Salman ‘Remake’ Khan? Not really!

After the success of Wanted, Ready and Bodyguard, Salman Khan has been labeled as someone who only acts in remakes of south Indian hits. He has been accused of playing it safe, by doing films that have already proven to be hugely successful at the ticket-window.

“King of Remakes”, “Remake Khan” are names that are often used to bring him down. But a quick glance at some of the films that he has done in the last 5 years, reveals a different story.

• Salaam-e-Ishq (2007) – Original script
• Partner (2007) – Inspired by Hollywood film Hitch
• Marigold (2007) – Original script
• Saawariya (2007) – Original script
• God Tussi Great Ho (2008) – Inspired by Hollywood film Bruce Almighty
• Hello (2008) – Based on Chetan Bhagat’s Novel
• Heroes (2008) – Original Script
• Yuvvraaj (2008) – Original Script
• Wanted (2009) – Remake of Telugu film Pokiri
• Main Aurr Mrs Khanna (2009) – Original Script
• London Dreams (2009) – Original Script
• Veer (2010) – Original Script
• Dabangg (2010) – Original Script
• Ready (2011) – Remake of Telugu film Ready
• Bodyguard (2011) – Remake of Malayalam film Bodyguard
• Ek Tha Tiger (2012) – Original Script
• Dabangg 2 (2012) – Original Script
• Sher Khan (2012) – Original Script

To sum it up, Salman has been a part of 3 remakes in the last 5 years, 2 films inspired by Hollywood movies and 13 films with original scripts. What’s more, none of his upcoming films are remakes.

Also, it’s not Salman alone who has appeared in remakes. Have a look!

• Shahrukh Khan – Don was a remake of an Amitabh Bachchan classic with the same title. The SRK produced Billu, which featured the actor in an extended special appearance, was also a Malayalam remake.
• Aamir Khan – One of Aamir’s biggest hits in the last decade – Ghajini – was a Tamil remake.
• Akshay Kumar – Has appeared in 3 remakes in the last 5 years – Khatta Meetha, Bhool Bhulaiyaa and Heyy Babyy. His upcoming film Rowdy Rathore too is a remake of Telugu hit Vikramarkudu.
• Hrithik Roshan – Who once vowed to never be a part of remakes, will be seen in Agneepath which again is an official remake of  an Amitabh Bachchan classic with the same title. To be fair to Hrithik, the story seems to have been changed and the treatment is very different too!
• Ajay Devgan – One of Ajay’s biggest solo-hits too is a remake – Singham!

Remakes DO NOT guarantee success and attributing Salman’s success to remakes alone is unfair! Do tell us what you think, in the comments section below.

Update: A few are asking about Sajid Nadiadwala’s Kick. Agreed that Kick is a remake of a Telugu film. But it’s not 100% confirmed yet. Shirish Kunder was supposed to direct it, but he has now backed out. Unconfirmed reports say, Surender Reddy who directed the Telugu version will be directing the Hindi one too.

Still, it’s unfair to single-out Salman Khan, when half the industry is remaking films. Rowdy Rathore, Agneepath, Ek Deewana Tha, Bol Bachchan, Son of Sardar, Players etc are all remakes.