Salman's Great Action Love Story, coming up

Action suits Salman Khan, and the actor knows that only too well. After the success of his action film Wanted comes another film in the same genre. Only this time, Veer will see him play a warrior in the year 1875, who takes on the might of the British empire.

Check out the film's trailer.

Veer introduces newcomer Zarine Khan, who bears a startling resemblence to Salman's girlfriend Katrina Kaif.

In the film, Zarine plays a princess in love with Veer. Unfortunately, she is forced to choose between her love and her country.

Veer has been scripted by Salman Khan, based on Russian author Nikolai Gogol's novel Taras Bulba. Salman had written it 20 years ago when he wanted to turn director. But it was never made because the budget was too high.

"I wanted to be a director but then I became an actor. I wanted to cast Sanjay Dutt at that time," Salman said.

The title character Veer belongs to the Pindhari tribe, which Mithun Chakraborty's character heads. The tribe has vowed to avenge a deception that cost them their land and reputation, forcing them to always be on the run.

Jackie Shroff puts in an appearance in the film too, as the Raja of Madhavgarh. He cheats the Pindharis to please the British but looses his arm in the bargain. He thirsts for revenge and decides to hunt down the Pindharis, little realising that his own daughter is in love with someone from the Pindhari tribe.

The film has been directed by Anil Sharma, who has made hits like Gadar: Ek Prem Katha, Hero: The Love Story of a Spy and Apne in the past.

"I did not want to make another period film after Gadar, as I felt it would not meet expectations. But with Veer, I realised I would be able to do justice," Sharma said.

Costing Rs 50 crores, Veer is scheduled to release on January 22.

Salman will face stiff competition at the box office from Amitabh Bachchan, whose Rann -- Ram Gopal Varma's take on the media -- also releases on the same day. Ishqiya, starring Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan and directed by Abhishek Chaubey under Vishal Bhardwaj's production banner, is also creating quite a buzz, thanks to its exciting trailer.