REFUGEE

Mumbai: Trust Salman Khan to lend a helping hand to the needy. DNA found out that the large hearted actor recently helped out a couple of unemployed villagers by providing them with decent jobs. These men were desperate to feed themselves as well as their families and happened to come into contact with SalmanA friend of the actor reveals: "Salman arrived on the sets to shoot for his forthcoming film Veer when he spotted a couple of villagers who were trying to approach and talk to him. When he asked what the fuss was about, he was told that they desperately needed help as they were unemployed and hungry with families to feed. Salman was very disturbed after hearing their plight and immediately decided to speak to them. He told them that he would help them but offered to find them employment because he thought that they'd get offended if he simply offered them money."

So Salman came up with a wonderful idea. "He told them he was hiring them to act alongside junior artistes for few days and that they would be paid the same amount the others got. They did not have any dialogues in those scenes and were basically part of a group of soldiers. So overwhelmed were they by Salman's gesture that they started crying."

Eros International's Vijay Galani confirms: "They were paid between around Rs 1000 a day for their work, in keeping with the rates of the Junior Artistes Association. Salman also gave away footwear, saris and clothes for their families. It was a wonderful gesture that touched us all. Even in Rajasthan, where we were initially shooting, he helped many people with money, food and clothes."

DNA managed to speak to Salman about the episode and he said, "There is no bigger joy than seeing people who have a smile on their face. I always try to help the really needy and hate to make a show out of it. We (Bollywood stars) should all try to lend a helping hand whenever possible to those who need it the most. It is a great feeling to see people satisfied -- I feel complete as a human being."