Aug 30, 2026 8:00pm IST
Munawar Faruqui On How Superstar Salman Khan Taught Him ‘A Lesson For A Lifetime’ (EXCLUSIVE)
In the past few years, Munawar Faruqui’s career has diversified to a great extent. From being a stand-up comic to making his rap debut, he made his acting debut in 2025 with “First Copy”, a web series. In a chat with Variety India, he spoke about his love for Salman Khan since his childhood days. Faruqui also happens to be the winner of “Bigg Boss 17” hosted by Salman Khan.
He reminisces, “As a kid, the first film I saw in theaters was ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!’ I have worked a lot with Salman Khan in the past two years and it feels surreal. It takes me back to the time when I watched the movie as a three-year-old in a cinema hall. I did not understand anything but wept buckets watching the film. I remember my eyes burning with all the kohl. It was my first time in a dark theater watching a movie with a crowd.”
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The stand-up comedian and actor shares an interesting anecdote with Salman Khan. He narrates how Khan and he were at some event where he requested that his wife Mehzabeen Coatwala, who was standing at a distance from them, could come meet the superstar, who suggested that he would go to her instead. He elaborates, “Bhai said, ‘Let me come with you. After that, your wife will respect you a little more.’ He kept his hand on my shoulder and we walked together.”
He continues, “Everyone met him and he patiently spent time chatting with everyone. This made me realize what made him so special, that to be respected you need to give respect to the person in front of you. And that does not mean only indulging in small talk, it can also mean creating an unforgettable memory for that person. This is what makes you a star and a heartthrob. I learnt that there are so many ways to show respect to someone. It was a lesson for a lifetime. There are many qualities that are so unique to him.”
He also reveals that he grew up fanboying over actors like Govinda, Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Aditya Pancholi and Chunky Panday. “I loved movies like ‘Aankhen’ and ‘Baazigar’ and even now I am in awe when I meet them at parties. Whenever I meet Anil Kapoor he gives me a lot of suggestions and chats for a long time. It is a great feeling. At times, I wonder if these people really know me, but then they come up to me, address me by my name and talk to me,” he concludes.
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