Sooraj Pancholi recalls Salman Khan carrying him on his shoulders at Michael Jackson concert as a child; reveals the superstar offered him first film on his 20th birthday

Sooraj Pancholi, who is currently promoting his upcoming film, 'Kesari Veer', recently opened up about how Salman Khan offered him his first film Hero on his 20th birthday as a gift. He also recalled his precious childhood memories with the superstar.A Turning Point During Ek Tha TigerIn a chat with Bollywood Bubble, Sooraj recalled a moment during the shoot of Ek Tha Tiger in the freezing temperatures of Mardin.During a lunch break, when the cast and crew—including Salman—were eating together, Salman casually asked Sooraj about his future plans. Sooraj responded that he wanted to become an actor. Salman simply nodded in acknowledgment, saying nothing more—but that quiet exchange ended up being a turning point in Sooraj’s journey.A Surprise Visit at 4 AMHe went on to share a memorable birthday surprise from Salman Khan. The day after their conversation, which happened to be Sooraj's birthday, he was staying at a different hotel than the actors—reserved for assistant directors. To his surprise, at around 4 AM, Salman showed up at his hotel. Sooraj and his roommate were stunned to find the superstar at their door in the middle of the night, all because Salman had found out it was Sooraj’s birthday.A Birthday Gift Like No OtherIn the same interview, the actor shared that Salman personally handed him the contract for his debut film as a birthday gift. It was a deeply emotional moment for him, as he was just 20 at the time. Salman told him he had three years to train and prepare, assuring him that he would produce his first film. That gesture left a lasting impact on Sooraj, who recalled it as a moment he'll never forget.A Quiet Gesture, A Lifelong ImpactHe recalled feeling overwhelmed and emotional as he received his first film offer from Salman Khan while far from home in Mardin. The gesture took place in an intimate setting with Salman, his bodyguard, and then-manager present. Salman told Sooraj that she would manage his work and reiterated that if he proved himself, he would get the film in three years. There was no script at the time—Salman simply believed in his potential and saw something in him.Not Just Family Ties—A Memory from ChildhoodConcluding his story, Sooraj shared that Salman Khan’s decision to launch him wasn’t based on friendship with his father, Aditya Pancholi. Instead, Salman recalled seeing Sooraj as a child during Michael Jackson’s 1997 India concert—dressed like MJ and just around five years old. He even remembered carrying Sooraj on his shoulders through the show, a memory that stayed with him and ultimately played a role in shaping Sooraj’s big break in Bollywood.