As the crescent moon ushers in the joyous celebration of Eid al-Fitr, a wave of nostalgia sweeps through Bollywood fans who have fondly associated the festival with the release of a Salman Khan blockbuster. For years, the charismatic ‘Bhaijaan’ of Bollywood has adorned the Eid festivities with a cinematic gift, a tradition that has cemented his status as a festive favorite. Yet this year, 2024, marks a deviation from that cherished tradition.
This Eid, the silver screen shines not with Salman Khan’s latest offering but with the high-octane action of ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’ starring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff, and Ajay Devgn’s gripping tale ‘Maidaan’. Salman Khan fans, however, can look forward to 2025 with anticipation as ‘Sikandar’, directed by the distinguished A.R. Murugadoss, was announced as his next Eid release, promising a return to the rousing festivities of old.
Delving into the past, Salman Khan’s filmography boasts an impressive array of Eid releases that have captivated audiences and enjoyed massive box office success. Let’s reminisce about these iconic films that have contributed to making Eid an exhilarating cinematic event.
In 2009, the streets of Bollywood were set ablaze with the action-packed ‘Wanted’, directed by dance maestro Prabhu Deva. This high-octane thriller featured Salman in the role of an undercover IPS officer who seeks to uproot the proliferation of gangs and corruption. A strong supporting cast that included Prakash Raj, Ayesha Takia, Vinod Khanna, and Mahesh Manjrekar bolstered the film’s gripping narrative.
The year 2010 was graced by the release of ‘Dabangg’. A tale of retribution and redemption, it introduced moviegoers to the swaggering police officer ‘Chulbul Pandey’. This roller-coaster ride into Chulbul’s life, beautifully depicted by Khan, burgeoned into a franchise due to overwhelming adoration from the masses.
Another gem in Khan’s collection of Eid masterpieces, ‘Ek Tha Tiger’, is a captivating espionage drama from the YRF Spy Universe. Khan portrays ‘Tiger’, a daring R&AW agent, working alongside Katrina Kaif’s ‘Zoya’, an ISI operative. The heart-thumping narrative is a journey through their partnership as they navigate treacherous waters in a quest to eliminate terrorism.
The 2015 movie ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ brought to the fore Salman Khan’s versatility, showcasing his role as Pavan, an ardent devotee of Hanuman, who embarks on a heartwarming venture to help Munni, a mute Pakistani girl, find her way home. This film won hearts with its poignant portrayal of Indo-Pak camaraderie, and the performances of its cast, including enchanting turns by Harshaali Malhotra, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, have been etched into the annals of cinema history.
‘Sultan’, a sports drama with a prodigious heart, heralded Eid in 2016. This stirring narrative features Khan as a wrestling champion, grappling not just with opponents in the arena but the throws and tumbles of personal failure and re-emergence.
The romantic tapestry of ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’ finds Bhaijaan, played by Khan, in uncharted territory as his heart finds solace in love amid familial strife and gang rivalries. This tale of love and strife brims with the promise of romance and resolution, featuring an array of talents such as Ram Charan, Siddharth Nigam, Pooja Hegde, and Shehnaaz Kaur Gill.
To the loyalists of Salman Khan, these cinematic jewels serve as a reminder of the splendor and sense of occasion that his Eid releases have brought to the fore. While the absence of a Salman Khan release may leave a void this Eid al-Fitr of 2024, the prospect of ‘Sikandar’ in 2025 provides a beacon of hope for an even grander celebration on the horizon. As they relive these classics, fans can take solace in the electric anticipation of what’s to come, entrusting their festivities to a star who has never failed to illuminate their most cherished holiday.
