Music director duo Salim-Sulaiman, are known for scoring music for some hits like Kurbaan, Chak De! India, and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. They have always worked together until Indian Idol 5, where only Salim Merchant, from the duo, is a judge on the show.

That led to a lot of raised eyebrows and people wondered if there were some differences between both of them. Salim denied any such thing and stated that it doesn't matter if it's him or Sulaiman, as they are promoting the same brand, Salim-Sulaiman.

He was also asked recently why he agreed to work in Indian Idol 5, even though it was very clear that only one of them could do it. He revealed that they had to take a decision about this together and that's when they decided that Salim would go ahead with it.

All of the past Indian Idol judges have issues adjusting to Anu Malik's rude remarks about the judgments they pass. Salim asserts he has no such problems though. He clarifies that he has a better rapport with Anu than he does with Sunidhi.

Salim also expresses that he is surprised by the response that the show received. He admits that he didn't expect that the kind of participation and excitement he saw in the air.