Salman Khan is clearly one of the biggest superstars Bollywood has produced. From Hum Aapke Hai Koun to Judwaa, from Dabangg to Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman is one of the biggest contributors to the film industry, especially when it comes to money. He did go through a lull in the middle with movies like Hello Brother and Kahin Pyaar Na Ho Jaye where he was not considered as big a draw at the box-office like the other Khans. But all that changed after his 2009 movie Wanted released. Prabhudeva‘s directorial debut in Bollywood literally changed the game in every way possible. Shivam, an acute observer on Twitter, who goes by the handle – @GhantaGuy explained it all in a series of tweets. Check it out!
I think the most important movie in the last two decades or so has been Salman’s ‘Wanted’. Hear me out.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
It gave birth to a whole new fandom that we now all have suffered and know as Bhaifans.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
Before ‘Wanted’ Salman was another khan with no great hysteria associated with him. Wanted catapulted him to a whole new fanbase.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
This resulted in every star wanting to become Salman. Ajay Devgn in Singham, Akshay in Rowdy Rathore etc and whole slew of southie remakes.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
So much so, even Amitabh Bachchan did a Buddha Hoga Tera Baap. The whole dynamics of how Bollywood does it’s business changed forever.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
The fan wars between bhairoxx and srkfans and shanatics etc didn’t exist before these movies. Now they are everywhere.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
Coupled with the advent of Social media, the fandom & stats like 100cr club became talking points for every Friday. Bollywood had changed.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
However, with the bombing of a few and Salman turning to BB and PRDP instead of another southie remake, the formula may have run its course.
— Shivam (@GhantaGuy) January 5, 2016
The director of Gulaab Gang gave his two cents as well,
@MasalaBai @GhantaGuy actually the first big rush of fans was courtesy Tere Naam. Wanted lit the fire but Dabangg defined him.
— Soumik (@bangdu) January 5, 2016
@MasalaBai @GhantaGuy till date the only Salman hair cut that finds wallspace in a small saloon is from Tere Naam. It showed the future.
— Soumik (@bangdu) January 5, 2016
While another Twitter user, Harshal, who goes by the handle @ajmeb53 summed it up rather well.
@GhantaGuy Prabhu Deva ruined bollywood.
— Harshal (@ajmeb53) January 5, 2016
Interesting, don’t you think?