Sooraj Pancholi says, "Salman Khan did so much for me when I had no scope'

Salman Khan introduced actor Sooraj Pancholi to the world of cinema in 2015 with the film Hero which also starred Athiya Shetty. Salman's unwavering support deeply affected Sooraj, who was then coping with everything that went against him after Jiah Khan's death. He sobbed as he gave Salman a hug during his very first media appearance at the trailer unveiling. Sooraj spoke on Salman's affection and confidence in him and shared recollections of working with him on Ek Tha Tiger in a recent interview. Talking about Salman Khan’s ‘unconditional’ support for him, the actor told Screen, “He did so much for me when I had no scope of any happiness. He came there as a messiah and helped me. He was there for me unconditionally. I bonded with him on the sets of Ek Tha Tiger. I was the last AD and got a lot of time to spend with him; that’s where he got some kind of liking for me. I don’t know why. I don’t know why he wanted to help me, and he stuck by his words.Today, whatever I am is because of his push.”During the interview, Sooraj also recalled how his debut movie Hero, was offered to him by Salman Khan as a birthday gift.“During Ek Tha Tiger, we were in Mardin, Turkey, in the mountains. It was cold. I had gone to sleep, and at 4 am, there was a knock on the door. My roommate saw through the peephole that Mr Salman Khan was standing outside. So he woke me up. We opened the door, and he asked both of us to come to his room at that very moment. We walked to his hotel, and then he sat me down, made me meet Reshma Shetty, and said she would manage my work from now on,” he shared of the incident. “He wished me a happy birthday and gave me the contract for my first film. As an assistant director, he had put me on the film. He called me and asked me to come to Yash Raj. There, he made me meet Kabir Khan and asked him to take me as an AD on the film. My father and he aren’t friends. They know each other due to the industry, but I don’t know why he has this liking towards me. I still question it and ask him sometimes, ‘Why me?’ And he just smiles,” the actor further added. Sooraj was recently seen in 'Kesari Veer' along with Suniel Shetty.