Let's dance! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the films that made Salman Khan the “Bhai” of Bollywood.
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00:00 [Speaking in Hindi]
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the films that made Salman Khan the pie of Bollywood.
00:11 [Speaking in Hindi]
00:14 [Music]
00:17 Number 10. "Tirinam."
00:19 In this romantic tragedy, Khan plays Radhe Mohan, a thug who turns over a new leaf after falling in love with Nijra.
00:26 [Speaking in Hindi]
00:36 "Tirinam" sparked a return for Khan in a genuinely dramatic role.
00:40 His character deals with a turbulent romance, opening up further conflict that ultimately destroys his life.
00:46 Unlike most Bollywood films at the time, "Tirinam" doesn't swerve into a happy ending.
00:50 Instead, viewers are made to feel the same pain that Radhe and Nijra feel during their relationship.
00:56 [Music]
01:06 It's a bleak subject matter that looks into the consequences of misguided decisions,
01:10 bolstered by Khan's performance as the main character.
01:13 Since the actor later pivoted into the action genre,
01:16 "Tirinam" now stands as a reminder that he also excelled in drama.
01:19 [Music]
01:26 Number 9. "Andaz Apna Apna."
01:28 The world first noticed Khan's penchant for comedy with the "Screwball" comedy.
01:32 Teaming up with Aamir Khan, the duo plays a pair of slackers attempting to marry an heiress.
01:37 [Speaking in Hindi]
01:46 Unfortunately, they end up way over their heads after realizing an evil gangster has the same plans.
01:52 "Andaz Apna Apna" wasn't a big box office success, but has become a classic since.
01:57 Fans love the chemistry between the two Khans, as well as the many quotable lines the film contains.
02:02 [Speaking in Hindi]
02:12 Salman eschews his usual tough guy attitude in favor of a sillier,
02:16 charming performance that has stood the test of time.
02:19 It's a breezy watch that's perfect if you're in the mood for belly laughs.
02:22 [Speaking in Hindi]
02:31 Number 8. "Karan Arjun."
02:33 Soon after "Andaz Apna Apna," another major Khan pairing arrived,
02:37 this time with Salman and Shah Rukh Khan.
02:39 [Speaking in Hindi]
02:50 The two appear as the titular characters, who are brothers out for vengeance.
02:54 After Karan and Arjun are killed by the menacing Thakur Dorjan Singh,
02:58 the protagonists are reincarnated.
03:00 This sprawling story deals with the themes of revenge, justice, and familial love.
03:05 While the premise might be a bit out there, the commitment from the two Khans is captivating.
03:10 [Speaking in Hindi]
03:19 Salman does the brunt of the film's action,
03:21 bringing a touch of sensitivity to his character that balances the hard-hitting elements.
03:26 Because of both Khans' superstar status,
03:28 "Karan Arjun" became one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of the '90s,
03:32 and remains a cornerstone of Bollywood's action genre.
03:35 [Speaking in Hindi]
03:47 Number 7. "Dabangg."
03:48 Speaking of action, we have Dabangg to thank for reinventing the genre.
03:52 [Speaking in Hindi]
04:00 With a whole lot of masala, the film popularized item numbers
04:04 and larger-than-life protagonists who defy conventional physics.
04:08 Dabangg makes full use of Khan's macho persona,
04:10 even parodying this to ridiculous lengths.
04:13 The actor plays Chulbul Pandey,
04:15 a cop dealing with a number of mishaps that eventually threaten his family.
04:19 Dabangg's story takes a backseat to Pandey's on-screen antics,
04:22 which have to be seen to be believed.
04:24 [Singing in Hindi]
04:35 The movie solidified Khan as an action icon,
04:38 becoming the highest-grossing Bollywood feature of the year
04:41 and winning the Filmfare Award for Best Film.
04:43 Many have since replicated its style,
04:46 but Dabangg stands firm as the trailblazer it is.
04:49 [Speaking in Hindi]
05:01 Number 6.
05:02 Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam
05:04 Following the life of Aishwarya Rai's Nandini,
05:07 the story is split in two.
05:09 [Speaking in Hindi]
05:21 The first centers around Nandini and Samir's romance,
05:24 which is cut short by objections from her family.
05:27 After her new husband discovers her feelings for Samir,
05:29 he decides to reunite them.
05:31 Few characters required Khan to portray as much vulnerability as Samir
05:35 in this romantic drama.
05:36 The actor wins the audience's sympathy,
05:38 playing a person who just can't catch a break despite his pure heart.
05:42 [Speaking in Hindi]
05:54 The film was lauded for depicting different shades of love a person can experience,
05:58 with each character's arc relatable to viewers.
06:00 Along with his co-stars,
06:02 Khan won critical praise for hitting emotional beats
06:04 all the way from the beginning to its heartbreaking conclusion.
06:08 [Speaking in Hindi]
06:17 Number 5.
06:18 The Tiger Series
06:20 Franchise movies were a rarity in Bollywood,
06:22 but Khan helped establish one of its biggest ones.
06:25 The Tiger movies feature the hero as a conflicted RAW agent
06:28 who falls for an ISI spy.
06:30 [Speaking in Hindi]
06:42 Instead of following the template of a standard political thriller,
06:45 these films place the character's relationship as the main hook.
