Salman Khan - The Phenomenon Continues in 2012
There are Class Film, there are Mass Film and there are Salman Film. Ask any Exhibitor or Distributor about Salman Khan and they will say these words unanimously. He is a phenomenon and this phenomenon creates mass hysteria at the box office whenever his film releases. The man is synonymous to box office records from Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun days. But had a dismal time in mid 2000s and many had written him off then.
With court cases and mediocre projects in mid 2000s his stock at the box office was in doldrums. In between he might have given mega Hits in Tere Naam, Mujhse Shaadi Karoge, Partner, No Entry but Flops were escalating higher with each year. Then happened Wanted in 2009 and rest is history. He who started the single screen craze which was near about shut down.
So, how is the year 2012 for him. In 2012 he has two releases. One is Ek Tha Tiger which broken each record at the box office except the lifetime record of 3 Idiots by a whisker. Another is Dabangg 2 which is touted as a sure shot goldmine at the box office. He is having an amazing run from 2009 onwards. He has the highest grosser film in 2010 and 2011. And in all certainty 2012 is also going the same way. Salman Khan is sure shot to give Hattrick of Biggest grossers (Dabangg 2010, Bodyguard 2011, ETT/Dabangg 2 2012), which has never happened ever at the box office since pro Amitabh Bachchan stage.
Apart from this Salman has another two records in his kitty. First being, Maximum no. of highest grossing films since 1990s (Saajan 1991, Hum Aapke Hain Koun 1994, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai 1998, Hum Saath Saath Hain 1999, No Entry 2005, Dabangg 2010, Bodyguard 2011). Second being highest no. of All Time Blockbuster among his contemporaries.
If Dabangg 2 beats the box office collection of Rowdy Rathore, then he will have unique record of having two or more highest grossers in three years (1999 - Hum Saath Saath Hain, Biwi No.1, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam; 2011 - Bodyguard, Ready; 2012 - Ek Tha Tiger, Dabangg 2). So, except few mediocre time period in mid 2000s, he is just class apart and in his own lane.
What he has to do in 2013? Just keep going man, 'Make Hay while the Sun Shines'. He has two films in pipeline, one is Sohail Khan's next and other is Sajid Nadiawala's Kick. These film will see the light in 2013 is the other question. So, whether the 'Darling of Masses' can have another fruitful year in 2013 is to be seen. Till then wait for Dabangg 2 to release and see the phenomenon again.
