When Shah Rukh Said ‘No’ to Pokiri and Salman Cashed In on Sept 18, 2009 [But Still Couldn’t Touch Mahesh Babu’s 200% Jackpot!]

Hello, my fellow Bollywood ke deewano! It’s your favorite tinsel town tattle-teller, Khabree Kiran, here to spill some spicy chai on Bollywood’s twists and turns! Grab your popcorn, because today’s story is a blockbuster in itself! 🍿✨

Salman Ki Kismet Ka Super-hit Twist! 🎬

Picture this: it’s early 2000s, and Salman Bhai is struggling to find his groove at the box office. From 2000 to 2009, bhai delivered about 18 flops. Yep, you heard that right—18! 😱 But then came September 18, 2009, and the tables turned faster than a Bollywood dance routine. Enter Wanted—Salman’s first Eid release, and boy, did it change the game!

Wanted Box Office Collection 💰

Released on September 18, 2009, Wanted opened with a bang at ₹5.15 crore! By the end of its run, it raked in ₹60.50 crore in India and almost ₹93 crore worldwide. Directed by the dance maestro Prabhu Deva, this film officially crowned Salman as the OG Bhai of Bollywood! Kya baat hai!

SRK Ki Chuki Hui Teer! 🎯

Here’s where the plot thickens, doston! Before Salman, the film was offered to none other than King Khan himself, Shah Rukh Khan. But SRK, being the magnanimous soul he is, rejected the role, saying Mahesh Babu’s performance in the original Telugu film Pokiri was unbeatable. Oh, SRK, agar tumne haan bola hota toh kya hota? 🤔

Salman’s Turning Point 💫

So, when Boney Kapoor, the producer, approached Salman, he said yes without batting an eyelid—just because it was Boney Kapoor! And the rest, as they say, is history. Wanted set a trend for Eid releases, making it a golden goose for Salman Khan.

Wanted vs. Pokiri Box Office Battle! 🥊

Made on a budget of ₹35 crore, Wanted earned ₹60.50 crore, registering a 72% profit. While it was a game-changer for Salman, it couldn’t quite match the success of Mahesh Babu’s Pokiri, which was made on a ₹12 crore budget and earned approximately ₹36 crore—a whopping 200% profit! 👏

Kiran’s Gyan 💡

Kiran’s Gyan: Bollywood mein kismet ka khel hain, doston! Ek flop actor agle din superstar ban sakta hai. Moral of the story: Never underestimate the power of a well-timed film and a bit of luck. Sometimes, all you need is one hit to turn your fate around!

Stay tuned for more filmy gupshup!

Tags: Bollywood, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Wanted, Box Office, Prabhu Deva, Boney Kapoor, Eid Release

Until next time, keep your filmi antennae up and your popcorn ready! Khabree Kiran, signing off! 🎤🚀