Subhechcha Ganguly 
Before Salman Khan redefined on-screen cop roles with Wanted and Dabangg, his first outing as a tough law enforcer came in Puneet Issar’s 2004 film Garv: Pride & Honour. However, the role wasn’t an immediate yes for the superstar. In a recent interview with Digital Documentary, director Puneet Issar revealed how he had to convince Salman to take on the challenge.
“Salman and I go way back as friends and co-actors,” said Puneet. “When I narrated Garv to him, he liked the story but asked, ‘Why have you come to me with this?’ He thought it belonged to Sunny Deol’s genre — intense, action-packed, patriotic cinema — something Salman hadn’t explored much at the time.”
At the time, Salman was best known for his romantic and comedic roles in films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Judwaa, and Biwi No.1. Puneet said he was determined to shift that image. “I told Salman, ‘I want to break your image.’ And he listened.”
The actor eventually agreed, and Garv marked his debut as a serious, action–oriented cop — ACP Arjun Ranawat. While the film didn’t strike gold at the box office, it laid the groundwork
