A retrospective on Salman Khan's paternal roles in cinema, highlighting his journey and impact on fatherhood in Bollywood.
Last Updated: 04.59 PM, May 22, 2024
On the occasion of its 26th anniversary, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai provides an ideal opportunity to contemplate Salman Khan's varied roles in cinema, especially those in which he assumes the parent figure. There are similar films which highlight the superstar's charming and multifaceted screen presence. By showing a womaniser dealing with fatherhood, Salman enriches the story and makes viewers feel something in this romantic comedy.
In honour of this occasion, let's take a look back at Salman's career and examine the nuanced parent figures he has played in film.
The 1996 romance drama musical Khamoshi: The Musical took the audience by storm. This was Sanjay Leela Bhansali's first feature film directing feature. Watch out for Nana Patekar, Salman Khan, Manisha Koirala, and Seema Biswas in this delightful film. Despite its disastrous run at the box office, the film has become beloved by movie buffs and is often considered a classic of Hindi cinema. The film shows Salman and Manisha raising a baby boy, whom they call Sam, in memory of her late brother.
In 1998, Jab Pyaar Kisise Hota Hai, a romantic comedy, hit theatres. The film stars Salman Khan as a womaniser and Twinkle Khanna as his first real love. Deepak Sareen directed it, while Honey Irani wrote the script. Playing the role of Khan's unnamed son, Aditya Narayan steals the show. Komal (Twinkle) falls for a playboy named Sooraj Dhanrajgir (Salman), but she rejects him due to his vices and offers him time to improve. When a small boy (Aditya) arrives and claims to be his son, everything goes wrong.
David Dhawan directed and released Biwi No. 1, a comedy film based on the 1995 Tamil film Sathi Leelavathi, in 1999. Among the main actors are Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Karisma Kapoor, Tabu, and Sushmita Sen. The arrival of young and contemporary Rupali disrupts the settled lives of a contentedly married Prem. In the film, Salman plays Karisma's husband, and they have two children together.
In 2006, Ravi Chopra oversaw the production of the drama film Baabul. Amitabh Bachchan, Rani Mukerji, Hema Malini, John Abraham, and Salman Khan are among the movie's stars. Despite its financial failure, it pays tribute to B. R. Chopra's half-century in the film industry. Balraj (Bachchan) seeks to arrange a marriage between his daughter-in-law Millie (Rani) and her childhood friend Rajat (John) following the loss of his son Avinash (Salman). However, Millie's unwillingness and his family's hostility thwart his scheme. The film shows Salman and Rani having a son named Ansh.
Shirish Kunder directed the musical romance film Jaan-e-Mann (2006), which starred Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, and Preity Zinta. In his directorial debut, not only did he write and edit the script, but he also wrote dialogue for the film. Suhaan (Salman) considers having his ex-wife Pia (Preity) remarry in order to escape paying substantial alimony. Consequently, he manages to persuade Agastya Rao (Akshay), Pia's naive college mate, that he can still tie the knot with his college sweetheart. After that, he assists Agastya in his pursuit of Pia, but he finds himself falling for her again. In the process, Suhaan also discovers that when Pia left him, she was pregnant, and she names their daughter Suhani.
Aditya Chopra, under the banner of Yash Raj Films, produced the 2016 sports drama Sultan, which Ali Abbas Zafar wrote and directed. Along with Anushka Sharma, Randeep Hooda, and Amit Sadh, Salman Khan plays the lead role. The film's protagonist is the fictional Pehlwani wrestler and former world champion from Haryana, Sultan Ali Khan, whose personal life has become a shambles due to his spectacular career. A classic underdog story, Sultan follows a wrestler as he fights for a comeback despite overwhelming odds. Even though Sultan has nothing to lose and everything to gain from this match, he is fighting for his life. Sultan feels confident in his abilities, but he knows he will need to give it his all this time. The film shows Salman and Anushka losing their son Aman just a few days after his birth, which leaves the couple estranged. The film concludes with them assuming the role of parents for a small girl.
Ali Abbas Zafar produced and directed the 2017 action thriller Tiger Zinda Hai, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Neelesh Misra. This film continues the YRF Spy Universe story that began with 2012's Ek Tha Tiger. Katrina Kaif and Salman Khan are back for another film. This film continues the plot of Ek Tha Tiger, in which Tiger and Zoya come out of hiding to save Iraqi nurses abducted by the terrorist group ISC. Indian Intelligence (RAW) finds the reclusive operative Tiger, who escaped with former Pakistani Intelligence (ISI) asset Zoya, eight years after extremist Abu Usman held a group of Indian and Pakistani nurses captive in Iraq. Tiger, Zoya, and the rest of the human resistance are on a rescue mission. The movie portrays them as parents to a little boy, whom they refer to as Junior.
Prabhu Deva directed the action comedy Dabangg 3 in 2019. This official prequel and sequel to Dabangg (2010) and Dabangg 2 (2012) serve as the third instalment of the film series. Sonakshi Sinha, Salman Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Saiee Manjrekar, and Sudeepa are among the film's stars. The film also features Mahesh Manjrekar, Dimple Kapadia, and Pramod Khanna in supporting roles. Salman penned the story, which chronicles the tumultuous journey of corrupt police officer Chulbul Pandey, who encounters the gangster Bali Singh and is astonished by his appearance. Little does he know that this encounter will have far-reaching consequences for both the present and the future. Finally, in the third part, we see Chulbul and Rajjo becoming parents to a young son.
Maneesh Sharma and Aditya Chopra of Yash Raj Films are the creators of the action thriller Tiger 3. Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi, and Salman Khan are the main stars in the fifth YRF Spy Universe film. Set after the events of War (2019) and Pathaan (2023), the film is a sequel to Tiger Zinda Hai (2017). Tiger and Zoya embark on a mission to foil a plot by a traitorous ISI agent to topple the Pakistani government, using them as pawns. A newly formed military organisation informs Tiger (Salman Khan), who harbours a personal grudge against Aatish Rehman (Emraan Hashmi), about their extraordinary plans. Along with their fellow citizens, Tiger and Zoya (Katrina Kaif) face off against assassins, arms traffickers, and the exceedingly cunning Aatish. The film shows Tiger and Zoya fighting to save their son Junior, who is under threat due to Aatish.