Is the Dabangg star Hindi cinema’s biggest hit machine?
Forbes India Celebrity 100 No.2
Saat Rasta, known earlier as the Jacob Circle, is the vortex that joins five different areas of Mumbai. On that junction lies New Shirin Talkies, a non-descript theatre. Normally, the traffic on Saat Rasta roundabout is messy, but a week before Eid in 2010, at least three roads leading up to it were completely blocked.
When one got close to the roundabout, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Except that Salman Khan was staring out of a large poster of Wanted and there were people milling about the entrance creating the traffic bottleneck. Wanted was a two-year-old film. Why the queues?
“Salman bhai ka naya picture aanewala hai sahib (Salman’s new film is going to be released),” says the cab driver.
So what? Isn’t this an old film?
“Saab, apne Dabangg ka trailer dekha hai (Sir, have you watched the trailers of Dabangg)?”
No.
“Tabhi! Public Salman ke peeche itna pagal hai ki agle hafte naya picture ke pehle uska purana hit dekhne aaya hai (That’s why. People are crazy about Salman, so they’ve come to watch his old hit before the release of the new film).”
A week later, when Dabangg released, it broke all weekend opening records, bettering the previous record of Aamir Khan’s 3 Idiots. Salman then delivered Ready and then Bodyguard—each grossed more than Rs 200 crore. In 2012, Salman aced the box office with the Eid release of Ek Tha Tiger, and in December 2012 delivered Dabangg 2, another smash hit. He is the star who has made masala films hip again.
No other actor in the last 30 years has done what Salman Khan has done. He has delivered six superhits in four years, grossing over Rs 850 crore. “Salman ke pagalo ki kami nahi hai. Aisi line lagti hai ki pucho mat (There’s no dearth of Salman fanatics. There are long queues for his films),” says Manoj Desai, the owner of Gaiety-Galaxy multiplex in Mumbai.
The closest parallel to Salman’s winning streak is Shah Rukh Khan’s magical run from 1993 to 1995 (Darr, Baazigar, Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa and Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge (DDLJ)). It may sound blasphemous today but Salman is the underdog who is now the top dog of the box office. Till 2006, it was Shah Rukh who held all the aces. Shah Rukh was the Mr Dependable who in phases—1993 to 1995, 1998 to 2002 and 2003 to 2006—delivered Hindi cinema’s biggest hits. Salman was just erratic then. Notching a hit here and then delivering a multitude of non-consequential films. This is when he wasn’t getting on the wrong side of the law. He was accused of running over a pedestrian in 2002 and faced trial for killing a Chinkara in 2006.
The transformation of Salman is one the most notable turnaround stories of Indian business. Behind it lies a shift in the way he views his career, philanthropy and the counsel of some wise minds, most notably his father Salim Khan. There is only one thing he hasn’t changed. His cocky but lovable attitude.
DRAWING THE LINES
The drive to Surve Farms, where Salman is shooting a commercial, is almost two hours from Mumbai. Next to an old haveli is a flotilla of buses. Behind the buses and sitting below a makeshift canopy is Da Man—Salman Khan. “Which magazine did you say you were from?” he asks, looking away.
Forbes India. We are doing a list of top celebrities.
“On what basis? Who is the jury for this?”
There is no jury. This is based on earnings and fame.
“Who will tell you their true earnings? Fame…
It is an estimate based on four independent….
“Can I take this notepad and pen?”
Yes.
“Look, there are 100 guys on your list. Right? And you guys must be getting calls from people who want to be on that list.”
You can’t get on the list unless….
“…C’mon, you are Forbes. I know you are a famous magazine. People want to be on that list.”
Ummm…
“Ten thousand people want to be on that list. Many people need it. Except one,” says Salman, and writes -1 on the sheet of paper.
Except one? Who? “Salman Khan.”
THE RISE OF A STAR
Over the last 40 years, Hindi cinema has had two undisputed matinee idols. The first was Rajesh Khanna. The second is Amitabh Bachchan. The slot fell vacant in 1982, when Bachchan was injured while shooting for Coolie. Bachchan did have hits in 1984 (Sharabi), 1988 (Shahenshah) and 1991/1992 (Hum, Khuda Gawah), but he was never able to recapture his old glory.
The quest to fill the vacant throne began in 1988 when Aamir Khan scored with Qayamat Se Qayamt Tak. Two years later, Salman lit up the screens with Maine Pyaar Kiya. Even though they had a headstart, neither could become a surefire hit at the box office a la Bachchan or Khanna. That would happen only six years later.
In 1995, Shah Rukh Khan happened when he did DDLJ, one of the highest grossing Indian films of all times. Till 2003, it was Shah Rukh who reigned at the box office. It has to be said though that a lot of his success came from the overseas market, thanks to his urbane looks and demeanour. “The NRIs and even the foreign audience absolutely love him,” says Boman Irani. If there is one thing that Shah Rukh could not manage, it was to become as big a draw as Bachchan or Khanna in the hinterlands.
(This story appears in the 08 February, 2013 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)