Does Salman Khan need an image makeover? Priyanka Srivastava | Mail Today | February 1, 2014 | UPDATED 12:09 IST The collections of Salman Khans Jai Ho have been below expectations, starting Bollywoods year on a dismal note. Trade pundits, critics and many among the superstars fan base felt something was amiss in the film and that Salman needs to reinvent. Salmans first release in well over a year - his last film was Dabangg 2 in December 2012 - will not create any new records even if it scrapes through to become a hit. The facade of riding a message on the common man has indeed gone for a toss. The box-office outcome of Jai Ho, touting Salmans brother Sohail Khan as director, is glaring because the film was expected to break a few records created by the actors bete noire Shah Rukh Khans Chennai Express and buddy Aamir Khans Dhoom 3. Jai Ho collected a meagre Rs.60.68 crore in its first three days as compared to Dhoom 3, which collected Rs.107.61 crore, and Chennai Express (Rs.100.35 crore). This, despite Salmans film releasing across 5,000 screens worldwide. Pics: Will Salman Khans new look be the latest trend? I take the full blame if the film fails to make a mark, said Salman taking responsibility of the films lame show and giving out the message that he clearly failed to understand the pulse of his fans. Understanding the changing mindset of the audience is not restricted to the Khans but also Akshay Kumar or Hrithik Roshan. It is a wakeup call even for the younger lot consisting of Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan and Arjun Kapoor, said trade analyst Taran Adarsh, underlining the fact that regular entertainers no longer sustain. Balance is the key Adarsh cites the example of Amitabh Bachchan, who in his heydays struck balance between his popular angry young man avatar, sensitive drama and the comedy genre. While working in the out-andout commercial films of Manmohan Desai, Amitabh Bachchan balanced it out with a Hrishikesh Mukherjee film like Chupke Chupke, which sold at a different prize in the market, added Adarsh. Salman, enjoying the status of a masses star, is largely remembered for roles that rule the single screens. His golden run at the box office started with Prabhu Dhevas Wanted in 2009, which earned Rs.61 crore and proved to be a turning point for his career at a time when the 100 crore hype was yet to start. Abhinav Kashyaps Dabangg released on Eid 2010 broke records by earning Rs.139 crore. Anees Bazmees Ready and the Siddiqui directed Bodyguard in 2011 strengthened his market as the films made Rs.139 crore and Rs.149 crore respectively. In 2012 Kabir Khan directed Salman in Ek Tha Tiger, which went onto earn Rs.199 crore while the superstars home production Dabangg 2 made Rs.155 crore in the same year. The point to note here is barring Ek Tha Tiger all these other blockbusters have cast Salman in more or less the same mould. Kabir Khans film, which had Salman playing a RAW agent marked a drastic shift from his desi image though it was still larger than life fare. Also, it was a film that gave its heroine Katrina Kaif an almost equal footage - something not quite common in Salman films. Despite Ek Tha Tiger - which continues to be his biggest hit - Salman has never seriously attempted to change image. The small-film taboo Salman cannot appear in a small-budget film and even if he plans to reinvent in future roles, he cannot drift from his entertainer image in big budget films. A good chunk of money lies in this genre, which can only be generated by superstars, said trade analyst Komal Nahta reasoning why superstars cannot experiment much with their set image. Filmmakers working with Salman too seem wary to experiment. Prabhu Dheva has a script ready as he waits for Salman to give dates. The film is yet another masala action thriller, with songs and dances. When MAIL TODAY had quizzed Prabhu Dheva on why he doesnt cast Salman in a different role, he replied: Too much money goes in making a Salman film. Experimenting is a huge risk. Everyone was waiting for the past five years for Salman films to flop, which were quintessential masala films but they went on to make records because they ensure high entertainment