From Baazigar to Ghajini: Salman Khan's Loss, Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan's Gain

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's career can be divided into three phases: the 1990s, the experimental early 2000s, and the present-day era. While Shah Rukh Khan played charming characters like Rahul or Raj, Salman portrayed the roles of a decent son, brother, and husband named Prem, both on and off-screen. Salman Khan delivered several successful films, some of which achieved great commercial success by entering the 100 and 200-crore clubs. In the case of the movie Baazigar, Shah Rukh Khan gained fame after Salman Khan declined the role of an anti-hero, considering it risky at the time. Similarly, for the film Chak De! India, Salman Khan was initially offered the role of coach Kabir, but his refusal led to a remarkable performance by Shah Rukh Khan. During the 2000s, Salman Khan experimented with different roles, but with limited success. Some of the forgettable films from that period include Tumko Na Bhool Na Paayenge. However, Salman was determined to establish his identity in that era. In 2008, Salman Khan was offered the lead role in the blockbuster film Ghajini, which was initially intended for Aamir Khan. Despite his earlier film Yuvvraaj failing at the box office, Ghajini turned out to be a massive success. Asin, who later acted alongside Salman in Bodyguard, made her Bollywood debut in Ghajini. The audience particularly praised Aamir Khan's performance, and he continued delivering blockbuster hits like 3 Idiots, PK, Dhoom 3, and Dangal. Salman Khan's career took a significant turn with the 2009 film Wanted, directed by Prabhudheva. It grossed over Rs 100 crore at the box office and marked the beginning of his tradition of releasing films on Eid, which his fans eagerly anticipate. Salman Khan remained unfazed by negative reviews, as even his weakest films still managed to make money. Despite the lack of recent major achievements, it doesn't affect his popularity and fanbase. In the end, one person's loss became another person's gain.