Karan Johar’s Revelation: Salman Khan Could Have Dominated Action Films a Decade Before Dabangg

In a candid conversation with trade analyst Komal Nahta, filmmaker Karan Johar shared fascinating insights about Bollywood’s evolution and made a striking observation about superstar Salman Khan’s untapped action hero potential.

The Missed Opportunity

Karan Johar highlighted how Salman Khan’s 2004 film Garv served as an early indicator of his action star capabilities. “The film didn’t do big business, but it got an opening,” KJo explained. He emphasized that while the movie wasn’t a commercial blockbuster, its opening figures revealed something significant about Salman’s appeal in action roles.

According to Johar, Salman himself only fully recognized his action hero persona after the massive success of Dabangg in 2010. “He could have been a massive action movie star 10 years before Dabangg,” Karan noted, adding that throughout the 1990s, Salman primarily delivered romantic films to audiences, unaware of his untapped potential in the action genre.

The Importance of Evolving with Time

The Dharma Productions head stressed the necessity of updating one’s creative sensibilities with changing times. “The sensibility you had in the 90s cannot work in this era,” he stated. Johar explained that producers must stay aware of contemporary trends and understand why certain films succeed, even if they don’t align with personal preferences.

Bollywood’s Shifting Landscape

Karan offered an intriguing perspective on how Indian cinema has transformed from the globalization era of the 1990s to today’s preference for rooted, cultural narratives. “India has now become Bharat,” he observed. “Audiences want to experience rooted stories and connect with their culture and mythology.”

He pointed out that while 90s films were often set in London and New York, contemporary films shot in foreign locations tend to perform well only in urban centers, failing to resonate with tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Johar concluded by emphasizing that while genres like horror comedies and action are currently popular, filmmakers shouldn’t follow a herd mentality. Instead, they must understand the evolving universe of Indian cinema and adapt accordingly. “Updating your sensibility and reading the room are very important,” he affirmed.RetryClaude can make mistakes.