20 YEARS AGO, the film with 12 songs, two weddings, one funeral and a whole lot of melo- drama the family saga Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun was the first Hindi movie to cross the one million mark.
The film’s lead actor Salman Khan regaled with his buffoonery and customary muscle flexing , since the one name to send the cash registers tinkling was the film’s superstar heroine Madhuri Dixit.
But a lot has changed in the last two decades, though, Salman still cannot flex his facial muscles but he can tilt the box office fortunes in his favour.
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The Khan’s latest release Kick has given him and the distributors immense reason to be kicked about quite literally , as the film inched its way into the coveted 200 crore club , the pocket size Khan had toppled good friend Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots collection of 202 crore, whilst Kick had already made 204 crore within 10 days of its release making it Salman’s biggest hit on home turf.
A SOLO EID RELEASE
the film had over 4900 screens to it- self one of the much awaited Salman releases of the year , the movie was panned by critics , many of who even wrote they wanted to kick themselves for having sat through the same
But the janta it seems, were lapping up the Bhai’s antics, irrespective of a tardy story line , an apology of a narrative, and outlandish songs the persona of The Dabaang Khan was reason good enough for the public to ask for more
Even though in the first week, theatres were not filled to capacity and it was apparent Kick was not exactly high on repeat value but the cash registers and collections seemed to have another story to tell.
Kick released on Friday, July 25 and grossed Rs. 100 crore in box-office collections in its very first weekend. The other Rs. 100 crore grossers
of 2014 so far have been Jai Ho, 2 States, Holiday and Ek Villain Kick’s success makes Salman Khan the first Bollywood actor to have seven Rs. 100 crore movies to his credit: Ek Tha Tiger, Dabangg 2, Bodyguard, Dabangg, Ready, and Jai Ho, as trade pundits went into a frenzy ,one couldn’t help but wonder
the Salman effect even as many wrote in giving viewers reasons to stay away from the film
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SALMAN is more of a star than an actor and has made no bones about it, that when it comes to performing and acting histrionics he lacks in the department. His films low on originality have been remakes of southern hits, high on masala, over the top antics, leave your brain at home storylines atrocious song and dance routines and slapstick comedy, cheesy dialogues the propelling magnetism of Salman managed to navigate the film towards super hit status.
The actor who after a dream debut in 1989 with Maine Pyaar Kiya catapulted to superstar status , became the man with the midas touch , as he gave 7 back to back hits in the early 90’s only to succumb to the status of a jinxed star as his films started failing towards the mid 90’s . Salman those days seemed incapable to carry a film on his muscled shoulders , often seen in multi starrers, the actor seemed to have found his groove in comedy in films and romance . the flop spell so pronounced that the only hit Salman had was Tere Naam in 2003 and David Dhawan’s partner in 2007..
The actor who had the knack for making headlines for all the wrong reasons be it the black buck case or running over people , also remained in the news for his ill fated romances ,or clashes with co stars , the enfant terrible of Bollywood who courted bad press with elan was soon to strike back. The change in fortune came with Wanted in 2009, the film became the biggest grosser , high on action, mouthing classic one liners, Salman packed a mean punch and realised that in order to remain on higher ground the tried and tested formula of masala entertainers was his forte.
With his brother’s home production Dabanngg , Salman’s turn as the Chulbul Pande the comical no sense cop was the beginning of the cult of Salman, as he gave back to back hits with Bodyguard, Ready, Ek Tha tiger and DABANNG 2 and though his “ trying to be hat ke” effort failed in JAI HO in early 2014, it did nothing to dull the sheen of Salman at the box office
The actor known for his blunt and honest statements, often seen as jocular and temperamental is not as savvy in communication skills as the other two Khans Aamir and Shahrukh, but it seems has managed to resonate with not only the public but with fraternity, close friends with Aamir, the two khan’s openly acknowledge the “brotherhood of the khans” making it obvious tat the third Khan Shahrukh is so not in their league, even more so Shahrukh’s best friend Karan Johar one of the chief endorsers of the Bollywood camp systemtoo has crossed over to the court of Salman, and signed him up for his dream project Shuddhi. With his heroines getting younger and film producers breaking down his doors the legend of Ek Tha Salman shows no signs of ebbing.