Srinagar, May 19: Salman Khan repeated his "love" for Kashmir today, but let on that ex-flame Katrina Kaif may have been the spark.
" KASHMIR bahut AMEER (very rich) in natural beauty... Maashallah Maashallah (Arabic expression for appreciation). Maashallah Maashallah say yaad aaya Katrina bhi Kashmir say hai (Maashallah Maashallah reminds me that Katrina Kaif is also from Kashmir)," Salman tweeted.
Maashallah is also the title of a romantic number from Ek Tha Tiger, the 2012 Salman-Katrina blockbuster, fuelling suggestions he may have used the expression as a take on Kashmir's beauty as well as the actress he reportedly dated for long.
Katrina's father Mohammed Kaif, a British businessman, is purportedly a Kashmiri but it is not clear whether he or his ancestors lived here. Old-timer Nazir Bakshi, who has served as a key link with Bollywood, said he had no information about the Kaifs.
Katrina's roots have always been a subject of great interest, not just in Kashmir. Asked in 2010 by Karan Johar what she would like to know from Katrina, Deepika Padukone had no hesitation in picking "Katrina's passport".
Katrina is currently said to be dating Deepika's ex-beau Ranbir Kapoor.
Salman's comments today came as he left after a month-long shoot of Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan, his first in the Valley.
"Flood Kashmir with only tourism tourism tourism," the 49-year-old tweeted, perhaps alluding to the devastating floods last year.
But while it has taken Salman years to film in Kashmir, Katrina has already done so. She came here first in 2012 for the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Jab Tak Hai Jaan and then early this year for the upcoming Fitoor, alsofeaturing Aditya Roy Kapoor and Rekha.
Salman, though, can't seem to get enough of Kashmir since he arrived here for Bajrangi over a week ago.
Speaking on Sunday in his first media interaction since the stay on his hit-and-run conviction, he also cited his own roots in the region, saying his maternal grandfather, Baldev Singh Charak, was from Jammu.
In another tweet, the superstar said: " Wah yaar, Mazza aah Gaya kamal karte ho Kashmirji (sic) (Great, Enjoyed myself, what a wonder Kashmirji)," a reference to his signature dialogue "kamaal karte ho" from the Dabangg series.
He posted pictures of stunning locations, shikaras and Kashmiri kids, including one of himself with three children captioned: " Kashmiri sev se sweeter hain Kashmiri bachhe (sic). (Kashmiri kids are sweeter than Kashmiri apples)."
Khawar Jamsheed, the line producer of Bajrangi, said Salman enjoyed his stay. "He was in no mood to leave. He is in love with Kashmir and wants to be here again very soon," Jamsheed told PTI. About 30 per cent of the movie, which also stars Kareena Kapoor, was shot in the Valley.
Black buck case
A single-judge bench of Rajasthan High Court today refused to hear Salman's appeal to re-examine five prosecution witnesses in the black buck poaching case, his counsel H.M. Saraswat said.
Justice Vijay Bishnoi said the case should be "put up before another bench". The chief justice will now take a decision, Saraswat said.
