EXCLUSIVE! Salman Khan's Blockbuster Legacy: Unwrapping The Enigma Of Bhaijaan's 30-Year Bollywood Reign On His Birthday

Salman Khan Birthday: When Salman Khan first graced the screen with a supporting role in 1988's Biwi Ho To Aisi, little did he anticipate evolving into one of Indian cinema's most prolific stars. His breakthrough in 1989's Maine Pyar Kiya marked the beginning of an unstoppable journey, leading to iconic films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) and Karan Arjun (1995). The 2000s witnessed Salman's ascendancy to cult status with hits like Dabangg and the Tiger franchise. Salman has attained a following within the industry, that both his brothers (Arbaaz and Sohail Khan) could never get, and very few other actors have been able to breach. His enduring appeal, mostly unrivalled by his peers, raises the question: What's the secret behind Salman Khan's three-decade reign in Bollywood?

In an exclusive interaction with Times Now Digital, filmmaker Ram Kamal Mukherjee shockingly claimed, “Salman Khan is not an actor, and the best part is that even he knows that, and he doesn't have any qualms regarding that.” On exclaiming, “What?” Mukherjee explained, “He never cared for reviews, and critics would call his films "criticism" proof, because over the years he has earned honest, caring and emotionally attached fans, who loves Salman as "bhaijaan".”

Similarly film exhibitor and industry expert Akshaye Rathi exclaimed that Salman Khan enjoys this much of a fan following in the industry because for decades he has every single year worked towards one single point agenda - "To entertain the hell out of his audiences. To give them the worth of their money, rather than to preach them, teach them or intellectualise them.”

Akshaye added, “He is one man who has tried to entertain the commonest of common men and that is what makes him so special. That is his quality which makes his fan base range from the least common denominator of the social strata to those who live in the poshest parts of urban India. And that wide a spectrum of fans is truly extraordinary. And that makes him a very special superstar who has no parallel.”

Similarly, Producer and Film Business Expert Girish Johar opined that Salman Khan is indeed a “huge, huge star.” According to Johar, despite having seen ups and downs, Bhaijaan has a fan following both in India and overseas. "His swag is so huge that everyone wants to see him again and again and only on the big screen. That is what his power and charisma is,” he explained.

Mukherjee explained that while Salman may not live like a king like his contemporaries, but, “He is king at heart.” Even if his films are panned by the SoBo critics, his fan makes sure that Bhai sees blockbuster at the box office counter,” he explained.

And not only that, Mukherjee elaborated that with that kind of wealth as a super star, Salman could probably afford to buy all the houses in his lane at Bandra, but he chose to stay with his family at Galaxy Apartment.

“He celebrates Eid, Diwali, Ganpati, and Christmas with his family and represents the 'secular' Indian spirit. Off late, his films might not be working wonders, but as I had once mentioned, 'A Salman Khan film can flop, but Salman Khan will never flop!' He is a phenomenon,” he signed off.