Reflecting on a Decade of Bajrangi Bhaijaan: A Journey of Humanity

A Heartwarming Tale of Cross-Border Friendship

Kabir Khan's poignant drama continues to evoke strong emotions as it tells the story of a compassionate Indian man determined to reunite a young Pakistani girl with her family.

Could this be Salman Khan's finest performance to date?

In the aptly named film Bajrangi Bhaijaan, Salman embodies the character of Pavan Chaturvedi, maintaining his role throughout the movie. It's rare to see him so fully immersed in a character.

His last truly character-driven role was in Kabir Khan's Ek Tha Tiger, where he often shifted in and out of character. However, in Bajrangi Bhaijaan, he remains consistently in character, portraying an innocent, God-fearing individual reminiscent of the 'Prem' from Sooraj Barjatya's films—a devoted Hanuman devotee whose moral integrity might have seemed dull in the hands of another actor.

One could argue that Salman is essentially playing the son of Prem in this film.

Reflecting on the film's impact, director Kabir Khan shares, 'It feels surreal that ten years have passed; the memories are still vivid. Hardly a week goes by without the film airing on television, and I receive messages from fans expressing their love for it. It's a treasure that continues to flourish.'

Ironically, the film's powerful message of peace between nations sparked backlash in Pakistan, where Kabir faced criticism during a visit after the film's release.

He recalls, 'They expressed their displeasure over how I portrayed Pakistan in Phantom and Bajrangi Bhaijaan. I attempted to engage with them, but they were not receptive. I chose not to give them the attention they sought. It was clear they were prepared for confrontation. Engaging with such extremists is futile. I refuse to be intimidated or provoked into making negative statements about the country. The reality is that the average person desires peace, not violence.'

'My time in Karachi was brief and generally welcoming... until that incident. The Pakistani people are warm and hospitable; only a few individuals create a hostile environment. I realized the situation too late, but I will not be cowed by such incidents. Phantom was not my first politically charged film, nor is Pakistan the only country that has reacted negatively to my work. I anticipate facing similar challenges in the future.'

It's unfortunate that Salman and Kabir experienced a significant fallout after Tubelight. While Tubelight may not have succeeded, it was a courageous attempt. Why allow failure to dictate future choices?