigger idealism in the country: Sonam Kapoor

On how both he and Aamir Khan are playing wrestlers in their upcoming films:

Sultan's work is in good progress. It's really a difficult film for me. I am more excited for Dangal.

On Sooraj Barjatya:

He's a brother to me. Whoever I am is all because of him. He gave me a great break with Maine Pyar Kiya and people started noticing me since then. Yes, there's a new film on cards because I am always ready to work with him. It's a lifelong contract.

Also read: Salman, Shah Rukh, Aamir and Hrithik to fight it out for Kabir Khan's first Indo-Chinese film

On the business of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo

I just think that Sooraj should have got more 'happiness' with the film. I think it should have done better than Bajrangi Bhaijaan, for Sooraj, because he had worked really hard for the film. And it's a beautiful film about a brother-sister relationship. It was quite a great and beautiful thought.

-- Text by Vineeta Kumar