It’s Salman Khan‘s birthday today. Apna Sallu’s a man with several images. A man who refuses to wear his shirt most of the times, A man who has the best sculpted physique in Bolywood, the one who always ends up having tiffs with the law, the one who has the record of having the most number of gorgeous girlfriends, the one who has drop dead looks and was voted by People magazine in 2004 as the 7th most good looking man in the world and the first in India. On his birthday today let us go through his entire journey in Bollywood till date.
Born on December 27, 1965 Salman Khan is the son of the legendary writer Salim Khan, who has written many super-hits in the yesteryears like Sholay, Deewar, and Don. His step-mother is Helen, an actress and dancer famous for her blonde wigs and shimmies. He has two brothers Arbaaz and Sohail who also work in Bollywood and two sisters Alvira and Arpita. Salman is known for dating some of the prettiest faces of Bollywood like Somy Ali, Sangeeta Bijlani and Aishwarya Rai. His current partner is Katrina Kaif.
Salman started his acting carrier in 1988 by doing a supporting role in the movie “Biwi Ho To Aisi”. The following year he came up with his leading role in the box office romantic hit Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). From there he became the heart throb of Indian cinema. Following with other box office hits he showed his terrific performance in Saajan (1991), Andaz Apna Apna (1994), Hum Aapke Hain Koun…! (1994), Karan Arjun (1995), Khamoshi: The Musical (1996), Kuch Kuch Hota Hai(1998). His transformations can be sensitive, vulnerable, funny, aggressive and charming as his role demands. In 1999, he co-starred with Karishma Kapoor in the hit comedy Biwi No.1. He starred with Aishwarya Rai and Ajay Devgan in the love story Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam which made waves in India and overseas. The film Hello Brother carried a family tag on it as he starred alongside his brother Arbaaz Khan and it was directed by his brother Sohail Khan.
2000-2008 Salman continued to churn out several films. Some did fairly well like Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega in 2000 and Chori Chori Chupke Chupke in 2001, both films in which he worked with Rani Mukherjee and Preity Zinta. None of his movies that came out in 2002 worked well. He made up for it with Tere Naam in 2003 that not only did well at the box office but his performance was appreciated widely. He played the role of an AIDS patient in Phir Milenge that came out in 2004. The World Health Organisation commended the film for it’s portrayal of AIDS. Mujhse Shaadi Karoge in 2004, Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya? In 2005 and funnies like No Entry in 2005 and Partner in 2007 kept his fans hooked. His Hollywood venture with Ali Larter, Marigold: An Adventure In India was flopped. He took over from Jim Carrey in God Tussi Great Ho in 2008, based on the Hollywood comedy Bruce Almighty. He has put in an appearance in Hello, which is adapted from Chetan Bhagat’s book One Night at a Call Center. In the year 2008 his cameo appearance in Heroes was something his fans will remember him for. The last film of the year was the much awaited Subhash Ghai’s Yuvvraaj.But once again unfortunately the film dint do well inspite of Salman trying hard.
There’s never been a phase in Salman’s life when he is not in the limelight, when not wow-ing his audience on-screen, has managed to get into quite a few tangles with the law off-screen. In 1999, he was accused of shooting Chinkara, an endangered species during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hai and was awarded a jail term. After days spent behind bars and several appeals that were denied, he is currently out on bail.
He was arrested for negligent driving in September 28th 2002, which resulted in the death of one person while three others were injured. Charges were dropped against the actor for homicide though other charges were leveled against him over this incident, still being battled in court.
He has also been at the receiving end of fatwas for permitting Madame Tussaud’s to make a wax statue of him and then participating in the Ganesh festival.
Aishwarya Rai’s parents had pressed charges against him for harassment after the couple broke up. In 2005, alleged tapes were released of Salman Khan threatening Aishwarya Rai to participate in events supported by the underworld. These charges were dropped as the tapes were found to be doctored.
But inspite of all the flaws apna Sallu bhai has a soft side to him as well, he is said to frequently visits sick children in hospitals, and also goes often to donate blood. He exercises daily and feels the day was incomplete without a workout. Not only is he a health freak, he also loves to initiate people who aren’t as health-conscious as himself into workouts. He forced co-star Anil Kapoor to work out at the gymnasium every day. While Saif Ali Khan and Hrithik Roshan are his early trainees. He manged to transform his friend Govinda for his release Partner
After all said and done Bollywood’s Bad boy and his knack of walking into trouble has overshadowed people’s perception of him as an actor. He may have been featured as the bad guy of the industry several times over. But many-a-common-man claims that this macho hunk has a heart made of pure gold. We wish him a very happy birthday and a successful and trouble free year to come.
by Preity Punjabi
