After his debut in 1988 with Biwi Ho To Aisi, Salman Khan earned his superstardom through the 1989 movie Maine Pyar Kiya, launching his career as an all-time favourite Bollywood heartthrob, famous for his action scenes and comic timing. As the superstar celebrates his 60th birthday today, we list his 10 most iconic performances.
Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994)
The Salman-Madhuri starrer by Sooraj Barjatya was an all-time blockbuster, the biggest hit of 1994 in India. The movie is famous for its colourful dances, catchy music, portrayal of familial ties and the infamous Tuffy, their Pomeranian. Prem (Salman Khan) and Nisha (Madhuri Dixit) fall for each other as their siblings prepare to tie the knot. A tragic incident leaves Prem’s brother Rajesh a widower, as Nisha's sister unexpectedly dies. Nisha is now expected to marry Rajesh for the good of the family, and she agrees despite her feelings for Prem. What unfolds in the rest of the narrative is how fate throws its dice in favour of the love birds.
Maine Pyar Kiya (1989)
Sooraj Barjatya’s directorial debut, the film was Salman Khan’s big break, winning him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut in 1990. The plot follows Prem (Salman Khan) and Suman (Bhagyashree) as they navigate family, friendship and ultimately love. Suman’s father, Karan, leaves her in the care of Prem’s father, Kishan, as he travels abroad to make a living, during which time they fall in love. Manipulated by Kishan’s business partner Ranjeet, faced with social differences and family opposition, Prem has to prove to Suman’s father that he is not the same as his own dad. The film closes with Prem, Karan and Kishan uniting to defeat the villains, reconciling their differences and celebrating the union of Prem and Suman.
Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015)
A Kabir Khan directorial, the film grossed over 900 crores worldwide. Starring Kareena Kapoor (Rasika), Harshaali Malhotra (Munni) and Bhaijaan (Pawan) himself in lead roles, the film revolves around themes of cross-border humanity. Pawan, a staunch Hanuman devotee, finds speech-impaired ‘Munni’ lost in Haryana. After taking her in, as an attempt to get her back home, he realises that she belongs to Pakistan. After failed attempts to obtain a passport and visa, Pawan decides to reunite her with her family by himself at a great personal cost. He is supported by his love interest, Rasika and journalist Chand Nawab (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) to help find Munni’s family. After brutal treatment from officials and other barriers, Munni is reunited with her family, and Pawan crosses the Indo-Pak border to reach back home.
Dabangg (2010)
Dabangg brings to mind the infamous Inspector Chulbul Pandey alias Robin Hood Pandey. An action-packed movie, it won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment. Directed by Bhaijaan’s brother, the plot shows Chulbul Pandey (Salman Khan) sharing a strained relationship with his stepfather, Prajapati and half-brother Makkhi (Arbaaz Khan), to later emerge as a bold police officer. He falls for Rajjo (Sonakshi Sinha), whom he meets during an encounter, while Makkhi’s love for Nirmala (Malaika Arora) is thwarted by financial constraints and escalating family tensions. Chulbul’s clash with corrupt leader Cheddi Singh (Sonu Sood) turns deadly, resulting in multiple tragedies, including the loss of Rajjo’s father and Chulbul’s mother. After Makkhi admits his unwitting role in a bombing orchestrated by Chedi, the family reunites, with Chulbul killing Chedi and conducting Makkhi’s marriage to Nirmala. The Dabangg franchise comprises three movies.
Sultan (2016)
Set in India’s heartland of wrestling, Haryana, Salman Khan plays Sultan Ali Khan, who enters the ring to win his love interest Aarfa Hussain (Anushka Sharma), a state-level wrestler. Aarfa, who initially dislikes Sultan, ends up marrying him, and they both become accomplished wrestlers, even winning medals for India. Upon getting selected to compete in the Olympics, Aarfa realises she’s pregnant, and Sultan fulfils her dream of winning gold for India. His fame, accompanied by arrogance, caused a break in their relationship, following the death of their child. What follows is Sultan’s reluctant comeback, fuelled by Aakash Oberoi (Amit Sadh). After intense training, he makes it back to the ring, yet battles severe injuries in the semi-final, where Aarfa makes her appearance and motivates him to continue fighting. The film explores a sports-romance genre.
