Why did Bollywood choose to keep mum over the entire Salman Khan ‘rape’ comment? A question that has been raised quite a few times since last week, ever since the actor made that controversial ‘rape’ comment. Khan, who enjoys superstar status in the film industry, compared his grueling action sequences to the conditions of a raped woman and while most criticized him for his callous remark, Bollywood stars chose to keep mum over the issue. These are the same celebrities who are vocal about almost any unparliamentary comment, joke that comes their way. These are the celebrities who are themselves associated with causes, who have at various point of time spoken about issues that exist in the society.
Yet, when it was time to call out and condemn someone from their own fraternity, they decided to keep mum. Of course, the said celebrity happens to be the biggest star of the country who enjoys a clout in the industry. Khan is known to be a Samaritan who has time and again helped out struggling artists to get a break in the film industry. Why would you want to criticize someone who has the power to make your career? But more importantly, the entire episode has highlighted how actors are sacred to speak against the star. Because in an industry where superstars get to decide almost half of the crew of a film, nobody wants to be in the bad books of Khan. He, whose entire Khandaan is in the business of cinema and he calls shots of all films he is part- which are all instant money churners.
Despite an army to back him, Khan has courted controversy time and again. He has, in fact, been in very public fights with some celebrities from the film industry- some of whom have never been able to get good work post their fights with him. Yes, thats the kind of power that Khan has in the industry.
So here is a quick look back at the times Salman Khan has gotten into a fight with a film celebrity and how it has affected their careers or films. And also why Bollywood chooses to keep mum when it comes to Bhai.
Break up with Aishwarya Rai
Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai’s pairing was made in Bollywood dreamland. Both immensely popular stars, both really good looking and both giddy in love. But while the actors never made their relationship official, their fights and Salman’s temper and violent nature became part of gossip columns. Once Aishwarya even attended an awards ceremony with a fractured hand and a bruised eye. Back then, she said it was due to a nasty fall but later in 2002, post break up, Ash in a very candid interview to a daily said how she was a victim of violence while she dating the actor. Salman had once even stormed into the sets of Chalte Chalte drunk and created ruckus. Ash was shooting with Shah Rukh Khan and eventually the shoot was disrupted due to Salman’s antics. Subsequently, Ash was replaced by Rani Mukerji in the film – something that did strain Aishwarya and SRK’s relationship. The duo patched many years later when Ash became a Bachchan bahu.
41 calls to Vivek Oberoi
Post Salman, Aishwarya started seeing Vivek Oberoi. In March 2003, fresh out of a relationship with Ash, Salman, a broken man, apparently called 41 times at midnight to Vivek Oberoi abusing him and questioning his relationship with Aishwarya. Oberoi, a rising star then, organized a press conference to report the matter. That sort of backfired, with most of the industry backing Khan, Oberoi suddenly saw film offers drying up. Years later, Oberoi has made several attempts to apologise to Khan but the superstar hasn’t budged. And Oberoi’s career has been on the downhill ever since.
The great cold war
Shah Rukh Khan and Salman were friends but a snarky comment by SRK about Aishwarya Rai at Katrina Kaif’s birthday bash in 2006 led to a massive brawl between the two stars which had to be stopped by Aamir and SRK’s wife Gauri. The actor were not in talking terms for more than five years post that incident. Lines were drawn, camps were formed and there was always a strong competition at the box office between SRK and Salman films. Each time one of their films released, the other camp would dismiss it as a no-show.Things changed only post 2013 at an Iftar party, where the actors hugged. Later in 2014, at Salman’s sister Arpita’s wedding, the two stars literally kissed and made up.
Guzarish and Salman Khan
Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Salman Khan shared great camaraderie. The director-actor duo worked in three films together. Salman was keen that SLB would make ‘Guzarish’ with him. But SLB went and cast Hrithik Roshan instead. A rather miffed Khan left no stone unturned to publicly ridicule the film whenever he could. This not only rubbed SLB the wrong way but also angered Roshan. Thereby straining the relationship between Khan, Roshan and Bhansali. Roshan may never admit his reservation for the actor openly but at the recently concluded IIFA awards, Roshan tried his best to avoid sharing the same stage with Khan. He even skipped the last act on stage which was supposed to have Salman and him dancing together with other stars.
Salman Khan makes fun of Himesh Reshammiya
We all know that Himesh Reshmmiya’s career was launched by Salman Khan. The composer made his debut in Khan’s ‘Pyaar Kiya Toh Darna Kya’ back in the 1990s. But as Reshammiya slowly belted out hits one after the other, he became busy and had less time for his mentor. Salman had wanted Himesh to compose music for one his films, but due to his packed schedule Himesh declined the offer. Later, Salman made fun of Himesh’s nasal voice during a reality show on national television. The two finally made peace and made Jai Ho in 2013. But people close to them state that things are not the same anymore between the two.
Ranbir Kapoor and Salman Khan
When you take away Bhai’s girl from him, be assured that you will be ostracized from his camp forever. Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif started dating soon after Katrina and Salman broke up. While Katrina remained in Salman’s inner circle, Ranbir has been ignored completely by the Khan camp ever since.
Salman Khan, Arijit Singh feud
Had Arijit Singh not written such a heartfelt apology letter on his Facebook page few weeks back, most people would not have been aware of this tiff. In 2013, Salman Khan was the host of a music award show. When Arijit Singh’s name was announced, the singer took time to come to the stage. Salman asked him , “So rahe the kya,’ to which Singh replied in jest, “Kya Karein, sula diya tha aap logo ne." Of course, this did not go down well with actor, who in return mimicked Singh’s song on stage to which Singh dryly answered, “Nice." The singer later apologized to the actor but Salman was in no mood to make amends. Result: Arijit Singh has till date not sung a single song for any of Salman Khan’s film. His song from ‘Sultan’ was scrapped off and re-recorded with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan singing the song.