Salman Khan, who apparently played a big role in Katrina Kaif's successful Bollywood career, once convinced the actress to work with "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" director Kabir Khan. In an interview with Subhash K Jha, the director revealed how Salman made Katrina say "yes" to the movie "New York".

"My true association with Salman began through Katrina, I was planning 'New York' and my producer Adi Chopra suggested I try Katrina for the female lead as she suited the half-Indian half-Caucasian role. Katrina heard me out but must have been confused and zapped by what I had offered her. She went back to Galaxy Apartments (where Salman stays) and told him that this weird director had offered her this weird role," Kabir said.

"Salman wanted to know who it was. When she told him it was some guy called Kabir Khan, he remembered my meeting with him. He asked her about the film I had offered her and then he advised her, 'Aankhein band kar ke haan bol do'. Salman's endorsement at that point of time meant a lot to me," he added during the interview.

Kabir and Salman have worked together in "Ek Tha Tiger" and "Bajrangi Bhaijaan". Both the movies became blockbusters. The director also talked about how he and Salman used to have arguments on the sets and how their friendship grew.

"Many years later we came together for 'Ek Tha Tiger' and there was a lot of churning and debate on the sets between us. Here was this star with 15 blockbusters behind him being told what to do by a relatively new director. Salman wasn't used to taking instructions from directors. We would often argue. By the time we came to 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', we had discovered a meeting ground and had become very close friends," he said.