'Gandi baat' on Salman Khan-Katrina Kaif talent on Koffee with Karan?

They may be at the top of their Bollywood game, but when it comes to being rated by their peers on their acting skills, Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan are often ranked among the lowest. Week after week, on Koffee with Karan, the former couple’s colleagues have consistently ranked them the lowest when asked by their host to name the top-five actors/actresses in the industry.

But whatever their colleagues might think of their acting prowess, the fact remains that Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan command the highest fees and are much in demand with filmmakers and brands. So why are they consistently scoffed on Karan Johar’s chat show?

Katrina’s first co-star in Bollywood (they acted together in the doomed Boom) Gulshan Grover feels such comments are unfair to both the stars.

“It is not fair, not at all. Firstly, it’s not as though every guest who comes on Koffee with Karan is the greatest actor. They may be popular or fit into what an episode requires or be very personable. I think both Salman and Katrina are not only great achievers or good-looking, they’re also very fine actors. The only ‘drawback’ is that they both need to work on building more cordial relationships within the industry.”

A source very close to Salman said that the box office was the ultimate test of “who is loved and who is not” and that “catfights and jealousy were common in the industry.”

His Dabangg co-star Sonu Sood felt both Salman and Katrina have attained a position that makes others’ attempt to judge their acting talent (or lack thereof) futile. Sonu says that such comparisons must be avoided altogether. However, producer Ramesh Taurani (who worked with Katrina on Race and Ajab Prem Ki Ghajab Kahani and has signed Salman for an upcoming project) feels that the rankings put forward by the stars on Koffee With Karan should be taken as their personal opinions, and not as a reflection on any star’s actual standing in the industry.

“Koffee with Karan is a fun show,” Taurani says. “The celebrities’ comments on the show should not be taken seriously as that is their personal view. Salman and Katrina’s box office hits show that the public not only loves them, but treat them like gods!”

One of Salman’s favourite leading ladies, Kareena Kapoor Khan agrees. She believes that comments made on the show are in jest and should not be taken seriously.

“Whatever is discussed or said on Karan’s shown is not supposed to be taken so seriously. The idea of being on Koffee with Karan is just to have fun. I’m sure even Karan will say that the idea is not to give marks to other actors or to pull a fast one on them,” she says.

As for the man whose ‘creation’ these ratings are, it’s all about providing some light-hearted entertainment.

“I only invite celebrities I share a comfort level with. I’ve asked Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra to rate other actors and
themselves as well,” Karan points out.

“As a host, I think I’ve played very fair. Devoid of humour, colour and glamour, the show would’ve been incomplete. The audience watches my show with the hope to being entertained. I can’t let them down,” concludes Karan.