NEW DEHLI:
His biggest fans admit he is not the greatest actor and say his films aren’t really quality cinema. But Salman Khan is unstoppable, spinning box-office magic from Chandigarh to Chennai and Bhopal to Ballia, with his film Bodyguard confounding critics and being declared a hit on day one of its release.
The lukewarm reviews and the thumping success of the Khan-Kareena Kapoor film in India could be perplexing for some, but not for his fans queuing up to get entertained — not bothered whether the film is top-notch or not.
If his 2009 release Wanted revived single screen theatres, his 2010 release Dabangg was the top grosser of the year. This year his first release Ready did decent business at the ticket window but Bodyguard — released this Eid — is breaking records, beating the opening day collections of Dabangg and 3 Idiots.
Bodyguard, the remake of a Malayalam film, has broken Dabangg opening day record by a huge margin of about INR75million and the second day collections at INR180 million is bigger than any film’s Sunday collection.
The film, co-produced by Reliance Entertainment and Atul Agnihotri, Khan’s brother-in-law, has given distributors a reason to celebrate. “The film is going 100 per cent occupancy in Uttar Pradesh. Single screens are also houseful,” said Joginder Mahajan, a Delhi-based distributor.
Sanjeev Lamba, CEO, Reliance Entertainment, said expectations from a Salman film at Eid were sky high. “We expect that the film will continue to create new milestones at the box office.” However, the star, who is missing the action as he is in Pittsburgh recuperating after a surgery to fix his nerve problem, believes his family is just trying to cheer him up by telling him that Bodyguard is rocking the box office. “He is not totally convinced. He is thinking that we are saying this to cheer him up,” says Agnihotri.
Meanwhile, film critic Khalid Mohammad feels the news of his health trouble, which came five days before the release of Bodyguard, has worked in favour of Khan. “Salman Khan has a good fan following and his presence in itself is charismatic. There’s also a sympathy wave riding on the actor, who is being treated for a medical condition,” he said. “He has this glamorous presence and poster-boy image; as a result of which he is getting such roles even at the age of 45.”
Published in The Express Tribune, September 5th, 2011.
COMMENTS (20)
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v.v.v nice
For the readers of Tribune:
All recent Salman hits are remakes of Tamil and Malayalam movies. His career hit a dead end after he starred in duds like Veer and London Dreams. He has realised (like Anil Kapoor, Jitendra and Rajesh Khanna a few decades ago) that only south indian movies can save his tottering career. He has grabbed these south indian movies before other actors (like Ajay Devgun) could do so.
Don't glorify Salman Khan just because he is Muslim. He is a very average actor.
Is Exress Tribune boycotting Pakistani movies or is it because of shortage of staff that we aren't hearing anything about the local films that were released last week? How about sending someone over to the a cineplex to give us a report about those movies too? Come on, original content is ALWAYS better than parroting the same insipid article that is available on 50 other websites!
Funny how Pakistanis watch Bollywood movies as if they can't live without them and yet brand those who watch them as 'cheap'.
Pakistanis are the most Bollywood-obsessed bunch in the world: http://www.google.com/trends?q=bollywood
another bogus and useless film, but gud watch for cheap ppl
film was not realistic, i don't like the unrealistic actions.
Amir khan movies are much superior in quality & message compared to salman! Amir is the best!
The thing is you can get surgery to improve your physique...but what surgery will improve your acting?
@Khan
You're talking about two different generations and two different economic eras, the pre-liberation India and the post-liberation India. Capitalism gives what the market wants.
bodygaurd rockkks
we will watch again and again bodygaurd ,afterall it is a salman movie
BODYGUARD IS AN ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER,,,WEDNESDAY(21.50CRS)+THRSDAY(17.50CRS)+FRIDAY(MORE THAN 15CRS)+SATRDAY(MORE THAN 15CRS)+SUNDAY(20+CRS) TOTAL IS 89-90CRS IN FIVE DAYS,,NEXT FOUR DAYS MORE THAN 20CRS TOTAL 89+20=109/110CRS,,,,,SECOND WEEK MORE THAN 35CRS THEN 110+39=149/150CRS,,,,,THIRD WEEK MORE THAN 15CRS 150+19=169CRS REST MORE THAN 20CRS THEN ALL INDIA COLLECTION MORE THAN 190/200CRS,,,,ANOTHER AND 5TH ALL TIME BLOCKBUSTER FOR SALMAN KHAN.
it is another all time blockbuster by salman i love yhis movie very much. i watched it already two times in theater and i am gonna watchit again today with my all friends. i love u saklman and kareena. it is a true passionate love story. it will gross 200 CRORE+ I PRAY GANPATI BAPPA THAT PLZ SALMAN KO JALDI THIK KAR DO AUR USKA SARA PAIN MUJKO DE DO
Bodyguard rocks.Salman Khan again shows his stardom.
"..... he is getting such roles even at the age of 45" by the age of 80 if he remains alive, he will have enough money to invest in plastic surgery and rejuvenate himself to look like a guy of 25 ;)
Salman Khan's illness and wave sympathy has NOTHING to do with BODYGUARD's SUCCESS!!!! This movie is a success because of SALMAN KHAN - because of the Star Power of Salman Khan! Kareen Kapoor was good in this movie ... as a supporting actor/actress, but it was Salman's Charisma, Excellent Acting Skills and Star Power that pulled this off. Salman is definitely charismatic and is the BEST ACTOR in Bollywood in my opinion. He has acted in all types of roles (except negative ones) with ease and grace. He makes the story seem so natural to the audience - not as if he was acting... and that is what an actor is supposed to do. Others LOOK like they are ACTING - and that is a sign of a bad actor. I don't care what anyone say, Dilip Kumar always LOOKED like he was acting and so do the others- yesteryear actors as well as the current ones (except Dimple Kapadia who is terrific). Not everyone likes Salman Khan because not every one can recognise or understand what Salman Khan brings to the screen and to India ... Salman's fan do (not all of them consciously). Salman brings Light to the screen ...and to people via his movies - The Light of God. (irrespective of his present health situation). God has a Plan for Salman~ In fact, the very name Salman means Blessings or Peace....and this what Salman is all about - exuding and bring Blessings and Peace to ALL. People leave the cinemas after a Salman Khan movie feeling good about themselves, uplifted and feeling that they too can accomplish anything in this world. He is a HERO! And what is a Hero? A Hero is a Protector...a BODYGUARD! Salman Khan is a Bodyguard, in every sense of the word...on screen and off screen. God Bless you Salman Khan~ My Love and Blessings are with you Salman. :) Namaste~
Gurmeet Singh Jolly (Shera) is also a Bodyguard. God Bless you Gurmeet. :-) Namaste~
Ever green Star...
No disrespect to Salman Khan, but where have the standards of indian cinema gone to? Wonder when we'll get to see movies like from the 70's and 80's, where real actors were appreciated and movies actually had a script. This movie was nothing less of cheap visual effects and a poor script which we are all used to. What a waste of my hard earned $12
sallu is a real hero, he proves own ability since 26 year in hindi cinema and now at the age of 45 year he is still a superstar of the box office .
There is only one King in Bollywood and that is King Khan Salman Khan......carry on ur great work Salman bhai.....INDIA love u more then ever nd get well soon
Salman Khan is one of the most natural actors of This generation. He definitely is the most charismatic star. He never gets his due. His fans know this and so do others. Anyone with half a brain cell would know that. Next time think before You write.