After the hug, what next?
As Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan hug and make up, we take a look at how the new equation can change things in Bollywood in the coming days.
The famous hug has happened, but is there more action to come? If experts’ views are to go by, the making up of the two biggest Khans in Bollywood, Salman and Shah Rukh, is only the beginning of a big Bollywood turnaround, though nothing is likely to change immediately.
The two, who didn’t see eye-to-eye after their notorious fight at actor Katrina Kaif’s birthday party five years ago, seemed to have patched up at MLA Baba Siddique’s Iftaar party on Sunday evening. Many say it was a ‘planned patchup’ by host Siddique; others say it was only a reluctant but inevitable need of the moment to avoid an awkward situation, as brotherly hugging before breaking bread is an age-old Ramzan ritual.
Whatever the case, this may just pave the way for more peace between the two, but Bollywood experts say that will take time.
“It’s a great sight for any Bollywood fan but it won’t have any immediate effect. There is no Karan Arjun 2 happening anytime soon,” says director Sanjay Gupta.
Coming together for a film?
Industry experts don’t see it happening in near future. “No one thinks of making a film together or working in each other’s movies after just a hug. But then in Bollywood, nothing is impossible. You never know, tomorrow, you might see them together on screen. But it isn’t necessary,” says trade analyst Amod Mehra. Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar feels they need to grow up a bit more before they can act together: “They will have to grow up and mature.”
Breaking the camp culture
The past few years show that while Salman has largely worked with his brothers (Sohail and Arbaaz) besides a few close friends like Subhash Ghai and Prabhudheva, SRK largely stuck to films from his close pals, Farhan Akhtar, Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra. But the industry is abuzz that the hug may just make things easier for those who have been “caught in the crossfire.” Gupta says: “It’s always good to have less or no animosity in our industry. And it will surely be good news for people who are close to both — SRK and Salman.” The most immediate beneficiaries could be Yash Raj Films (considered to be SRK’s favourite hunting ground, but they did EK Tha Tiger with Salman) and Excel Entertainment (apparently very close to SRK but Farhan Akhtar acknowledges that they have been trying to work with Salman for a long time now).
SRK’s fight history
Wankhede stadium
In May 2012, SRK was banned from entering Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium after he misbehaved and abused a security guard as well as Mumbai Cricket Association officials.
Shirish Kunder
In January 2012, SRK assaulted Farah Khan’s husband and filmmaker Shirish Kunder at Sanjay Dutt’s bash.
Aamir Khan
In 2008, Aamir posted on his blog that a dog called Shah Rukh was licking his legs: “Shah Rukh is licking my feet and I am feeding him biscuits every now and then.” Shah Rukh, in return, took a dig at him and said, “I think it is a good strategy. You take the biggest brand in the country, that is SRK, and then use that platform to publicise yourself. I think Aamir rocks. The problem is that I cannot use any another brand because there is no one bigger than me,” says King Khan.
Abhijeet Bhattacharya
In April 2012, the singer blasted SRK in an interview saying the actor should apologise to him for not giving him due credit in Main Hoon Na and Om Shanti Om. SRK retorted: “Isn’t it a coincidence that whoever doesn’t want to work with me becomes famous?”
Salman’s famous clashes
Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Their animosity dates back to Guzaarish (2010), as Salman was miffed with casting Hrithik when he was keen on the role. Now, both are in a fight for the remake rights of Kanchana.
Vivek Oberoi
The actor was dating Sallu’s former flame, Aishwarya Rai, and accused Salman of threatening him via a press meet in 2003.
John Abraham and Shahid Kapoor
Salman’s equation with both John Abraham and Shahid Kapoor got strained when they went together on the worldwide Rockstar concert in 2007.
Tracing their history
Way back in the 90s, Bollywood’s future superstars would hang out together. They would call each other ‘brothers’. But a decade later, the two went through a number of tiffs to a point where Salman even said that ‘SRK and I can never be friends.’ When Salman debuted in 1988 with Maine Pyaar Kiya, SRK was still struggling to land his debut film Deewana (1992). At that time, they two became close. Later, in 1995, they worked together in Rakesh Roshan’s Karan Arjun, only to come back to together in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002). Things took an ugly turn when Salman apparently stormed the sets of Shah Rukh’s home production Chalte Chalte. In 2008, the fight that broke out at Salman Khan’s ex-girlfriend Katrina Kaif’s birthday party spoiled things in a big way.
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