quotient. We cannot blame the genre for the fatigue. Actors need to push the envelope within the genre, said ad-filmmaker and image consultant Prahlad Kakkar. So Salman continues to be in his comfort zone as a mass entertainer. His forthcoming lineup doesnt promise drastic shift. Author Chetan Bhagat promises to pep up Salmans brand of entertainment as the scriptwriter of Sajid Nadiadwalas Kick, scheduled to release during Eid 2014. Sooraj Barjatyas Bade Bhaiya might recreate the Hum Aapke Hain Koun! magic with its happy family syndrome. Kabir Khan has reportedly suggested a strong drama, which is all set to be produced by Salmans soon-to-be launched Being Human Productions. Taking stock of the other Khans Shah Rukh Khan: SRK has often shown a penchant at moving away from his tested loverboy image with films such as Chak De! India, Don, Don 2 and Ra.One, though his real biggie in recent time - Chennai Express - was merely about giving a whacky twist to his romantic avatar. The Rohit Shetty directed Chennai Express co-starring Deepika Padukone has also been SRKs biggest hit ever, which means his huge fan base still wants their superstar to be the lovable, nice guy rather than play the antihero as in Don or a character born out of a video game as in Ra.One. Chennai Express also proved when it comes to playing loverboy, SRK can still give younger actors a run for their money. The lighthearted comic romance about a Punjabi man and a Tamil dons daughter earned Rs.420 crore globally. The lead duos comic chemistry and potshots at Khans age added to the zing. Despite starting out as an antihero in Darr, Baazigar and Anjaam, SRK has ruled the roost being Bollywoods king of romance, mostly appearing as Rahul or Raj in several mushy hits. In his next film, Happy New Year, SRK looks to trying something different once again. The film is a heist caper about a bunch of crooks led by the actor who want to rob a casino in Dubai. In Maneesh Sharmas Fan, he will reportedly be seen in a double role as a starstruck fan of a superstar heroine but Rahul Dholakias Raees casts him as a Gujarati don. Aamir Khan: The only image that defines Aamir Khan is that he is an actor who doesnt believe in image. Known to be Bollywoods Mr Perfectionist, Aamirs USP is he slips into a variety of characters despite his superstardom. He ensures playing a completely new character in each of his films so as to surprise his audience. However, the only commonality in almost all Aamir roles is he always plays a guy who never does anything villainous and doesnt harm anyone unless it is for revenge. The arty 1947: Earth was the only exception this rule. His latest release Dhoom 3 saw Aamir in a double role as brothers out avenging the wrongful death of their magician father. The film has gross Rs.500 crore worldwide since release in December, making it the biggest grosser ever. Aamirs experiments lately have included a convincing act as a collegegoer who thinks differently in 3 Idiots, a grittyfarmer in Lagaan and a man struck with short term memory loss gunning for revenge in Ghajini. His roles in Rang De Basanti and Taare Zameen Par have also garnered attention despite being unconventional. Rumoured to be ghost directing most of his films, Aamirs involvement in all departments shows his knowledge and grasp of commercial cinema. Keeping his crusader image intact, he also entered the small screen anchoring of issue based talk showSatyamev Jayate, which will air its second season in March. Aamirs next film is Raj Kumar Hiranis P.K., a satire that casts him in a quirky avatar he wont reveal yet. Talks are on for Sarfarosh 2, which will again see Aamir in the role of a terrorist-chasing cop. To get the latest entertainment news and gossip, follow us on Twitter @Showbiz_IT and Like us on facebook/IndiaToday For news and videos in Hindi, go to AajTak.in. ताज़ातरीन ख़बरों और वीडियो के लिए आजतक.इन पर आएं. DO YOU LIKE THIS STORY? 2 0 MAIL PRINT Tags: Salman Khan | Jai Ho | Sohail | Shah Rukh Khan | Aamir Khan Read more at: indiatoday.intoday.in/story/salman-khan-jai-ho-sohail-shah-rukh-khan-aamir-khan/1/341134.html
Posted on: Sat, 01 Feb 2014 07:52:39 +0000
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