Here’s Why Salman Khan Calls Saiee Manjrekar ‘One Take Artist’

Saiee Manjrekar, is all set to make her big Bollywood debut opposite Salman Khan in Dabangg 3. We caught up with this new kid on the block who spoke candidly about her first memories of Salman Khan as a child and that she is aware that her father is one of the reasons she got this opportunity.

So, she’s all ready to make her debut with Salman Khan. Have you ever imagined that you will make your debut with Salman Khan?

Saiee Manjrekar: Not in my wildest dreams. No, I had not. It is a dream come true for me, honestly. It is the biggest opportunity I could have ever dreamt of, to have debuted with, so.

Do you remember the first time you met Salman Khan? And how old were you?

Saiee Manjrekar: Um, I actually don’t have quite a vivid memory of that. But I remember being very young. I remember being on a flight to Punjab with my dad and my mom. We were going to shoot Bodyguard I think and I was really hungry. And I wanted something sweet and I was such a cranky child. My mother had, I think, she tried everything. She was like, “You want chocolate?” I was like, “No, I don’t want chocolate.” She was like, “You want biscuit?” I was like, “No!” So, Salman sir was like, “You want Tiramisu?” I was like, “Yes!” So he got me some two-three Tiramisu on a flight and I just remember eating them and being like, “Yes, I got tiramisu. Thank you, Salman sir.” And I’ve always called him Salman sir.

When did you decide that ‘This is it? I want to be an actor’?

Saiee Manjrekar: Um, I think there was a particular moment where something shifted in me. It was. I was quite young. I still don’t know the exact age. But my dad was shooting for this movie called De Dhakka. He was directing it. And my mother had done a really intense scene. She was acting in it. So she was hitting somebody and she was crying. And I was really like... I was looking at my mom like that. And then she snaps out of it and comes to me, she’s like “Yeah baby, you ate?” I was like, how did you just do that? How do you just snap out of being really like hysterical to being normal? She is like, “I mean, that’s what an actor has to do.” And I was really fascinated. I was like, “Really? And you get to look pretty while doing that?”
So, I think that’s when I had this epiphany that I have to do this. This is something I want to do.

How did the movie come to you?

Saiee Manjrekar: So I remember after... not even after, in grade 12 I told my mom that I want to try acting and she’s like, “Really? Are you sure?” I was like, “Yes” She was like, “You have to work hard.” I said, “I will work hard. I promise.” She said, “Okay.” Then I think we were just looking at a few scripts here and there like Marathi, Hindi, everything. And during that time, look at how destiny works. I got a call saying you’re being considered for Dabangg 3 because the character that I’m playing in the film, Khushi, she is very innocent and sweet.

And did you go for any audition?

Saiee Manjrekar: There was a screen test after, yes.

After, but you didn’t have to go for any audition before that? Like for the role?

Saiee Manjrekar: No, so basically what happened was, I’m just getting there. They saw the same innocence that they needed in Khushi in me. Thank God they didn’t come and see what a brat I am. But they saw that innocence in me. So Salman sir said, “Let her do a screen test. Let’s see how she does and we will decide.” Because they saw the innocence, that’s when the bulb went off where ‘we can take Saiee’.

Saiee, do you think that you are getting this because, one of the reasons being your father being your father?

Saiee Manjrekar: I am very well aware, that also counts for something in me getting this opportunity. But I also believe that audience is king. There’s nothing that can happen in this film industry without the audience’s liking it because I was the audience for so long. So, I feel like if the audience like my work, they would want to see more of my work and if they don’t, then I’ll have to work hard on myself.

What was your first scene when you were shooting with Salman Khan? What was that and how was it like?

Saiee Manjrekar: That scene was very special. Obviously, it was my first scene. Also the scene was where Chulbul and Khushi meet each other for the first time. And I got the dialogue then they said action, I said my dialogues and Prabhu sir said, “Okay, good.” And from then I think Salman sir teases me saying ‘One take artist’