Has Salman directed most of Dabangg?

Mumbai, July 07: Salman gives his home production a new direction. Tells Wanted action director he wants Dabanng to be bigger than 2009 hit! Devises five action sequences

There's a strong buzz going around that Salman Khan has directed most of his home production, Dabangg.

On condition of anonymity, a crew member reveals, "Director Abhinav Kashyap wanted to make it a realistic and gritty film about a corrupt cop set in a small town in Uttar Pradesh, in the vein of what Vishal Bhardwaj and Anurag Kashyap would attempt. But Salman stepped in and changed the film to suit his vision."

Bigger than Wanted!

Reveals the source, "Bhai wanted Dabanng to be a full-on action film with slick action sequences like his film Wanted."

And so, five lengthy action sequences were devised specially by Salman in collaboration with action director S Vijayan (who worked with Khan on Prabhu Deva's Wanted).

Producer Arbaaz Khan admits the stylised action sequences was Salman's idea, "There was this prevalent belief about Dabangg is a gritty realistic offbeat kind of film. We didn't want that kind of branding. We want it to be a full-on action film. Bigger action-wise than anything Salman's done before."

Salman's brief to Vijayan was simple: "Make the action sequences bigger and better than Wanted."

60-day shoot

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

He simply says, "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."

Ghar ki baat hai

Producer Arbaaz Khan doesn't deny that most of Salman's inputs were incorporated in the film even after shooting was completed "And why not?" argues Arbaaz.

"This happens to be his brother's production, which makes it a ghar ki baat. And he IS the star of the film.

I considered every suggestion from Salman and incorporate them accordingly. Yes, Wanted was his big action release in 2009. We want Dabangg to be a BIGGER action flick in 2010. I can't deny we devised the stunts accordingly."

Arbaaz continues, "Earlier, Salman tried to make suggestions for some of his films, which were, unfortunately, not taken well. In Dabanng, we welcomed hiss inputs warmly. He has added considerably to the film's overall mood and feeling, specially in the action scenes."

-Agencies