Single Salma (सिंगल सलमा)

Ladies and gentlemen,

a very good evening to the one and all present here.

I would like to welcome you to the ESRA Entrepreneur Awards.

The next category is Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year.

And giving away the award is Trade Chairman James Brown.

For Small Business Entrepreneur of the Year,

the award goes to…

Somebody who all of London has come to know

and love as the Benares King,

Sikandar Khan!

Hey, Sikandar, keep it up.

- Thank you. - Well done.

I would like Sikandar to share his journey

with all the budding entrepreneurs here.

Hello, mic testing, one, two, three. Mic testing, one, two, three.

It's working just fine, Sikandar.

Oh, it's working.

Just checking.

In Lucknow, we always make sure it's working.

First warning.

I'm pretty tightfisted when it comes to English.

So, when I was told

that I'd be presented with

the Small Business Entre…

Enter... Enterr…

It's even difficult for me to pronounce it.

I said to my wife,

"Let's turn it down."

"What is the point in going there and embarrassing myself?"

But my wife said to me, "Sikandar…"

When you go there,

"just speak from your heart."

"Speak straight from the heart…

And they will understand."

So Banaras, which you all so lovingly

call "Benares,"

produces saris that are true works of art.

The work done on them is so intricate

that I swear to God you can never take your eyes off them.

It was the same cold night in London. It was my first trip to this country,

and I was freezing outside the Queen's palace.

I noticed everyone was wearing a jacket,

but the colors were limited.

Only a few handpicked colors.

And they were being repeated again and again.

It occurred to me that

if I could bring the color of Banaras

to these women,

it would add to their charm even in this freezing weather.

Anyone could have come up with a similar idea,

but I thought of it first, and I started a business here.

The question that arises is

how this idea came to me.

How the journey of a lad named Sikandar,

from the streets of Lucknow to London, began.

That is the real story.

The story of my Salma.

- Hurry! - A cup of tea, please.

- One tea! - Hold on.

SHARMA JI'S CAFE

Salma Rizvi.

The eldest daughter of the Rizvi family.

Age, 33 years.

Beautiful, educated, and talented.

But single.

The world was changing, and so was Lucknow.

Salma worked for Lucknow's Public Works Department.

Hold it properly, Nitesh.

- Or the thread will be full of knots. - Sorry.

If you can't hold the yarn properly,

forget about becoming permanent.

Do it properly.

She wanted to make some contribution to this facelift of Lucknow.

Salma had no other complaints with life.

She never gave up trying to live her life on her own terms.

But Salma's mother had only one complaint.

It's time you got married.

- How long will you... - What about the house?

Let it get sold?

Will you entertain the wedding guests on the streets?

They lived in a huge mansion,

but it was mortgaged to Rastogi.

And Salma was paying the installments.

Salma's father, Nawab Raees Hassan Rizvi.

India attained independence 75 years ago,

but every month, this gentleman shows up

at the royal pension office

to collect his 15 rupees.

This isn't just money.

It's proof that I am a Nawab.

The Nawab was too busy reminiscing about his royalty.

For a fact, mosquitoes breed in stagnant water.

Even the well-wishers had an eye on the Rizvi family's honor.

Well done, Salma.

- Good job. - Fantastic.

Nawab Raees Hassan Rizvi's daughter is getting married.

It's the talk of the town.

Salma's youngest sister was getting married, not Salma.

But it was Salma who had paid for both of her older sisters' weddings.

Of course, she took a loan from the office for this.

She pays installments for that as well.

Meet the young prince of the family.

His so-called education

and dreams of becoming a cricketer

are also funded by Salma.

On the whole, she is the whole and soul of the Rizvi family.

Salma Rizvi.

Beautiful, educated, and talented.

But single.

- All three younger daughters are married? - Yes.

Only her now.

Any problems with…

Not at all, brother.

She works as a supervising engineer at LCA.

My husband wanted a boy.

So, we had three more children after her.

I can see that.

- Salma is a true gem. - Yes.

She was only 18 when we had to mortgage our mansion.

She had to sacrifice herself

for the sake of her family and her sister's happiness.

Look, sister.

You know the boys in Lucknow.

Even the pickpockets in Lucknow

desire Katrina Kaif.

We're looking for an honest and simple boy.

Not boys.

You can only expect men in her case.

But don't worry.

If Salma is a ring,

then I will find the gem that fits in it.

Thank you very much.

- Nitesh. - Yes?

Do we have Spider-Man masks?

Yes, madam.

- Masks. Yes. - Five in total?

- And check those too. - All different.

Also, check for He-Man's sword.

Nice.

This is called women's power.

Office work and household chores.

- In balance. Together. - You're right.

I can't comment on women's power,

but it's my younger one's birthday today.

Happy birthday.

Okay. And the theme is superhero.

And why does anyone get a job?

For the family.

So, I am trying to keep them happy, that's all.

You are absolutely right.

Family is everything.

Right, Salma?

Are you done with the Hazratganj file, Rajiv?

Are you done with the Hazratganj file?

Soon.

I want it by evening.

And focus on the job.

Or while you're commenting on women power,

you will get replaced by a woman.

Is it done, sir?

Yes, it's done.

But Salma, you already borrowed money

for your sister's wedding.

Now your second sister's husband

is asking you to be the guarantor for his shop.

Sir, he's going through tough times.

In the name of being a good relative,

he's making you a part of their problem.

Look, Salma, you are talented.

You have a future.

If you keep putting relationships above everything else,

your future will never become your present.

Yes, sir. Noted.

- And also… - Yes.

We received a brochure from London for smart city planning.

Study it once.

Okay, sir.

Mom, I want a bat.

Son, there's some sesame wood under the table.

Take it to carpenter Rajender.

He will carve a fantastic bat out of it.

Dad, I want to be Rohit Sharma.

But on your terms, I won't even become Ishant Sharma.

I need an English willow bat.

That…

Just because he goes to an English medium school,

he now wants an English bat.

Mom, you won't understand.

Just give me 8,000 rupees, please.

Are you out of your mind?

Did your grandpa plant a money tree

from which I can pluck 8,000 rupees for you?

I can adjust with 7,000 as well.

In our old mansion,

there were gold coins buried in the courtyard.

The government took it.

Heard that?

Ask the government to give you a gold bat!

Let me make some tea. Your sister will be back soon.

- Greetings. - Greetings.