We've all been hearing about Salman Khan's purported project, a film called Sultan to be directed for Yash Raj Films by Ali Abbas Zafar. He will be beefing up his muscles for the part.

A close friend of the superstar however reveals, "Salman was not sure he wanted to do Sultan. It's the role of a 40-year old boxer. It'd require a huge amount of preparation. Salman Khan would have to change his entire physique and body language. It'd entail many months of a strict exercise regime and a new diet control so he can acquire a boxer's body. With his heavy commitments, plus his pending court cases, Salman was not sure he can give Sultan the time attention and single-minded focus it requires."

But now that Salman Khan has accepted the part, he is going all out to get into character.

Interestingly, Akshay Kumar plays a boxer in Karan Malhotra's Brothers and Aamir Khan is getting ready to play a wrestler on Nitish Tiwari's Dangal.

Says Salman's friend, "Akshay already had a boxer's physique. Aamir does one film at a time, so he has changed his look according to character. But Salman was committed to finish Sooraj Barjatya's Prem Ratan Dhan Payo and Kabir Khan's Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He could shed his current look only after he finished his two pending assignments."