Salman Khan – the B-town goldmine is an unstoppable phenomenon. The most ‘Wanted’ star is said to have the Midas touch.. Many say he is Midas – whatever touches him turns gold. The year 2012 may blow the trumpet for Hindi cinema’s potential biggest blockbuster ‘Dabangg 2’. Will it break the record of ‘Ek Tha Tiger’? Will it surpass ‘3 Idiots’ and reach the 300 crore mark? The actor who gave series of disasters in 2008 with ‘Yuvvraaj’, ‘Heroes’, ‘God Tussi Great Ho’ is today the Messiah of the industry. He is called the Man who brought the ‘real’ single screen audience and the whistles back to theatres with ‘Wanted’ in 2009. What makes him the most popular actor in box office terms and what are the expectations with ‘Dabangg 2’….?
When asked the big man, Salman Khan, on how he sees his stardom and keeps himself moving the secret behind his success, Salman says, “At this age of 47 I have to do much better work then I used to do 20 years back. I have to jump higher, kick harder, look better and do actions better than the previous film then only I can romance on screen and people will like me. Once the action is over romance is gone.”
Veteran journalist Deepa Ranade says, “Expectations with Dabangg 2 are sky high. Today Salman Khan is the man with the Midas Touch… whatever he touches turns gold….”
“Interestingly, Salman Khan is not a yesterday’s occurrence; all the expectations, hype and aura surrounding Salman is the result of proper and carefully cultivated brand image doctoring of a star who maintained his warmth amongst the audience since ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ days”, adds Deepa and continues, “Salman’s ‘bindass’ attitude of a brat who cares has always found connect with the audience especially the young ones. His commitment towards his looks, physique, love, affection for his family has got admires beyond kids and teenagers. Today everyone from college going son to his mother, father and sister want to watch Dabangg 2 that’s the impact he had had on people and he has maintained what he is in front of all.”
When asked Arbaaz Khan on what he feels regarding the expectations on Dabangg 2 where he debuts as a director, Arbaaz shares, “I can’t say how will the public react. As far as the film is concerned ‘Dabangg2’ falls in the category of ‘Rocky’, ‘Rambo’, ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’. We have maintained the temperament of ‘Dabangg’ in this sequel which starts from where the previous ended. On the sets I was the director and Salman was the actor. That’s all no starry vibes. I dreamt of being a director for many years. I assisted Mahesh Bhatt during the late 80s and early 90s. Now my debut film has become the talk of the town. I had responsibilities before ‘Dabangg 2’ and will have after its release also whatever be the faith.”
The industry trade pundits are upbeat and are expecting a mammoth huge opener for Salman starrer ‘Dabangg 2’. Veteran trade expert and editor of Entertainment Trade N.P. Yadav says, “Dabangg 2 has an open week. Salman’s power at box office has been tremendous since ‘Wanted’ he is undoubtedly the most bankable star in Hindi cinema. Dabangg 2 is expected to break the records of ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ and can even surpass ‘3 Idiots’ and set a benchmark.”
According to N.P. Yadav Salman has mastered his stardom and cashed in on his popularity very smartly with the help of Reshma Shetty who has made him realize the importance of promotion, media, publicity and released his films on holidays like EId and this time Christmas also. Salman was always a darling of the masses. Since his entry he has delivered, set and broke records with trendsetters like ‘Maine Pyaar Kiya’ or ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!’ Salman is the only evergreen popular star of Indian cinema today and the most bankable on Indian box office. But it’s SRK who has enjoyed maximum stardom the most since 1993 with ‘Baazigar’. He still remains undisputed in overseas with his latest JTHJ doing a business of whopping 70 crores in overseas alone. Aamir Khan’s ‘Ghajini’ performance at the box office in 2008 got the 3 Khans on a single platform before that nobody was around Shahrukh Khan. Having said that it is a fact that the actor who enjoys maximum faith amongst the distributor and producers on Indian screen and who can guarantee a storm on the opening day is Salman Khan – He is unstoppable….
True, the star power of Salman was used to get maximum screens for JTHJ in India. Let’s see what records Salman in his most loved avatar of Chulbul Pandey does on Indian box office.. Will ‘Dabangg 2’ reach 300 crores…? Will the phenomenon continue its dream run? Will the Messiah deliver on this Christmas….?
