Bhaijaan: how Salman Khan became Bollywood’s biggest mass star

When a Salman Khan film opens on Eid, cinemas across India fill with fans who whistle, cheer and throw coins at the screen. Few actors command that kind of devotion. Over more than three decades he has become known simply as “Bhai” or “Bhaijaan” — big brother. How did he get there?

A film family

Salman Khan was born in Indore on 27 December 1965. His father, Salim Khan, is one half of the famous screenwriting duo Salim–Javed, who wrote Zanjeer, Deewaar and Sholay. His brothers Arbaaz and Sohail also work in films.

Maine Pyar Kiya, 1989

After a supporting role in Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), Khan got his first lead role in Sooraj Barjatya’s Maine Pyar Kiya (1989). He played Prem, a gentle young man who falls in love with his father’s friend’s daughter. The film was one of the biggest hits of its time and made him a romantic star.

The 1990s

The decade brought a mix of family dramas and action films:

• Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994), again with Barjatya, became one of the highest-grossing Indian films ever at the time.
• Karan Arjun (1995), with Shah Rukh Khan.
• Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

Uneven years

The early 2000s were mixed. Some films did well, but he also faced setbacks, and he was involved in long-running court cases that drew heavy media attention. Many wondered whether his best days were behind him.

Wanted and Dabangg

The revival began with Wanted (2009), a gritty action film directed by Prabhu Deva. Then came Dabangg (2010), in which he played Chulbul Pandey, a corrupt but lovable small-town police officer with sunglasses tucked into his collar. Dabangg became a phenomenon, and its blend of action, comedy and swagger defined his new image.

The Eid king

From then on, Khan’s films became festival events, and an Eid release became a tradition:

• Ek Tha Tiger (2012), a spy thriller from Yash Raj Films, followed by Tiger Zinda Hai at Christmas 2017.
• Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015), about a kind man who helps a lost, mute Pakistani girl return home. Critics praised its message of humanity, and it remains one of his most loved films.
• Sultan (2016), about a wrestler’s comeback.

Tiger 3 (2023) continued the spy series, and Sikandar (2025) was another Eid release.

What makes him a mass star

Several factors explain his appeal to “mass” audiences — the large crowds in single-screen cinemas across small towns:

1. Larger-than-life heroes. His characters are strong, loyal and protective.
2. Simple emotions. His films focus on family, friendship and justice.
3. Physicality. He made fitness and bodybuilding part of his image long before it was common.
4. Personal brand. Fans connect with his reputation for helping people.

Being Human

In 2007 he founded the Being Human Foundation, which supports education and healthcare for underprivileged people. A clothing brand of the same name helps fund the charity.

Bigg Boss

Since 2010 he has also hosted the reality show Bigg Boss, which brought him into homes every weekend and widened his appeal to television audiences.

The next chapter

His next film, the war drama Maatrubhumi, inspired by the 2020 Galwan clash, shows him taking on a more serious role.

Why Bhaijaan endures

Khan’s stardom has survived failures, controversies and changing tastes. To his fans he is not just an actor but a protective big brother figure — and on Eid, there is still no bigger name in Hindi cinema.