Are Shah Rukh and Salman Khan the latest Bollywood superstars?

Released in India on January 25, 2023, Hindi action thriller “Pathaan” is Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s first film after a four-year hiatus.

To date, it has taken in $122 million (€115 million) at the global box office, breaking several records in the process. In addition to currently being the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, it is the seventh highest-grossing film of 2023 worldwide to date.

In a scene from the film, the 57-year-old actor, popularly known as SRK, and his co-star Salman Khan in a cameo, allude to the lack of worthy successors in the Hindi film industry.

Thought conceived as a joke, it is not so different from reality. Till date, the Hindi film industry or “Bollywood” has not seen any other star reach the level of the “Three Khans”. Comprised of Shah Rukh, Salman and Aamir Khan – all in their late 50s and unrelated – this trio has ruled the industry for decades.

Bollywood’s era of death?

“There’s definitely a sense of nostalgia attached to them, a sense that they represent an era of Hindi cinema that is gradually dying out. They’ve also spent decades building a solid base of admirers,” Rosheena Zehra, editor and curator of Shorted, a short -footage. film curation platform, he told DW.

Zehra further explained how each Khan had carved out a niche – Shah Rukh as the king of romance, Salman as the “bhai” or brother and Aamir as the intellectual – for a very particular brand of cinema that none of the actors after them established.

All three began their film careers around the same time, but had different journeys. Aamir and Salman hail from active Bollywood dynasties, while Shah Rukh was an outsider from India’s capital, New Delhi. Aamir gradually fell behind the other two in terms of quantity and popularity of films.

Regardless of how their films fared in theaters or what critics think, the Khans enjoy immense popularity among audiences. With their charisma and strong presence, they have fans of all ages and walks of life.

Shah Rukh and Salman Khan often come out and stand on platforms erected at their respective residences i.e. “Mannat” and “Galaxy” and wave to their fans, especially on occasions like their birthdays or festivals like Eid. Tourists in Mumbai also often visit their homes.

“For someone to be considered a superstar, there must be an element of illusion that if I go up on an observation deck there must be hundreds of people waiting for me to wave. Everyone is an actor, a star, but being a superstar requires There is also an illusion. There is also a belief that ‘if I make a film, people will come to see me,'” Abhishek Mande Bhot, writer and former digital editor at GQ India, told DW.

Shah Rukh targeted by Hindu nationalists

College student Rashi* and her group of friends watched “Pathaan” twice in one month. “Let’s watch it a third time, and maybe a fourth!” Though she doesn’t think the movie is that great, everyone goes to watch it for Shah Rukh Khan. “After everything he’s been through with his son’s arrest and the polarization in the country, he remains positive and we want to show him our support,” she told DW.

Shah Rukh’s son, Aryan Khan, was arrested and detained on drug charges last year, although many believe the actor has been the target of injustice for being a Muslim star in a country with growing anti-Islamic sentiments.

Some fringe Hindu groups also protested against a song in “Pathaan” in which actor Deepika Padukone is seen wearing a saffron colored bikini. The color saffron has significance in Hinduism and has been adopted by some Hindutva groups as the color of their flags.

The Khans’ popularity often draws the ire of extremist Hindutva trolls on social media, with increasing attacks against Muslims in India. Shah Rukh and Salman refrained from openly expressing their political views.

“A superstar is also someone who gives hope to the nation during these dark and polarizing times. In the midst of all these difficulties, SRK maintained a dignified silence. And then, through his film, he gave us all a weekend of hope. Can you imagine anyone else doing this? asks Abhishek Mande Bhot.

What makes a ‘super’ star

As Indian films have become more elegant and stylized, the Khans have also adapted to the changing times and are now also attracting younger generations.

“The Khans are also among the first to recognize the importance of fitness. All three have worked to pack six six packs and look credible as heroes. That’s what sets them apart from previous generations who couldn’t take the lead in a movie because looked old,” explains Abhishek Mande Bhot.

While there are young and talented actors such as the hugely popular Ranbir Kapoor and Ranveer Singh and also actresses such as Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt, industry observers feel that they will not achieve “stardom” status because the concept will not be around much longer. The global pandemic and lockdowns have served as a setback for several Bollywood stars. With the rise of online streaming services, Indian audiences can now access entertainment that goes far beyond conventional cinema.

“The younger actors are also overexposed on social media, taking away too much of the superstar mythos, mystery and aura that made them who they are. it feels like training or last meal or vacation. asks Rosheena Zehra.

*The full name was not disclosed to protect the identity of the interviewee.

Edited by: Brenda Haas