Salman Khan (born 27 December 1965) is an Indian actor, film producer, and television personality who works primarily in Hindi cinema. In a career spanning over three decades, his awards include two National Film Awards as a film producer, and two Filmfare Awards as an actor. He has been cited as one of the most popular and commercially successful actors of Indian cinema, and was included in Forbes lists of the world's highest-paid celebrities in 2015 and 2018.

Khan began his acting career with a supporting role in Biwi Ho To Aisi (1988), followed by his breakthrough with a leading role in Sooraj Barjatya's romantic drama Maine Pyar Kiya (1989), for which he was awarded the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut. He established himself with other commercially successful films, including Lawrence D'Souza's romantic drama Saajan (1991), Barjatya's family dramas Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994) and Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999), the action film Karan Arjun (1995) and the comedy Biwi No.1 (1999). This followed a period of decline in romantic comedy, musicals and tragedy drama in the 2000s.

Khan resurrected his screen image with the action film Wanted (2009), and achieved greater stardom in the following decade by starring in the top-grossing action films Dabangg (2010), Bodyguard (2011), Ek Tha Tiger (2012), Dabangg 2 (2012), Kick (2014), and Tiger Zinda Hai (2017), and the dramas Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) and Sultan (2016). This was followed by a series of poorly received films which failed critically and commercially, with the exception of Bharat (2019) and Tiger 3 (2023). Khan has starred in the annual highest-grossing Hindi films of 10 individual years, the highest for any actor.

In addition to his acting career, Khan is a television presenter and promotes humanitarian causes through his charity, Being Human Foundation. He has been hosting the reality show Bigg Boss since 2010. Khan's off-screen life is marred by controversy and legal troubles. In 2015, he was convicted of culpable homicide for a negligent driving case in which he ran over five people with his car, killing one, but his conviction was set aside on appeal. On 5 April 2018, Khan was convicted in a blackbuck poaching case and sentenced to five years imprisonment. On 7 April 2018, he was out on bail while an appeal was ongoing.

Early Life and Ancestry

Khan is the eldest son of screenwriter Salim Khan and his first wife Sushila Charak, who adopted the name Salma. Born to a Muslim father and Hindu mother on 27 December 1965, Salman Khan was brought up in both faiths. In 1981, when Salim married the actress Helen, the children's relationship with their father grew hostile and only recovered years later.

According to Salim, his paternal great-grandparents are Alakozai Pashtuns from Afghanistan who immigrated to Indore State, Indore Residency (now in Madhya Pradesh), British India in the mid-1800s; however, author Jasim Khan in his biography of the actor states that his ancestors belonged to the Akuzai sub-tribe of the Yusufzai Pashtuns from Malakand in the Swat Valley of North-West Frontier Province, British India (present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan). His grandfather Abdul Rashid Khan was a Deputy Inspector General of the Indore state who was awarded the Diler Jung award of the Holkar times. Khan's mother is a homemaker, whose father Baldev Singh Charak, a Dogra Rajput, comes from Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir and whose Maratha.

Career

See also: Salman Khan filmography

1988–1991: Debut and Breakthrough

Salman Khan made his on-screen debut in 1988 with a supporting role in the successful film Biwi Ho To Aisi, which had Rekha in the lead role. The following year, he played the lead in Sooraj Barjatya's romantic musical Maine Pyar Kiya opposite Bhagyashree. The film backed up with chartbuster music went on to become an All Time Blockbuster at the box office and made Khan a star. It also won him the Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut.

He began the new decade with Deepak Shivdasani's action drama film Baaghi: A Rebel for Love (1990), which he also wrote. Baaghi opened to positive critical reception and was a box office hit. Khan's run continued in 1991 with his solo venture Sanam Bewafa and his supporting role in the Sanjay Dutt starrer Saajan, emerging as blockbusters and their soundtracks proving to be two of the best-selling Hindi film albums of that year. His other releases of the year, Kurbaan and Patthar Ke Phool also performed well commercially.

1992–1996: Major Success and Slump

In 1992, Khan starred in the dark fantasy horror film Suryavanshi, which was a major commercial and critical failure. The film is remembered for Khan's look which was inspired by Thor and He-Man.

In 1994, Khan appeared in Rajkumar Santoshi's Andaz Apna Apna, co-starring Aamir Khan. At the time of its release, the film failed at the box office but has gained a cult status over the years. Later in the year he collaborated with director Sooraj Barjatya in the romance Hum Aapke Hain Koun...! co-starring Madhuri Dixit. During the 1995 awards season, the film won 3 Filmfare Awards for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actress. It also won the National Film Award for being the most popular film of the year. Earning more than ₹2 billion ($63.8 million) worldwide, the film became the biggest Bollywood hit of the year and the highest-grossing Indian film up until then. It is one of the films on Box Office India's list of "Biggest Blockbusters Ever in Hindi Cinema". In 2006, it was still the fourth-highest grossing Bollywood film ever, according to Box Office India.

