Salman Khan, popularly known as Sallu Bhai, with a screen presence which can single handedly carry a film on his shoulders, is one of the biggest stars in Bollywood right now.  A Salman Khan starrer is sure to rake in big money owing to his massive popularity amongst his fans. Salman Khan turns 54 today, leading to his friends and fans showering him with birthday wishes on social media.  With the recently released Dabangg 3, it looks like Salman Khan notched another win.  However, Salman Khan did not achieve all this stardom overnight.

Salman Khan made his debut with a supporting role in the film Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988.)  He got his first lead role with the film Maine Pyar Kiya (1989.)  This film had many firsts to its credit.  It was the directorial debut for Sooraj Barjatya and a lead actress debut for Bhagyashree.  The movie was a major hit that year and went onto win six Filmfare Awards. It was also the inspiration behind the Telugu hit film Nuvvostanante Nenoddantana, which led it to being remade in seven other languages.  

Salman Khan went on to do a few other films like Baaghi: A Rebel For Love (1990,) which was a commercial hit.  This movie explored the concept of prostitution and was dedicated to women who were victimised by prostitution.  The story of the film is credited as Salman Khan’s idea, lending an additional dimension to the actor.

In 1994, Salman Khan co starred with Aamir Khan in Andaz Apna Apna.  While the film was originally not a hit, it went on to achieve a cult status over the years, so much so that there is now a sequel on the cards.  Salman Khan then went on to feature in several hit films like Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, which won three Filmfare Awards, Karan Arjun, Hum Saath-Saath Hain, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Tere Naam, before 2010.  Karan Arjun (1995) saw Salman Khan co star with Shah Rukh Khan and this movie earned Sallu Bhai a nomination for Best Actor at the Filmfare Awards. 

During this time, Salman Khan has also played a supporting role in Karan Johar’s directorial debut Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998,) which saw him winning the Best Supporting Actor award at the Filmfare Awards.  Tere Naam (2003) won Salman Khan critical acclaim and his role as Radhe Mohan is considered one of his best performances till date.

The last decade saw a resurgence in Salman Khan’s career where he delivered huge box office hits every year.  Films like Wanted, the Dabangg series, Bodyguard, Ready, Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Tiger Zinda Hai and Bharat went on to break box office collection records of the respective years in which they were released, lending credibility to Salman Khan’s name as a bankable star. 

Wanted (2009,) which incidentally is a remake of the Tollywood superhit film Pokiri, gave Salman Khan his action image, which he has carried it forward since then.  Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) was another movie in which Salman Khan’s performance was lauded.  In Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman Khan portrayed a devout Hanuman devotee who goes through hell and back to help a young Pakistani girl reunite with her mother after being stuck on the Indian border.  The little girl, whose role was portrayed by Harshaali Malhotra, won many hearts across the Country.

Salman Khan does not limit himself to just doing films.  He is also widely known for his philanthropic contributions under his brand Being Human.  This charitable organisation sells clothing and apparel and a part of the revenue from the product sales are donated to help the underprivileged.  He is also involved in several brand endorsements like Thums Up, Revital and Yatra.com. He is also known to have launched the careers of various actresses like Sneha Ullal, Sonakshi Sinha and Katrina Kaif.

At 54, Salman Khan shows no sign of slowing down and stopping.  His popularity continues to grow and we can look forward to a number of his films in the upcoming years.  His latest project, Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai, is scheduled to be released in the year 2020.

Here’s wishing Salman Khan, the Bhai of Bollywood, a very happy 54th birthday.

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Evergreen actor Dev Anand was a part of many epic films like Guide (1965,) Jewel Thief (1967) and Johny Mera Naam (1970.)  However, what many people are not aware of is his own life was nothing less than a Bollywood film.  During the beginning of his career, the talented actor was romantically involved with the renowned actress and singer Suraiya.  Their love story was filled with love, passion and tragedy.

Their first meeting

In the late 1940s, Dev Anand, an aspiring actor, first met Suraiya on the sets of Vidya, which was their first film together.  Dev Anand instantly fell in love with the beautiful and down to earth Suraiya and later revealed she was his first love.

Although Suraiya was smitten with the young and handsome actor, it was an accident on the set of Vidya which cemented her love for Dev Anand.  While shooting a scene in a boat, which suddenly capsized, Suraiya was saved by Dev Anand from drowning. 

According to Suraiya, when she thanked Dev Anand for saving her life, the handsome actor replied, “If your life had ended, so would have mine.”  Suraiya describes that as the exact moment when she fell deeply in love with Dev Anand.

Their separation

Although they managed to keep their association a secret for two long years, their relationship became public news during the shooting of Afsar in 1950.  This revelation led to many problems in their relationship, mainly by Suraiya’s orthodox grandmother, Badshah Begum, as she did not want her granddaughter to marry a Hindu man.

