Bollywood's shining star
Salman Khan seems to be flavour of the season after his latest release Lucky - No Time For Love.
He is Bollywood's favourite bare-chested, tomato ketchup faced hero. Should ever the public feel deprived of some good old-fashioned mindless dishoom dishoom action, there is always a Salman Khan blockbuster to look forward to. He has all the qualities of a star right down to his celebrity genes and his tarnished reputation. Wherever you go, you're never more than an earshot away from the latest scandalous Salman Khan gossip.
Salman's latest film Lucky: No Time For Love has added another feather in his cap. It had the best openings despite cricket season. According to trade reports, box office collection of the films was almost hundred per cent. Set against the majestic backdrop of St. Petersburg, Lucky is an unconventional tale of love that brings together two people who meet in odd circumstances.
Salman started his career with Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), which wasn't quite the career spinner he was looking for but he did manage to attract the attention of a few high-profile directors. The following year he appeared in Maine Pyaar Kiya (1989), which instantly ignited his career. By 1999 his career was flying with hits like Hum Saath Saath Hain, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Biwi No.1 not to mention Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, the previous year.
Salman has made his way to stardom and is now a well-settled Bollywood name. For two years he dated the former Miss World, Aishwarya Rai. This became a highly controversial affair when it ended and Salman was sued for threatening her new boyfriend Vivek Oberoi. This was not his first and definitely not his last entanglement with the law. He was arrested in 1998 for hunting an endangered species of deer in Jodhpur. In 2002 he was arrested again for culpable homicide in Mumbai. He was driving a car involved in an accident that left one man dead. He also faces charges of drunk driving and not having a valid license.
It seems though that no matter how controversial the news is about Khan, nothing can break his popularity or ticket sales. Nothing seems to deter Khan. Hum Aapke Hain Koun was another lifesaver for Khan that dragged him back into the race. By 1999 he was winning awards with every breath he took. There was Filmfare's Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai. Virtually all his movies from then on were in the news- Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (with Aishwarya Rai), Jaanam Samjha Karo, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke, Kahi Pyar Na Ho Jaye, Har Dil Jo Pyar Kare Ga and the list continues.
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| Salman is enjoying his second innings |
Khan is one of the most well rounded characters in Bollywood - on several occasions he has played the pining romantic, while he is known for is hard-hitting action films, he even throws in a few slapstick comedies for fun.
In 2003, the long awaited, Tere Naam was released. This was Khan's first movie after the series of controversies he had been involved in. It was one of the top grossers of the year.
The year 2004 was lucky for the actor - Phir Milenge and Mujhse Shaadi Karoge - both his films were appreciated and fared well at the box office.
His next project is Bajirao Mastani with Sanjay Bhansali where he stars along side Kareena Kapoor. Besides that he is also working in Hollywood director Willard Carroll's film Marigold. The film, with a heavy dose of songs in Hindi and English and dances choreographed by Remo, began its first schedule on March 27 at Khimsar Fort near Jodhpur. Salman Khan is playing the main lead in this film.
Apparantly, his future is anything but hindered by his skirmishes with the law.