06:48 Tiger, with love interest Zoya, evades capture and protects innocence,
06:52 staying true to their moralities and strong sense of justice.
06:56 [Speaking in Hindi]
07:04 Their love amid continual conflict is a setup for explosive action
07:09 and thought-provoking moments.
07:10 Tiger connects movies in the YRF spy universe,
07:13 showing up with the kind of swag that only Salman Khan can command.
07:17 [Singing in Hindi]
07:24 With an entire saga planned,
07:26 the Tiger series continues to raise the bar with each entry.
07:29 Number 4.
07:31 Sultan
07:32 Khan's critical peak in the 2010s continued with this sports drama
07:35 that details the titular character's struggles with success.
07:38 [Speaking in Hindi]
07:50 Sultan's rise as a pehlwani wrestler takes a sharp decline
07:54 after a deep personal loss destroys his life.
07:56 The movie doesn't hold back in portraying the hero at his worst,
08:00 as everything around him falls apart.
08:02 However, the plot picks up as the protagonist gets back on his feet
08:05 to reclaim his pride.
08:06 [Speaking in Hindi]
08:15 Khan's portrayal of a heavily flawed person is remarkable
08:19 for making us both resent and root for him.
08:21 While Sultan deserves praise for its entertaining wrestling sequences,
08:25 the uplifting message of never giving up is its biggest winning quality.
08:29 [Speaking in Hindi]
08:40 Number 3.
08:41 Mene Pyaar Kiya
08:43 Khan's first release as a leading man remains among his very best.
08:47 Mene Pyaar Kiya doubles as both a love story and a family drama.
08:51 [Speaking in Hindi]
08:59 The story revolves around the romance between Prem and Suman,
09:02 whose relationship is threatened by a feud between their parents.
09:06 As he sets out to prove himself,
09:08 we follow Prem's attempts to stand on his own feet to be with Suman.
09:11 Before Khan was known for his badass attitude and intimidating physique,
09:15 he charmed audiences with an innocent depiction of a young man in love.
09:18 [Speaking in Hindi]
09:26 Audiences also appreciated the overall cast.
09:30 Most of the actors reunited in future movies to greater commercial success.
09:34 Khan in particular steals the show to make us fall in pyaar with him.
09:38 [Speaking in Hindi]
09:51 Number 2.
09:52 Bajrangi Bhaijaan
09:54 Although the actor has starred in several tearjerkers,
09:57 Bajrangi Bhaijaan is arguably the most effective.
10:00 In this epic drama, Khan stars as Pawan,
10:03 a devout Indian Hindu who stumbles across a Pakistani Muslim girl who can't talk.
10:07 He names Munni.
10:08 [Speaking in Hindi]
10:19 Due to Munni's positive influence,
10:21 Pawan grows into a more tolerant, selfless person.
10:24 Bajrangi Bhaijaan unites borders,
10:26 as two people from vastly different backgrounds
10:29 end up in a surrogate father-daughter relationship.
10:31 [Speaking in Hindi]
10:44 Of course, there are a lot of struggles to go through for Pawan to take Munni back home.
10:49 For the many wholesome moments Bajrangi Bhaijaan contains,
10:52 there are just as many heartbreaking scenes to watch.
10:54 [Speaking in Hindi]
11:04 It is an emotionally stirring performance
11:07 that preaches harmony between people from all walks of life.
11:10 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
11:14 Mujtahid Shadi Qarogi
11:16 Khan's character gets wrapped up in a love triangle and a comedy of errors.
11:20 [Speaking in Hindi]
11:32 Wanted
11:33 Khan's career was revitalized with this hard-hitting action thriller.
11:36 [Speaking in Hindi]
11:45 Hum Sat Sat Hai
11:46 A family drama with life lessons galore.
11:48 [Speaking in Hindi]
11:58 Judwaa
11:59 Khan plays two brothers with wildly contrasting personalities.
12:02 [Speaking in Hindi]
12:13 Kick
12:13 A Robin Hood-esque action comedy that kicks up a notch.
12:16 [Speaking in Hindi]
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12:41 Number 1
12:44 Hum Aapke Hai Koon
12:45 [Speaking in Hindi]
12:54 Among the highest-grossing Indian movies ever,
12:56 Hum Aapke Hai Koon is an era-defining blockbuster.
12:59 It follows the Nath family after daughter-in-law Pooja arrives to spread joy into their lives.
13:04 Khan plays youngest son Prem, who falls in love with Pooja's sister Nisha.
13:08 [Speaking in Hindi]
13:16 The first half is filled with warm-hearted sentiments,
13:19 good-natured humor, and music-filled sequences.
13:21 However, Pooja's sudden death marks a major shift
13:24 that ultimately threatens Prem and Nisha's relationship.
13:27 Even with the massive 199-minute runtime,
13:30 the film grabs viewers' attention through all the twists and turns in the protagonists' arcs.
13:35 Hum Aapke Hai Koon represents the best that Indian cinema has to offer,
13:39 with gorgeous set pieces, memorable songs,
13:41 and Khan's infectious chemistry with Madhuri Dixit.
13:44 Who wouldn't want to go diktana with this cast?
13:46 Which film did you love starring everyone's favorite bhajjan?
13:58 Let us know in the comments.
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14:12 [Music]