Tere Naam (2003)
Directed by Satish Kaushik, this cult classic is regarded as Salman Khan’s best performance as Radhe Mohan. Radhe, a graduate jobless rowdy who leads the student union at his college. Often violent with a formidable temper, he begins to soften when he meets the timid Nirjara (Bhumika Chawla) and falls in love with her. The plot unravels their chemistry, changing especially after he saves her sister from a brothel. After multiple intimidating encounters, Nirjara falls for Radhe. The infuriated brothel owner and his goons attack Radhe in retaliation, smashing his head against a train buffer, which leaves him mentally unstable. Sent to a mental asylum, with no hope of recovery, Nirjara is asked to forget him. What follows is Radhe realising his past, escaping the asylum to meet Nirjara on her wedding day, only to meet with one of the most tragic endings of Bollywood: her suicide.
Ek Tha Tiger (2012)
From the YRF Spy Universe, this movie changed the Bollywood spy movie template. Each of the three movies in the series – Ek Tha Tiger, Tiger Zinda Hai and Tiger 3 — explores a new threat to the nation. Raw Agent Avinash alias Tiger is played by Salman Khan; his love interest, ISI Agent Zoya, is played by Katrina Kaif. All movies have a plot where the couple (from India and Pakistan) and their forces unite against a common enemy for the greater good. In Ek Tha Tiger, Salman Khan tracks an Indian scientist suspected of aiding Pakistan, but the operation turns personal when he falls in love with Zoya. In Tiger Zinda Hai, he comes out of hiding to rescue Indian and Pakistani nurses held hostage by terrorists in Iraq. In Tiger 3, he faces a rogue former RAW agent who frames him as a traitor, forcing him to fight across countries to stop a global threat and save his family.
Karan Arjun (1995)
Directed by Rakesh Roshan, this film witnessed two of the biggest Bollywood superstars on one screen – Bhaijaan and King Khan. An action-packed movie revolving around reincarnation and revenge, the film stars Raakhee Gulzar as Durga, the mother of Karan (Salman Khan) and Arjun (Shah Rukh Khan). Amrish Puri plays the villain, who murdered both Karan’s and Arjun’s father, and later them too, as they go to seek revenge. What follows is them being reborn, but in different families, with different love interests (Sonia Saxena played by Kajol and Bindiya played by Mamta Kulkarni), which intertwine with their past and bring them back together for a final fight against Amrish Puri, where they emerge victorious. The film was re-released in 2024.
Biwi No. 1 (1999)
The song ‘Chunnari Chunnari’ is an all-time favourite from this movie. Prem (Salman Khan), a successful advertising executive, is married to devoted Pooja (Karishma Kapoor) with two children. He begins an affair with aspiring model Rupali (Sushmita Sen), leaving his family for her. A heartbroken Pooja is supported by Prem’s friend Lakhan (Anil Kapoor), who streamlines her into a modern lifestyle and modelling career. She sends her children and mother-in-law to live with Prem and Rupali, causing tension and revealing Rupali’s selfishness, where she only valued his wealth. The movie ends on a happy note as Prem and Pooja reunite. The film also stars Tabu as Lakhan’s wife, Lovely.
Pyaar Kiya To Darna Kya (1998)
A film that revolves around old rivalries, misunderstandings and treacherous plots. Muskaan (Kajol) meets Suraj (Salman Khan) at the University they go to. Vishal (Arbaaz Khan) is Muskaan’s brother and dislikes Suraj since their first meeting. Muskaan ends up becoming a pawn in Vishal’s attempt to avenge an old rivalry by marrying her off to Thakur Vijay Singh's brother. What follows is the realisation that Suraj only means well for Muskaan, and an effort to save her from Thakur. In the end, Vishal comes to understand the truth and gives his approval for Suraj and Muskaan's marriage.