Rarely has a film which has mercurial actor Salman Khan playing the lead role as 'Prem' failed to work its magic at the box office.The actor is back with his new film 'Ready' that hits the theatres on Friday and the 'Chulbul Pandey' of Dabangg is eager to hold on to his winning streak with the new romantic comedy.
But Khan, who combines unashamed, pie-in-the-face slapstick with a unique sensibility that appeals to a wide section of India's cinema-crazed population, is at risk of typecasting himself permanently with a string of roles aimed at spoofing the socio-political system.
Following on the heels of the stellar success of 'Dabangg' that won the National Award for the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment, the music of Khan’s Ready has already topped charts with the groovy beats of 'Dhinka Chika' and 'Character Dheela'.
It seems Khan, at 46, has never been in a better place in his life with the biggest success of last year and the second highest grossing cinema of all time in his kitty, his 'Being Human' campaign a hit and Ready setting the tone for a sizzling summer.
This also sees director Anees Bazmee trying to turn the tide in his favour after his disastrous run in 2010 and 2011 with 'No Problem' and 'Thank You'.
The worldwide theatrical rights of 'Ready' have been sold for an astounding Rs 55 crore, according to media reports. It stars beside Khan, Asin Thottumkal, Paresh Rawal, Arya Babbar and Mahesh Manjrekar. Zarine Khan, who bears a striking resemblance to Katrina Kaif scorches the scene in the hit track 'Character Dheela.'
Khan's 'Dabangg' satirized the not just the political system but also set a Jim Careyish trend of mocking the justice machinery that govern rural towns. From bullying the local potter to puffing his chest – Khan unabashedly nailed the genre that he does so well.
Despite starting out as an action hero and maturing into delicate performance oriented roles, Khan is fast slotting himself as a slapstick actor with spoof action sequences and Rajinikanth-styled dialogues meant to draw whistles at semi-urban and rural screenings.
The trend that started with 'Biwi No. 1' and continued with 'Partner' and 'No Entry' continued through Dabangg where he resorted to crude fart jokes to extract laughs.
But the fact remains that the middle-aged actor, linked to several women in his long and illustrious career in Bollywood, one of its wholesome entertainers and still the main draw of production houses looking to cash on the Khan factor.
