Salman: I used to put chitkanis on the doors of my car

Salman Khan is obviously having a good year. After two blockbusters, and a growing fan following, he has been gifted a sleek white Audi Q7.

The German car manufacturer recently presented a brand new Audi to the star, acknowledging his hit film, Bodyguard.

Trans World Features correspondent Sreya Basu finds more about Salman's car adventures.

How does it feel to own an Audi?

I used an Audi in Bodyguard and now, I have one of my own... kaamal ho gaya (it's a miracle). I just pray I get a new car after every film I do so that I don't have to spend money on buying cars.

I've had some (bad) experiences with cars in real life but I hope these kinds of functions (being gifted a car) happen to me every day.

What do you have to say about the car?

It's a beautiful car. Even Katrina Kaif has this car.

Tell us about your first car.

My first car was a Herald. It was used in a film called Zamana, which was written by my father (Salim Khan). Rishi Kapoor drove the car in the film.

How was the experience with your first car?

After the shooting of Zamana was over, I got the car back. It was in such a bad condition. The flooring board was gone, there was no handle on the doors.

So I used to put these chitkanis (latches) -- the ones you have on your doors at home, bolt-and-action ones -- on the doors of my car.

The brakes would also stop working most of the time. So I took to carrying stones in my car to stop it. For that reason we could never drive the car very fast.

Also the bonnet of the car used to open up from time to time.

I remember, once we were going to a mood indigo party, it (bonnet) opened up and smashed the head of a friend. He got nine stitches. The party got cancelled and we never went for a mood indigo party since then.

You also had a motorcycle.

Yes, I did. You must have heard of Dilawar Khan, the stunt guy.

He had an engine lying somewhere. Another friend of mine Salim, who has acted in many films with me, also had a lot of motorcycles back then. I got some tyres and the engine from Dilawar Khan, and all other parts from Salim.

I spent about eight months getting that motorcycle ready. I was going to (St) Xavier's, I met Salim on my way. I waved to him and said: 'It's the same motorcycle dude.'

I came back the next morning, the motorcycle was missing. Turned out, Dilawar used it for a stunt in the Filmcity lake and it was gone. That was the end of that story.

You used your personal car in Maine Pyar Kiya. What was the story behind it?

After the Herald and the motorcycle, I got another car that used to be parked next to a friend's building. I bought that for Rs 15,000. I swear I have pushed that car more than I drove it! We got it repaired and used it in Maine Pyar Kiya.

It was a French Fiat and it had a shape similar to that of a Mercedes. So I put the Mercedes emblem in front of that car.

So, the car worked after that?

The day we were supposed to shoot with the car, we were driving down Altamount Road when one of the tyres burst and went straight into the railing.

The whole car got destroyed. We sent it back and got it repaired again and then used it for Maine Pyar Kiya. As soon as the film was over, I proceeded to shoot Baaghi: A Rebel for Love (1990), and sold the car.