As his last release Bajrangi Bhaijaan continues to shatter records at the box office, Salman Khan’s close friends say he is a changed man. Turns out the superstar has become a lot more expressive of his emotions. “His eyes well up a lot more now. Somewhere he seems to have discovered a paternal side to himself. And Hero has proved that side of Salman. He has taken charge of Sooraj Pancholi and Aathiya Shetty like they’re his own kids,” says a friend of the star.

The recording of the theme song of Hero saw a teary-eyed Salman again. Says the film’s director Nikhil Advani, “Somewhere Salman sees a reflection of himself in Sooraj. When he got emotional at the first look launch of the film, it was not a rehearsed thing. As for this song in particular, Salman wanted to make the Hero theme an emotional expression of Sooraj’s journey from rebel to love. He has poured his heart into every syllable of the song.”

Nikhil says Salman’s involvement with Hero and its two debutants is far beyond a professional commitment. “He has made a promise to himself and to his friends Aditya Pancholi and Suniel Shetty that he would turn their children into stars. Salman will live up to that promise, no matter what it takes.”

Apparently, Salman calls up the director suggesting changes constantly at any time of the day and night. And he even decides the public events and social gatherings where the lead pair should be “spotted”.

Nikhil says, “As a producer of the film, Salman could have merely signed the cheques and moved on with his own career. But no. He is absolutely involved with every aspect of the film, most of all with Sooraj and Aathiya’s projection and promotion. He isn’t leaving anything to chance.”