This days film-makers are following the lead of their western counterparts and are making films shorter, on average two hours or less running time. Comes Nikhil Advani's Salaam - E - Ishq with a a running time of 3.30. "I look at it this way. Had there been one or two pairs/tracks in the film, this length would've been unjustified then. But Salaam - E - Ishq has six different tracks which merge into one story. The length, therefore, is just right," Nikhil states.

"Four out of six stories meet at one place in the pre-climax. In fact, John-Vidya's track triggers off the climax. The penultimate twenty minutes are the highpoint of my film. And I couldn't have made the version shorter by any chance," Nikhil enlightens.

A few days ago, Nikhil screened the rough cut of the film for his director friends in the industry,. "I was apprehensive that they might raise the same issue. But they were unanimous that Salaam - E - Ishq moves at a blistering pace. Not once does the pacing get lethargic, they felt. In fact, I have decided to add a few songs and scenes to the film if it works with the audiences. The length would almost touch 4 hours then," Nikhil says.

Nikhil had also promised Salman Khan that he would first screen the film for his father, veteran writer Salim Khan, before anyone else and seek his invaluable opinion on the film. "Salim-saab loved Salaam - E - Ishq. I asked him if anything needs to be cut or trimmed and he replied instantly, 'It's a brilliant film. Don't cut even one frame.' That gave me the confidence to go ahead with the length," Nikhil states.

In regard to the length, Nikhil makes a valid remark. "A bad film with a shorter duration of 1.30 hours won't work. Conversely, a good film that holds viewers' interest with a running time of even 4 hours might still work," he opines.