With the dream of starting a new life together, the duo decided to elope during the shoot of their film Jeet.  The news reached Badshah Begum, who dragged Suraiya from the shoot and kept a strict watch on the love birds after that, in an effort to end their relationship.

Many years later, while recalling the incident Suraiya confessed, “Eventually, my grandmother succeeded in separating us. Dev was deeply hurt and offended by my lack of courage. But I was afraid for him. In retrospect, I don’t think anything would have happened if I’d been bold enough. But I was terrified of my grandmother. And was heartbroken.”

Although the couple faced many problems from Suraiya’s orthodox grandmother, they found support from an unlikely source.  Suraiya’s mother, Mumtaz Begum, was a strong supporter of their relationship. However, just like Suraiya, Mumtaz Begum also did not have any courage to go against her mother.

The last meeting

Suraiya’s mother was also the one who arranged the couple’s last meeting on the terrace of Suraiya’s apartment.  The couple met secretly to end their four year long relationship, all the while crying and hugging each other.  Dev Anand later confessed that after breaking up with Suraiya, he cried on his brother’s shoulder and later decided to forget the chapter and move forward in life. 

With this, the amazing and passionate love story of Dev Anand and Suraiya ended on a sad note.

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Sonu Nigam, the most versatile singer of our generation, turns 46 today.  Considered the “Modern Rafi,” Nigam began his Bollywood journey at the age of 18 and is now considered the King of Melodies.  On the occasion of the singer’s birthday, let’s look at some of the best songs from his musical career, which made us fall in love with his soulful voice.

Best songs by Sonu Nigam

1) Sandese Aate Hai (Border) 

In 1997, Sonu Nigam sang this song alongside Roop Kumar Rathod.  Sandese Aate Hai was composed by Anu Malik for the movie Border.  The song described the pain of Indian soldiers as they wait for letters from their family in the middle of a war and quickly became the nation’s anthem.  Nigam won a Zee Cine Award for Best Playback Singer for this song.

2) Tanhayee (Dil Chahta Hai)

Sonu Nigam sang this song for the movie Dil Chahta Hai (2001.)  Composed by Shankar, Ehsaan and Loy and accompanied by Ehsaan Noorani’s bass riff, Nigam managed to express the pain of loneliness with his beautiful voice. 

3) Suraj Hua Maddham (Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham)

Sonu Nigam, along with Alka Yagnik, sang this beautiful track for the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001.)  Featuring Kajol and SRK, this song has become one of the famous soulful Bollywood songs, thanks to Sonu Nigam’s and Alka Yagnik’s magical vocals.

4) Saathiya (Saathiya)

Sonu Nigam sang the title song for the movie Saathiya (2002,) composed by A.R. Rahman and won a Filmfare Best Male Playback Award.  A perfect combination of Rahman’s music and Nigam’s voice, this song has become every hopeless romantic’s anthem.

5) Kal Ho Naa Ho (Kal Ho Naa Ho)

Sonu Nigam sang this Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy composed song for the movie Kal Ho Naa Ho (2003.)  With meaningful lyrics and Sonu Nigam’s soothing voice, the song has become one of the timeless and popular songs of Bollywood.

6) Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin (Agneepath)

Sonu Nigam sang Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin for the movie Agneepath (2012) and managed to express all of life’s problems and philosophy through his beautiful voice.  Nigam was nominated for the Filmfare Award for Best Playback Singer for Abhi Mujh Mein Kahin.

Here’s wishing the King of Melodies, Sonu Nigam, a very happy birthday!

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There are many actors in Bollywood who started their career from the small screen before climbing the ladder of success to star on the big screen. Here is a list of  6 such stars who started their acting journey with TV serials.

1) Shah Rukh Khan

SRK, bollywood’s very own Badshah and king of romance began his career with TV serials in the 1980s. SRK’s first acting role was that of Lt. Abhimanyu Rai in 1988 series Fauji. This was followed by Aziz Mirza’s Circus and a mini series Idiot. During his initial days, Shah Rukh Khan’s acting was compared that of Dilip Kumar by critics.

2) Vidya Balan

Known for her roles in movies like Kahani, No One Killed Jessica and The Dirty Picture this Padma Shri awardee, started her career with 1995 sitcom Hum Panch. In the sitcom, Balan played the role of an intelligent and nerdy Radhika Mathur. Later on, Balan made her Bollywood debut with the movie Parineeta and started her massively successful journey in Bollywood.

