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Meenal Baghel
The newest tamasha over the killing of protected animals in Jodhpur would only suggest a natural progression in the evolution of Salman Khan, the star. From shedding his shirt to flex gym-honed muscles; to dropping all semblance of good sense to flaunt his macho hunter's instinct -- the grooming of the pin-up himbo is complete.
In the days since the story broke, the office of the conservator of the Desert National Park in Jodhpur, the star's makeshift gaol, has been overrun by a gaggle of visitors waiting to catch a glimpse of him; in the same city his fans have raised banners of protest, violating the order prohibiting dharnas in the matter; the film industry, which has a whopping Rs 100 crore riding on his rather well-padded shoulders, has rallied around in his defence terming the incident ``politically motivated nonsense''; most recently Shiv Sena MP Adhik Shirodkar has said that Salman Khan should have been freed on bail.So, buffeted by a cloud of sympathy that threatens to turn into a squall of moralindignation, the star gamely bears his tribulations.
In such a Bollywood-perfect scenario it would be almost villainous to wonder about the weapons that environmentalists allege the star was carrying. Maybe they were used to accessorise his Tommy Hilfiger couture. Or perhaps Salman was only carrying his fascination for Sanjay Dutt to its logical conclusion.Thirty-something Salman Khan started his flirtation with fame in the columns chronicling Neeta's Natter, as writer Salim's model son but better still as Sangeeta Bijlani's ``puny, ponytailed boyfriend''. Since then along with his physique he has grown to be one of Mumbai's biggest stars. Certainly, the most bankable. Between a rash of eminently forgettable films like Love, Ek Ladka, Ek Ladki, Nischay, Jagruti he has acted in some of Bollywood's all-time blockbusters: Maine Pyar Kiya, Karan Arjun, Hum Aapke Hain Koun, Saajan and this year's hits, Pyar Kiya To Darna Kya and Jab Pyar Kisi Se Hota Hai.
But what has added to theSalman aura -- apart from his obvious good looks and passable talent -- has been the hint of wildness.
Unlike Hollywood youth icons James Dean and River Phoenix this is not a self-destructive, just a destructive, streak. His litany of misdemeanours that regularly make it to the pages of film glossies include dunking cola over current girlfriend Somy Ali's head followed by abuse at a hotel in the suburbs of Mumbai, abusing co-star Twinkle Khanna, getting into a public and rather demonstrative fracas with co-star Manisha Koirala's brother Siddharth, harassing co-star Mamta Kulkarni on the sets of Karan Arjun -- reportedly reducing her to tears -- and now the allegations of hunting down black bucks and chinkaras. The star is obviously catholic in taste when it comes to wild life.
Then in between there was the well-documented phase of his hero worship of Sanjay Dutt. Which is when he started working towards a physique which combined with his looks earned him a place in People magazine's 100 Most BeautifulPeople In The World list. In addition, Salman shares Dutt's fascination for guns and shooting. He has at least two licensed weapons. A few years ago, Dutt was also booked for the illegal shooting of protected animals in a Karnataka sanctuary.Ironically, his on-screen avatars portray Salman Khan as the uni-dimensional, good guy: he fights the baddies, loves his mother, gently wooes the girl and can always be taken home to ma and pa.
His strongest association has been with the Barjatyas of Rajshree Productions who only make what the trade calls ``clean family dramas''. It was in connection with the latest Rajshree Production, Hum Saath Saath Hain that Salman, along with Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam, was in Jodhpur.Equally contrary has been his intense desire for privacy coupled with his very public contretemps. Early on in his career Salman, like Aamir Khan, said he would not speak to film glossies, a decision he has faithfully adhered to. He does not talk about his family, his `animal farm'at Panvel, his girlfriend or his much speculated upon marriage plans.His enduring dilemma, like most other bratpackers of the '90s, is of the image. In the absence of towering talent, great cinema, the most substantial thing that bubble-gum matinee idols have, is the image. An image conceived by an incestuous liaison with the mass-media. According to friends the actor's most often used phrase is: ``I give a f@*k''.
It fits his image as the Wild Child to the `t'. Voluntarily or unwillingly, one does not know, Salman Khan, has become a living image.In sophisticated, blase Mumbai this image is fine, even hip. But outside its designer ken, say, in Rajasthan, in politically opportunistic times, among black buck worshipping Bishnois, sharp-jagged reality has a nasty way of intruding and shattering images.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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