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Sultan of Power Slam
Salman Khan's nuanced portrayal of a simpleton wrestler has won him back his acting chops
- PUBLISHED: Fri 22 Jul 2016, 12:00 AM UPDATED: Thu 2 Nov 2023, 3:38 PM
A twist of sobriety is just what script doctors could have ordered. Proof: the vulnerable traits which shade the otherwise machismo-oozing Salman Khan's portrayal of Sultan in the title role of the year's No 1 box-office smasher. In the course of the first three days of its release - timed with the festive season of Eid - the collections had already crossed the magic figure of Rs 100 crore (1 billion).
In fact, it was a major relief to see the out-of-shape, village-trained wrestler break down into uncontrollable tears, not quite sure whether he has it in him to re-assert his credentials as the winner of a gold medal at the Olympics.
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Sultan, ably directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and, no doubt, monitored by its producer Aditya Chopra, humanised the part of the hero - who usually swaggers and struts around the scene in the manner of a comic-strip caricature. And that touch of vulnerability made all the difference in wowing viewers across the board.
The most memorable sections of Sultan show Salman as a simpleton who must pay the price of turning arrogant overnight. In his quest for redemption, he does require support systems who're emotionally stronger and certainly more pragmatic than himself - be it the reluctant coach who has gone through similar circumstances, a long-time friend who serves as his unconditional cheerleader, and, above all, his wife who hasn't quite recovered from the trauma of losing their son shortly after delivery.
Grim stuff for a Salman Khan project, you might think, but absolutely essential to elevate the film from being patently predictable.
Moreover, the fluctuating equations between Sultan and his wife Aarfa, sensitively enacted by Anushka Sharma, are written with a rare empathy and an understanding of differences which erupt in most marital relationships. More than Ali Abbas Zafar's competence as a director, the screenplay and dialogue have elevated Sultan into a credible sports film from Indian mainstream cinema.
Quite clearly, Sultan indicates that Salman Khan is best when he's down to earth and presented as a boy-man who hasn't quite grown up. Glimmers of this were evidenced in last year's Bajrangi Bhaijaan and in his career-establishing films with Sooraj Barjatya (Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!). Today, at the age of 50, he can play a 30-something credibly, only if the script is smart enough to admit that he's not exactly a spring chicken.
When a script is ordinary, so is his performance - exacerbated by his much-discussed mood swings. Sound technicians shudder when he's required to report for a dubbing session. He is known to show up late and complete the day's dub in a hurry, or not show up at all. Action directors and choreographers have also been wary, chorusing, "Bhai may want last-minute changes. So we have to be on our toes." And if a playback singer rubs him the wrong way - like Arijit Singh did at an awards function - he can be replaced without so much as a by-your-leave. The melodious song, Jag Ghoomeya, already recorded by Arijit was redone by Rahat Fateh Ali Khan at the nth hour.
Hopefully, the mega-success of Sultan should ease up the temperamental Khan. It's obvious that he can belt out impressive performances when directors don't accede to his whims and demands. At present, the actor appears to have developed a comfort level with director Kabir Ali (Ek Tha Tiger, Bajrangi Bhaijaan) and, it would seem, Ali Abbas Zafar. According to the grapevine, a sequel to Sultan is already in the works.
Meanwhile, off-screen, Salman Khan has a natural-born flair for miring himself in controversies - the most recent one being an offensive remark on women made before the media. Once again, it was his father Salim Khan who had to rush in to tender a public apology. Serious court cases are still pending.
Every breath Salman takes sparks rumours. Will he get married or not this year-end to Romanian model Iulia Vantur? That has become a subject of endless conjecture. His face-off and patch up with Shah Rukh Khan is monitored extensively. Incidentally, Sultan has an in-joke with Salman Khan rebutting an anti-SRK remark with the punch-line, "I like Shah Rukh Khan." Not surprisingly, the audience laughed uproariously at that loaded jibe.
Despite his trespasses, the star-actor has amassed a frenzied fan following among Bollywood lovers. So here's an unsolicited bit of advice: a twist of sobriety in real-life could also do wonders, Salman bhai.
