"She is my wife and she is the co-producer of the film. Right from the time I started making the film - from the subject of the film, to finalising the actors, where I will be shooting... I used to discuss everything with her," Arbaaz told.
"She was there as more of a sounding board. I wouldn't say she was creatively involved in the films, because that's not her job, that is not her domain and that is not what I wanted her to do.
She is my wife and she is as much as the producer as I am," he added.
Arbaaz says it is a natural progression for him to turn director.
"It's a very natural progression in the film industry. People want to do different things. I always wanted to make a movie.
It is just that there was an opportunity to be an actor early in my career, but I always at some stage wanted to make my movie, produce and direct a film and when the opportunity came to me, I had to avail it," he said.
"Dabangg 2", releasing Dec 21, features Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha and Prakash Raj.