In 1995 he starred in Rakesh Roshan's Karan Arjun alongside Shah Rukh Khan. The two played brothers who are reincarnated after being killed by family enemies. His role as Karan earned him a nomination for the 1995 Filmfare Best Actor Award.

2000s: Career Fluctuations

The 2000s saw Khan in a mix of successful and unsuccessful films. He starred in several romantic comedies and dramas, including Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999), Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega (2000), Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001), and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam (2002). He also appeared in the action films Tere Naam (2003) and Garv (2004), and the comedy Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004). However, many of his films during this period underperformed at the box office.

His performance in the 2003 film Tere Naam was critically acclaimed, with his portrayal of a rough and violent lover earning him nominations for Best Actor at various award ceremonies.

2009–2019: Resurgence and Superstardom

Khan's career took a major turn with the 2009 action film Wanted, which was a massive commercial success and re-established him as an action hero. This was followed by a string of blockbuster hits:

• Dabangg (2010): The film that introduced the iconic character Chulbul Pandey and became one of the highest-grossing Bollywood films of all time.
• Ready (2011): A comedy-action film that was a commercial success.
• Bodyguard (2011): Another box office hit that continued his winning streak.
• Ek Tha Tiger (2012): A spy thriller that was one of the biggest hits of 2012.
• Dabangg 2 (2012): The sequel to the hit film, which also performed well.
• Kick (2014): An action-comedy that was a major commercial success.

During this period, Khan also delivered critically acclaimed performances in Bajrangi Bhaijaan (2015) and Sultan (2016), both of which were among the highest-grossing Indian films of their respective years. These films showcased his versatility as an actor and were well-received by both critics and audiences.

His other notable films during this period include Tiger Zinda Hai (2017) and Bharat (2019), which were also commercially successful.

2020s: Recent Work

In the 2020s, Khan continued to star in major productions, including Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai (2021), Antim: The Final Truth (2021), and Tiger 3 (2023). While these films had varying degrees of success, Khan remains one of the most popular and bankable stars in Bollywood.

Television Career

In addition to his film career, Khan has been a prominent figure on Indian television. He has been hosting the reality show Bigg Boss (the Indian version of Big Brother) since 2010, becoming the show's longest-running host. He has also appeared as a guest judge on various talent shows and has hosted award ceremonies.

Philanthropy

Khan established the Being Human Foundation, a charitable organization that focuses on education, healthcare, and providing support to underprivileged communities. The foundation also has a clothing line, with a portion of the proceeds going to charitable causes. Khan has also been involved in various other humanitarian efforts, including disaster relief and animal welfare initiatives.

Controversies and Legal Issues

Blackbuck Poaching Case

In 1998, Khan was accused of poaching two blackbucks (an endangered species) during the filming of Hum Saath-Saath Hain in Rajasthan. After a lengthy legal process, he was convicted in April 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison. He was granted bail a few days later and the case is currently under appeal.

2002 Hit-and-Run Case

In 2002, Khan was involved in a hit-and-run incident in Mumbai where his car ran over a group of people sleeping on a footpath, killing one and injuring four others. He was initially charged with culpable homicide, but after multiple appeals, the conviction was overturned in 2015. The case remains a subject of public debate.

Other Controversies

Khan has been involved in several other controversies throughout his career, including a highly publicized feud with fellow actor Shah Rukh Khan, comments that have been perceived as insensitive or controversial, and legal issues regarding his alleged involvement in a case of arms act violation.

Personal Life

Khan has never married but has been in several high-profile relationships. He has adopted a daughter named Arpita Khan Sharma and is the guardian of her children. He is known for his close-knit family relationships, especially with his brothers, fellow actors Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan, and his sisters Alvira and Arpita.

Legacy and Impact

Salman Khan's impact on Indian cinema is immense. He has one of the largest fan followings in the world and his films consistently perform well at the box office. He has been credited with revolutionizing the image of the Bollywood hero, making the "angry young man" persona popular. His influence extends beyond acting, as he has also influenced fashion, fitness, and the careers of many aspiring actors.

Despite his controversies, Khan remains one of the most enduring and beloved figures in Indian cinema, with a career that has spanned over three decades and continues to evolve.