As one-third of the Khan trinity of Bollywood, actor Salman Khan occupies a hard-won position at the very top of the filmy pecking order. Now 49, Salman has been responsible for some of the industry's biggest profit margins.
It all began 25 years ago with 1989's Maine Pyar Kiya. The Sooraj Barjatya-directed blockbuster starred the-then 24-year-old son of Sholay writer Salim Khan and his first wife Salma. The young Salman had appeared in a supporting role in Biwi Ho To Aisi the year before, but it was Maine Pyar Kiya that propelled him overnight into the stratosphere of stardom. His debut as Bollywood hero, and his first tryst with the screen moniker Prem that was to become inextricably part of his Bollywood identity, earned the actor the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.
The new millennium was a rinse and repeat of the Nineties story. He balanced hits like Wanted, Tere Naam, No Entry and Partner with turkeys like Lucky: No Time For Love, Jaan-e-Mann, Heroes, Marigold, Yuvvraaj and Veer. In fact, the hits were infrequent and punctuated with long periods of decline. Until Dabangg revived his box office fortunes in 2010, Salman Khan's career seemed to be in dire need of the kiss of life.
On-screen, Salman can do no wrong - literally, because his trademark role is the defender of the oppressed and nemesis of the wicked. Off-screen, however, he has repeatedly been in trouble with the law. He is being tried in a hit-and-run case dating from 2002. He is also accused of hunting endangered blackbuck deer while filming Hum Saath Saath Hain in Rajasthan in 1998. In a related case, he is accused of illegally owning and using arms in the poaching case.
He may have had no luck romantically but Salman commands a high degree of respect and friendship in Bollywood. He has mentored several young actors including Arjun Kapoor and soon-to-debut Suraj Pancholi, and is responsible for the debuts of actresses like Sonakshi Sinha and Daisy Shah. He has formed close friendships with actors like Aamir Khan and Sanjay Dutt, and recently concluded a public six-year feud with Karan Arjun co-star Shah Rukh Khan.
This year, Salman stars in two high-profile films. Bajrangi Bhaijaan is directed by Ek Tha Tiger's Kabir Khan and co-stars Bodyguard heroine Kareena Kapoor. Prem Ratan Dhan Payo reunites the actor with Sooraj Barjatya, with who he collaborated on Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Koun and Hum Saath Saath Hain.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan Clocks 9: Salman Khan Films Shares Special BTS Moments Rajasthan Youtuber Arrested For Threatening To Kill Salman Khan Gets Bail Emraan Hashmi On His Tiger 3 Co-Star Salman Khan: "It Is Easy To Converse With Him" A Day After Divorce Announcement, Natasa Stankovic Posts Pics From Serbia Krishan Kumar's Daughter Tishaa Dies After "Battle With Illness": Family Review: Bad Newz Relies On Vicky Kaushal To Pull It Out Of The Fire Wife Among Two Jailed For Life For Man's Murder In Gurugram: Cops 1,100 Flights Cancelled In US As Microsoft Outage Disrupts Operations Elon Musk Congratulates PM Modi On Becoming Most Followed Leader On X Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.