In Hindi blockbuster Pathaan, Shah Rukh and Salman Khan – both in their late 50s – joke about the lack of successors. But is there really no one who could take her place in Bollywood?
Calcutta – Bollywood fans before the premiere of “Pathaan” in January 2023
After a four-year hiatus, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is back in a movie: The action thriller Pathaan, released in Hindi on January 25, 2023, already has 122 at the time this article was written million US dollars (115 million euros) at the box office worldwide, breaking several records: It is not only the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time, but also the seventh highest-grossing global film ;Box office success so far in the current year 2023.
In one scene from the film, 57-year-old actor Shah Rukh Khan, commonly known as SRK, and his colleague Salman Khan allude to a lack of successors in the Hindi film industry. Although presented as a joke, this is actually a reality. To date, the Hindi film industry – “Bollywood” – has not produced another star who has reached the level of the “Three Khans”. The trio that has been at the forefront of Bollywood for decades includes Shah Rukh and Salman as well as Aamir Khan. They are all in their late 50's and not related to each other.
Aamir Khan in a scene from “Laal Singh Chaddha” starring Kareena Kapoor Khan. It is a Bollywood remake of “Forrest Gump”
Shah Rukh Khan, the “King of Romance”
“There's definitely a sense of nostalgia attached to them, as they embody a fading era of Hindi cinema. They've also built up a solid fan base over the decades,” says Rosheena Zehra, editor and curator at Shorted “, an Indian short film platform.
Zehra elaborates how each of the three khans occupied a niche – Shah Rukh as the “King of Romance”, Salman as “bhai” or brother and Aamir as the intellectual. They started their film careers around the same time but took different paths. Aamir and Salman hail from Bollywood acting dynasties, while Shah Rukh was an outsider hailing from the Indian capital of New Delhi.
Aamir soon fell behind the others in quantity and popularity of films. But no matter how well their films were visited in the cinemas or what the critics thought – the three khans always enjoyed great popularity. With their charisma and their great presence, they were able to attract fans from all ages and walks of life.
Eternal loyalty on the part of the fans
Shah Rukh and Salman Khan regularly appear in public. On special occasions – such as their birthday or special holidays – they step onto a specially constructed platform in front of their residence and greet the fans. For tourists in Mumbai, their mansions are a must on the city's must-see list .
Shah Rukh Khan is standing on a special scaffolding in front of his house, from where he Waves to crowds below
College student Rashi and her circle of friends watched “Pathaan” twice in one month. “We'll watch it a third time and maybe a fourth!” Even though they don't think the movie is that great, they all want to see it because of Shah Rukh Khan. “Despite everything he's been through with his son's arrest and the polarization in the country, he has remained entirely positive and we will show him our support,” she told DW.
Shah Rukh's son Aryan Khan was arrested last year and held in custody on drug-related charges. Many felt he had been unfairly targeted as a Muslim star in a country with rising Islamophobic sentiment.
The Khans are often paired with much younger co-stars: SRK is seen here with Deepika Padukone, who is 20 years old is younger than him
Fringe Hindu groups have also protested a song in Pathaan that features actress Deepika Padukone in a saffron bikini. The color saffron is very important in Hinduism. It was also adopted as the color of their flags by some Hindutva groups – groups that call for Hindu nationalism.
Hope in polarizing times
The Khans' popularity often draws the ire of Hindutva extremist trolls on social media, with attacks on Muslims on the rise. Shah Rukh and Salman, however, have largely refrained from making their political views public.
“A superstar is also someone who brings hope to the nation in these dark and divisive times.” Through all the difficulties, SRK has maintained a dignified calm. Through his film, he gave us all a hopeful weekend. Can you think of anyone else? ;imagine someone who can?” says Abhishek Mande Bhot, author and former editor of GQ India magazine.
The end of the “superstars”
To the extent that as Indian films have become smoother and more stylized, so have khans adapted to the changing times. Now they also appeal to younger generations.
“The Khans were also among the first to realize the importance of fitness. All three have worked to get six pack abs in order to look believable as heroes. That sets them apart from previous generations who couldn't star in films, because they looked old,” explains Abhishek Mande Bhot ” is currently the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time
There are of course talented younger actors too, like the hugely popular Ranbir Kapoor, Ranveer Singh and on the female side Deepika Padukone and Alia Bhatt. But observers of the film industry believe that they will not achieve the status of the Khans because the concept of the “superstar” will not exist for long. The global pandemic and related lockdowns have been a setback for many Bollywood stars. With the growth of online streaming offerings, Indian viewers now have access to entertainment that goes far beyond mainstream cinema.
“The younger actors are overly featured on social media, debunking the myth of a superstar, so the mystery and aura that made them who they are,” says Rosheena Zehra. “Now all I have to do is open Instagram to see what an actor's workout looks like or their last meal or vacation. What's 'awesome' about that?”
Adaptation from the English : Verena Greb