Salman Khan and the art of making a hit film

(Reuters) - After going through a tough phase, Salman Khan at 45 seems confident in the knowledge he knows what will make the world's biggest film industry dance to his tunes -- literally.

The star, one part of Bollywood's trio of Khans delivered last year's biggest hit, "Dabangg", and his latest film "Ready", a comedy that was universally panned by critics is well on its way to netting a billion rupees at the box-office.

"The pocket move is really catching on," a journalist tells Khan, referring to a dance move in "Ready". "I know," Khan tells him, almost cockily, "it had to".

The demeanour is that of a man who knows he's holding on to success in an industry where fortunes change in a second.

"Salman Khan has realised that if he markets himself and the product well, people will lap it up," says Bhushan Kumar, a good friend of Khan and owner of T-Series, which produced "Ready".

The film, directed by Anees Bazmee, is indicative of the kind of film that Khan has come to be associated with -- everything is black and white, the hero is a paragon of virtue, the heroine is coy, their love is pure, there are raunchy dialogues, catchy songs and the bad guys are dead in the end. The critics may be dismissive, but the masses love it.

The actor makes no secret of his dislike for Bollywood's new love for small films which explore complex issues. If he had his way, Bollywood would go back to the 1980s phase of the angry young man and the virtuous heroine.

"I missed seeing heroes on stage. Suddenly, we've (Bollywood) got into rom-coms and love stories and niche films. We started missing heroes," Khan told Reuters in a recent interview. Asked if he would ever do a niche film, he folded his hands and said "no thank you".

The formula seems to be working -- both "Dabangg" and "Ready" are blockbusters, as was Khan's 2009 release "Wanted". Even though he delivered three turkeys in between, no one seems to notice.

Before "Wanted", Khan's fortunes weren't shining brightly -- most of his films, including Subhash Ghai's "Yuvvraaj" and "God Tussi Great Ho" tanked at the box-office. Critics of the actor said he wasn't making the right choices, doing films for the wrong reasons. Khan admits they were right but says he couldn't do much about that phase of his life.

"There were some films I had to do. There was also a time when everybody's films were working and my films were bombing left right and centre. But I didn't panic at that point because I knew that those films were going to bomb," he said.

That attitude has now changed.

"He is involved in the marketing of his films, his songs and thinks about how we can best get across the message to the audience. He is very committed, very professional and gives it his all," says Kumar.

Khan has also learned the ways of making money from his films. Kumar said he takes a "nominal fee" to make a film, and asks for a cut from the profits.

"This is how it worked with 'Ready' and we have given him his share of the profits," he says. The film was made at a budget of 620 million rupees, including marketing and publicity budgets.

"He knows his fans want to see him do some goofy stuff, a few fight sequences, nice tapori songs -- he's doing what he needs to do and playing to the gallery," says trade analyst Vajir Singh.

What about good cinema?

"Bollywood survives because of the masses, not the classes. If the masses like it, it is good cinema," says R R Vidhani, owner of one of Mumbai's oldest single screen theatres New Excelsior where "Ready" is running to packed houses even in its second week.

A day before the film opened, Khan made an appearance at a packed single-screen theatre in suburban Bandra and was greeted with hysterical fans screaming from the aisles.

Wearing a thick chain around his neck and dressed in a t-shirt and distressed jeans, he flashed his cocky smile and said "don't take tension, just enjoy the film."

That's exactly what audiences are doing

https://in.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/idINIndia-57719920110616

Originally posted by: wat_up

great he is getting wiser.

@BB why you want people to attack the topic?😆