TV Review: Salman Khan on 'Koffee With Karan'

Most of us hardcore Bollywood buffs know about the show Koffee With Karan. The premise of the show is simple enough. Hotshot director Karan Johar invites high profile celebrities on his chat show and asks them the most intimate questions and quite literally get away with it! Why? Because he's the head honcho of Dharma Productions, probably one of the most successful production houses in the film fraternity, and his father, the late Yash Johar, was an incredibly respected man.

Past highlights of the show have included Deepika Padukone and Sonam Kapoor's not so subtle potshots at Ranbir Kapoor, which ruffled a few feathers, the coming together of exes Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, Rani Mukerji and Kareena Kapoor's catty remarks against Preity Zinta to name a few, but it's all in the name of fun and is quickly forgotten (or not in some cases!)

The show's now back in its fourth season and the roster is pretty high profile. It was a surprise to many that the director got Salman Khan, of all people, to kick the season off and park his bum on the now infamous couch. Surprise why? Salman Khan is known to be an extremely eccentric and tempestuous man, mercurial almost, and something of a spoilt brat, and having him on air, would mean a high level of unpredictability, you just never know what to expect from this moody Khan.

But. Salman sprung a surprise. And a pleasant one at that. After his initial awkwardness and apprehension to answer the rather personal questions thrown at him, Salman settled in and how. He showed a rarely seen mature side to him and seems to have mellowed considerably over the years, and was pretty direct in some of his responses.

My personal favourite was when KJo asked him which man he would have a gay liaison with if held at gunpoint, and Salman after his initial coyness, fired right back that it would have to be Karan provided he was the "man" (ahem). So rest assured, Karan Johar was finally outed on the show, (I know it's probably the worst kept secret on the planet), and for a change the director didn't have a smart Alec comeback ready for Salman's quick witted retort.

I also liked Salman's frank and forthright answer regarding his enmity with Shah Rukh Khan. It seems SK has finally forgiven SRK, but was quick to remark that they're unlikely to be best of friends now, or in the future. Also noteworthy were his sly digs at Katrina Kaif and her beau Ranbir Kapoor, but I doubt Salman's holding a torch for her any which way, he seems to have moved on and is busy doing what he has to do. 

Undoubtedly, we can expect Salman to feature in a film with Deepika Padukone soon – he couldn't stop gushing about the reigning diva and the hard work she's put in to get to where she has.

Having Salman's father writer Salim Khan on the show was fun too. Salim Khan seems grounded and I loved his candour when he stated how Salman isn't really above the law and that if he is guilty (in the hit and run case), he has to go ahead and serve his sentence just like any citizen. 

Overall, I'd say it was a pretty good start to an anticipated show.

View the whole first episode below and do let us know in the comments section below, which bits of the show you loved and/or hated and stay with us as we review future episodes of the chat show. Upcoming episodes include cousins Ranbir and Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra, Madhuri Dixit and Juhi Chawla and many more.

Full episode: Salman Khan and Salim Khan on Koffee With Karan Season 4