Salman Khan Calls Himself ‘AVERAGE’ In Comparison To Jackie Shroff And Sanjay Dutt; Says ‘When I Walk Into The Room, Heads Don’t Turn The Way…’

Salman Khan, an enduring superstar, has navigated the rollercoaster of highs and lows in his career while maintaining his iconic status. While his meteoric rise began with his debut in ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’, Salman remained admirably modest, refraining from labeling himself as a superstar or boasting about his acting prowess. Even after his collaboration with Bhagyashree in Sooraj Barjatya's directorial, he was hesitant to claim the title of a superstar.

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In 1989, as Salman Khan marked his entry into the industry, action heroes dominated the scene, overshadowing the emergence of the chocolate-boy charm that would become prevalent later. Salman's image was a unique amalgamation of rough toughness and an endearing, soft-hearted persona deeply entwined in the theme of love. Though ‘Maine Pyar Kiya’ was followed by a series of setbacks, his fortunes changed with the success of Rakesh Roshan's ‘Karan Arjun’.

In a 1995 interview with Filmfare, post the release of the blockbuster ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’, he was then asked, “Do you see yourself doing the sort of roles Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Bachchan have… someday in the future? You know Devdas… Mughal-e-Azam… Zan- jeer… Deewar.” His answer was honest, unabashed, and, as Filmfare quotes, ‘an apologetic mumble’ saying, “I don’t think I can ever do those… uh.. roles. I don’t think I’d be… uh… able to.”

Salman Khan reflected on his stardom in comparison to contemporaries like Jackie Shroff and Sanjay Dutt, who reigned in the early 90s. and confessed, “When I walk into a room, heads don’t turn the way they do for Jackie Shroff and Sanjay Dutt… I consider myself an average looker.” Notably, Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt co-starred in ‘Saajan’. This introspection allowed him to contextualize his fame within the broader landscape of 90s stars.

Salman's evolution into the evergreen megastar he is today was a gradual process. His journey from a youthful rebel to the beloved "Bhaijaan" of the industry has been characterized by unwavering loyalty to his roots. With a career spanning approximately 35 years, beginning with his debut as a supporting actor in ‘Biwi Ho To Aisi’, Salman Khan has traversed the spectrum of success, failure, accolades, and criticism. Notably, he transitioned from being a hero to portraying antagonist roles.

Like a phoenix rising, Salman Khan transformed his image from a brash, reckless young man to someone who embraced life's lessons, learning from his missteps.

On the professional front, the superstar is currently preparing for ‘Tiger 3’. Following that, rumors suggest he's set to star in a film under Karan Johar's Dharma Productions and the reportedly titled ‘Prem Ki Shadi’, a project helmed by the directorial maestro Sooraj Barjatya.

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Salman Khan's journey epitomizes resilience and growth, showcasing how he transitioned from a rising star to an enduring legend in the realm of Indian cinema.