Is Race 3 resting solely on Salman Khan's shoulders?

cinema | Suryaa Desk | Published : Mon, Mar 26, 2018, 04:49 PM

The 90s saw Salman Khan as the perfect loverboy. We couldn't get enough of his smiles and cheesy lines in films like Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Hum Saath Saath Hain, to name a few.

Over the past decade though, he slowly settled into the Bhai complacency. And people have accepted that. Or, to put it in a different way, they can't see him as anything else now. Salman tried to play an autistic man in Tubelight, but fans couldn't bear to see their hero in such an avatar.

So, Salman returned with Tiger Zinda Hai, as the beefy hero, who could beat up an entire terrorist organisation, and romance Katrina Kaif on the side. Fans were satisfied.

So now, once you know that Salman Khan is going to be part of a film, you just know what to expect.

You know that you'll enjoy yourself hugely, laugh exasperatedly at the lack of sense and logic, nod approvingly at all the action sequences. You'll come out of the theatre and say, "Yes, that was a Salman Khan film."

Because that's exactly what a Salman Khan film now entails - people being beaten up and getting thrashed, a romantic number, some typical Bhai dialogues and cauldrons of masala.

Few months after his enormously successful actioner Tiger Zinda Hai, Salman is now all set to impress with Race 3.

MORE THAN SALMAN?

Over the past few weeks, the makers of Race 3 have been unveiling "the looks" of each cast member, which includes Anil Kapoor, Saqib Saleem, Daisy Shah, Jacqueline Fernandez and Bobby Deol. And then, finally, Salman released the poster of the entire cast, together. They're clad in dark shades, with the exception of Jacqueline, and all have an expression of deadly intent.

There's an ominous tagline to go with the film too: "You don't need enemies when you have a family."

And in the poster, the cast stands around Salman, while he remains coolly seated, with an expression that reminds you of his character from Tiger Zinda Hai. Indeed, a picture speaks a thousand words. One can already see, albeit vaguely, how the film might play out.

THE BHAI POWER

It's no secret that Salman can carry off a hardcore action film all by himself, a film that is devoid of logic and a script, and still manage to entertain his audience. Tiger Zinda Hai raced to the Rs 300-crore club without much fuss. That film had plotholes the size of craters.

That's the Bhai power. It exerts a strong influence over the audience (read: Bhai fans), who just go to the film to watch him battle wolves in the snow, destroy an entire terrorist organisation singlehandedly, and escape on a helicopter, with a fatal injury. Because, why need logic, when you have Bhai?

At the moment, Race 3 certainly seems like a typical Salman Khan film. Except maybe more slick, and the success of which appears to be resting solely on Salman's shoulders.

SALMAN, THE SECRET TO SUCCESS?

Let's face the truth. If Salman was not the lead actor in Race 3, would people be so willing to watch the film? People's patience had worn a little thin with Race 2, though box-office numbers were higher than that of the first. And, going by Bollywood's track record, the audience gets wearied by sequels owing to their predictability.

That's where the magic of Salman lies. No matter how predictable a film, his fans will still love it and flock to the theatres. And make the film race to the several-hundred-crore clubs in just a week.

At this point in Bollywood, it is quite difficult to find an actor who can carry off an action sequence with the conviction that Salman can.

Salman clearly knows this. Filmmakers who sign him too know it too well, and capitalise on this magical Bhai quality. You want a successful action-thriller? Bhai is your go-to secret ingredient.

With Race 3 too, Salman looks all set to give the franchise a fresh twist. He is expected to play a role with shades of grey - something Salman usually steers *miles* away from - and fans are more than excited. It might be one of those cases where the antagonist is appreciated and loved much more than the heroes. Time will tell.

To be honest, a film with Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol, Daisy Shah, Saqib Saleem and Jacqueline Fernandez doesn't quite entice the audience; putting it rather politely.

Enter Salman Khan.

Aur Yeh Hai the #Race3 family . Let the #Race begin #Race3ThisEid @SKFilmsOfficial @tipsofficial @RameshTaurani @remodsouza @AnilKapoor @Asli_Jacqueline @thedeol @Saqibsaleem @ShahDaisy25 @Freddydaruwala pic.twitter.com/Qj3PbkETHe

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) March 25, 2018

Is Race 3 resting solely on Salman Khan's shoulders?

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