Bollywood’s A-list actors and directors have always aimed to release their films on festival weekends. The most opportunistic ones have managed to slot theirs for an Eid, Diwali or Christmas release and, consequently, get a fantastic opening by attracting crowds in larger numbers.
While Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan are known for their Diwali and Christmas films, no one can top Salman Khan, when it comes to launching films on Eid. Sallu's latest, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, will be his ninth film to release on Eid over the years. Close on his heels is SRK, with five. We take a look at some of the most talked about films that have opened on Eid over the years.
Dabangg (September 10, 2010)
Dabangg marked the debut of actress Sonakshi Sinha as well as Arbaaz Khan as producer and Abhinav Kashyap (Anurag Kashyap's brother) as director. Its phenomenal success proved that Bollywood's hero-orientated action/masala films were there to stay. Salman Khan's role as the trigger-happy cop Chulbul Pandey thrilled his fans with punchlines galore, while Sinha stole a billion hearts with her dialogue: "Thappad se darr nahi lagta, sahib. Pyar se lagta hai" (I am not scared of violence, sir. It's love that terrifies me). Dabangg was also the first film to be shot at the Dubai Metro station Khalid Bin Al Waleed.
Bodyguard (August 31, 2011)
The biggest hit of the year, Bodyguard was the third remake of a Malayalam film with the same name. It was a typical Sallu film with another popular punchline: "Mujhpar ek ehsaan karna, ki mujhpar koi ehsaan na karna" (Do me one favour, don't do me any favours) – a dialogue that was notoriously being used against Khan at his trial in May for the hit-and-run accident he was involved in 13 years ago.
Ek Tha Tiger (August 15, 2012)
Salman Khan's first film with the Yash Raj banner was also the first time he starred with Katrina Kaif after their break-up. Kaif's daredevil stunts and Khan's parkour skills upped the film's popularity and gave Kaif an opportunity to be a part of the 100-crore-rupee club. While Khan has remained friends with some of his former girlfriends (Sangeeta Bijlani, Somy Ali), Ek Tha Tiger went against his rule of not working with his exes, although Khan and Kaif currently have no plans of working together.
Kick (July 25, 2014)
The remake of a Telugu film, Kick was the directorial debut of producer Sajid Nadiadwala and established Salman Khan's vocal skills, after he sang an entire song, Hangover. The film also marked the first time that Sri Lankan actress Jacqueline Fernandez dubbed her own voice-over for her character. The dialogue that caught on from this film was Sallu's character's claim of "Main dil mein aata hoon, samajh mein nahin" (You can love me, but you'll never understand me). Quite true.
Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (December 14, 2001)
With his second directorial venture, Karan Johar paid homage to his father (Amitabh Bachchan’s character was based on KJo’s father, Yash Johar), and created an epic family drama with an ensemble cast. The film even had Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan, who made a short but heart-stealing appearance, playing a young Rahul (his father’s character). The movie also got Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan to work together after 18 years. Rumour has it that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan had been offered a role, and that Abhishek Bachchan’s cameo was eliminated from the film. If fate had worked the other way, they would have made a pretty family picture.
Kal Ho Naa Ho (November 28, 2003)
Johar turned writer and producer for this film, and was originally wooing Kareena Kapoor Khan to play Naina. However, the astronomical fee she quoted led KJo to look for other options, and eventually the role went to Preity Zinta. Given Bebo's limited acting skills in 2003 – she starred in the forgettable Talaash, Khushi and Mein Prem Ki Deewani Hoon that year – it can be said that Zinta's entry as SRK's "pretty woman" worked in the film's favour. The actress even showed off her tailoring skills by stitching the clothes for the various dolls her half-sister in the film plays with.
Veer-Zaara (November 12, 2004)
One of the most intense love stories set across the India-Pakistan border, Veer-Zaara marked filmmaker Yash Chopra's return to direction, seven years after his 1997 hit Dil To Pagal Hai. Veer-Zaara won audiences over with its enthralling music and sentimental dialogue. "Woh kehte hai yeh tera desh nahi, phir kyun mere desh jaisa lagta hai? Woh khete hai mein us jaisa nahi, phir kyun mujh jaisa woh lagta hai?" (They say this is not your country, then why does it remind me of my own? They say I am different from them, then why do they seem just like me?). The four-minute-long poem by captured Indian Air Force pilot Veer Pratap Singh, also known as qaidi number 786 (played by Shah Rukh Khan) was particularly touching. With brilliant performances by SRK, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji, Veer-Zaara is a
classic that can be watched over and over again.
Don: The Chase Begins Again (October 20, 2006)
Farhan Akhtar's third directorial venture, after Dil Chahta Hai (2001) and Lakshya (2004), was based on the original 1978 film Don. He rewrote the beginning and the end to give it his own touch, and to plan sequels for the film. Yes, watch out for Don 3 in the near future. Akhtar's rationale for remaking an Amitabh Bachchan classic? To bring the story to a younger audience who may never watch Bachchan's film.
Chennai Express (August 9, 2013)
SRK's masala entertainment – his first with Rohit Shetty – was originally to be called Ready Steady Po. But to highlight the train sequence, which introduced SRK's character, Rahul, to Meenamma (played by Deepika Padukone), the film was finally called Chennai Express and "Ready Steady Po" was relegated to being the tagline. This was also said to be the first film in which an actress's name appeared before an actor's in the credits, on SRK's insistence.
Bhool Bhulaiyaa (October 12, 2007)
The Akshay Kumar-Vidya Balan starrer was action hero Akki's first's Eid release. Bhool Bhulaiyaa had previously been made in Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Bengali, and the Hindi version was well received, too. The spooky comedy, also starring Shiney Ahuja, reiterated Kumar's position as a versatile actor and established Balan's acting skills – she played a possessed woman with great aplomb.
artslife@thenational.ae
