Superstar Salman Khan, often lovingly called “Bhai” within the Bollywood circles, commands a power like none other in the Hindi film industry. His films are more of a cultural event than just movies themselves. And now filmmaker Nikkhil Advani shared a few thoughts on Salman Khan’s peculiar equation with the box office. Advani says that Salman is profoundly distressed when his films don’t make the magic Rs 300 crore set mark. Here we take a look at this very pressurizing actor—and his enigmatic persona—more closely.
The Burden of Expectations
He has worked with Salman in films like ‘Salaam-e-Ishq’ and ‘Hero’. “With Salman, one carries the cross of huge expectations,” he says; the game gets emotionally tiring when, according to him, the superstar’s films are expected to cross the Rs 300 crore mark and below that he gets disappointed. Can one imagine the pressure of delivering a blockbuster each time? Advani prefers his different path—one where creative freedom is not smothered by box office numbers.
Sleepless Nights
Advani said it in his own words, “Salman Khan’s films have to make Rs 300 crore. If his film collects less than Rs 300 crore, then he feels really bad. It has to be that big.” The burden of those enormous numbers hangs around like an albatross around Salman’s neck. But Advani, the wise and pragmatic, wants peaceful nights. He doesn’t want to lose sleep over box office records. He prefers to make movies that satisfy his artistic soul, rather than working under the stress of achieving a particular return at the Box Office.
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The Messiah of the Industry
With all this pressure, Advani nevertheless rates Salman as the “messiah of the industry.” Salman displays his loyalty and dedication even off the screen. In your hour of need, he’s the man you reach out to—a 911 number for friends and colleagues. In the middle of an action-packed drama, in the south of France, if anybody is stuck, Salman gets off his car and stands by as a protector. Benevolence and kindness mark him out as, not just a superstar, but a saviour for the needy.
The Stress Quotient
Advani’s point is clear: he doesn’t want to bear the stress of chasing Rs 300-400 crore. While he concedes Salman can do it with his eyes closed, he decides to take a different route. To Advani, it’s a question of art and not a sprint to the box office tapestry. If his next, Vedaa, resonates with the junta at large then that shall be success, no matter the scorecards. Abhishek Bannerjee, Tamannaah Bhatia, John Abraham and Sharvari Wagh come on board for this ensemble that aims at being more than a sum of its numbers.
Salman Khan remains an enigma—a mix of super-stardom, compassion, and an unwavering commitment. His next bunch of films may keep trying to outdo each other over Rs 300 crore, but it is about time we appreciate the man and not just numbers. As ‘Vedaa’ releases this 15th August in cinemas, let the magic unfold at the box office or through word of mouth. After all, in the grand tapestry of Bollywood, Salman Khan is far more than just a box office figure: he is legend, messiah, and eternal part of our collective dreams. The stories, after all, don’t end with the crores; they stay and linger in our collective cultural memory.
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