3) Sushant Singh Rajput

The engineer turned actor, Sushanth Singh Rajput made his debut through Star Plus romantic show Kis Desh Mein Hai Mera Dil, but it was Ekta Kapoor’s Pavitra Rista that brought the actor massive success and fame. Sushant won The Indian Television Academy Award for portraying the role of Manav Deshmukh.

4) Irrfan Khan

This immensely talented actor has starred in many Bollywood and Hollywood movies, but Irrfan Khan began his acting journey with doordarshan serial Shrikant. Other series in which the actor managed to shine with his acting skills are Chanakya and Bharat Ek Khoj.

5) Pankaj Kapur

With films like Ek Doctor Ki Maut, Rakh and Maqbool under his name, Pankaj Kapur has proved what an acting genius he is.  However, he became a household name not because of his movie but of his appearance in TV series like Karamchand where Kapur played the role of a detective and became famous for the catchphrase “Shut up, Kitty”.  Another series that bought Kapur immense popularity was Office Office, a satire on Indian politics.

6) Ratna Pathak

Best known for her supporting roles in films like Jane Tu Ya Jane Na, Lipstick Under My burkha and Khubsurat, she rose to prominence for her appearance in TV series Idhar Udhar. Later, Pathak went on to portray the iconic and memorable Maya Sarabhai in the sitcom Sarabhai Vs Sarabhai which gained a cult status.

Did you watch any of these stars on the small screen? Comment below and let us know.

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Hindi cinema forms a very significant part of life and society in India.  We cherish the glamour, style and everything else about tinsel town. While the actors and villains manage to garner all our love and admiration, the directors behind all of this often go unnoticed.  Bollywood is home to many such wonderful directors. Here is a list of directors who helped bring out the best in Bollywood.

1) Rajkumar Hirani

Born in 1962, Rajkumar Hirani is an Indian director, writer and editor.  He is widely acknowledged as the most successful and critically acclaimed filmmaker in the industry.  He made his debut with Munna Bhai M.B.B.S. in 2003 and ever since, there was no looking back for him.  He proved his directorial capabilities to the world with films like 3 Idiots (2009,) PK (2014) and Sanju (2018,) which were all blockbusters.  3 Idiots, till date, remains one of the most loved films of India.  With PK, Rajkumar Hirani touched the most controversial topic of religion and yet emerged successful.  Not just commercial hits, but his films are also rich in content. Rajkumar Hirani is often referred to as a path breaking director in the industry.  He has won 11 Filmfare Awards till date.

2) Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Regarded as every actor’s delight, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is a director, producer, screenwriter and music director.  We must say, there is no creative mastermind like Bhansali in the Country. He made his directorial debut with Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and for his very first film, he received the Filmfare Critics Award for the Best Film.  If you have watched Bajirao Mastani (2015) or Padmaavat (2018,) you will know this man can create magic.  With jaw dropping sets and attention to every single detail, every movie by Bhansali makes for a wholesome cinematic experience.  Not just a genius director, he is also a gifted musician. Songs like Laal Ishq, Ghoomar and Mohe Rang Do Laal prove just that.  If you think Bhansali can only make period dramas, you should watch his masterpiece, Black (2005.)  Bhansali never fails to impress.

3) Anurag Kashyap

Born in 1972, Anurag Kashyap is an Indian film director, producer, actor, writer and editor known for his work in Hindi cinema.  His directorial debut, Black Friday, released in 2007 to widespread critical appreciation.  This man is known for his depiction of the darker side of life.  He stays as far as possible from the stereotypical glitz and glamour and prefers content rich films.  Kashyap’s two part crime drama, Gangs Of Wasseypur (2012,) managed to garner the love of audience and critics all throughout and still remains to be the nation’s favourite film in the gangster genre.  The Government of France awarded him the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) in 2013 for his contribution to cinema.

4) Sriram Raghavan

Sriram Raghavan is an Indian filmmaker and screenwriter who rose to fame with the feature film Ek Hasina Thi (2004.)  Since then, he has been entertaining us with his stellar work like Johnny Gaddar (2007,) Agent Vinod (2012,) and Badlapur (2015.) However, his latest work, Andhadhun (2018,) a suspense thriller, got him the name and recognition he deserves.  With Andhadhun, Sriram Raghavan proved to the world his writing and directing capabilities.  This film was praised by not just critics, but also by audiences across the globe.

5) Shoojit Sircar

Shoojit Sircar is one of the most coveted directors of B-town.  He made his debut with the film Yahaan (2005.)   He gave us some of the most memorable and content rich films.  His films Vicky Donor (2012) and Piku (2015) stand among the most loved films of the Country.  His recent film, October (2018,) is another proof of his directorial brilliance.  Sircar’s craftsmanship breathes life into every film he makes.  We suggest you never miss his movies.

Comment below and let us know which one of these directors is your favourite.

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