This isn’t an April Fool’s joke, even if it’s the start of the year. To clear the suspense right away, the teaser for Salman Khan’s supposed new film, Battle of Galwan, has reportedly caused an uproar in China. What exactly is in this teaser that has intimidated the self-proclaimed “guardian of Asia”? Let’s dive into the details.

The slogan “Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai” is a thing of the past. China, once anti-capitalist, has now taken an aggressive imperialist stance, attempting to grab whatever territory it can. Refusing to respect the Line of Actual Control (LAC), they have repeatedly tried to encroach upon Indian land. After occupying several parts of Ladakh, they set their sights on the Galwan Valley. However, their plans were thwarted by Colonel Santosh Babu and the brave soldiers of the Bihar Regiment. After a fierce battle, they defended Galwan, though Colonel Santosh Babu and 19 other soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice.

Deeply moved by this incident, Salman Khan has reportedly produced a film titled Battle of Galwan to honor their bravery. The film portrays Chinese aggression so bluntly that it has left the country embarrassed on the global stage. China has already raised objections just by seeing the teaser. If this is their reaction to a mere teaser, they might find nowhere to hide once the full movie is released.

China’s leading news agencies have complained that the film is “exaggerated” and that the character of Colonel Santosh Babu, played by Salman Khan, is depicted as “too violent.” The film is scheduled for release on April 17th. China seems rattled by the initial glimpse alone. As the saying goes, “Sin cannot be hidden forever.” It seems China has finally met its match, and Salman Khan has exposed their true face to the world.

Just 14 days before his 90th birthday, which was due on December 8, Dharmendra passed away.

He was admitted to the hospital because he was having difficulty breathing. The ‘Godi Media’ (mainstream media) enthusiastically declared his death prematurely. His sons, Sunny and Bobby Deol, were annoyed and condemned the press for proclaiming a living person dead in their over-enthusiasm. When the actual event occurred, Dharmendra’s final rites were carried out silently and secretly, before anyone could know. Although Bollywood covers many things, I never had the opportunity to witness a celebrity’s death, so I lack experience in this matter. However, in films, when a star dies, the focus shifts more to the over-enthusiasm to capture photos of who attends the funeral rather than the death itself.

Bobby and Sunny did not want their father’s death to become a spectacle, so they boycotted the ‘Godi Media’.

Dharmendra’s entry into the world of cinema is like a film story itself. As a teenager, Dharmendra watched his first film, featuring Dilip Kumar’s Shaheed. That film influenced the young Dharmendra so much that he decided to become a film star. He would look into the mirror and question himself if he would become Dilip Kumar in the future.

The young man was not focused on studies. His father was a teacher, so he confided his secret wish to his mother. Not wanting to break her son’s heart, his mother silently gave him her saved money. Soon, an opportunity arose for acting in Bombay. There was a competition. Dharmendra went to his friend’s studio, took some photos, filled out the form, and sent it to Bombay.

He received a call from Bombay. There, Eklavya Dharmendra, taking inspiration from his guru Dilip Kumar, auditioned and secured the number one position, leaving all other competitors from the country behind. Thus began his film journey in 1958.

Initially, he did not achieve much success, but then he got the opportunity to act opposite the famous actress Meena Kumari. It was through her that he received an opportunity to act, following Dilip Kumar’s suggestion. Their film, Phool Aur Patthar, was a massive hit. His shirt-off image in that film instantly made him the ‘He-Man’. And those who had advised him to quit acting and pursue wrestling were forced to accept his acting career. Meena Kumari also helped the newcomer actor secure roles in several films. From that point on, Dharmendra gifted one hit after another, cementing his place in the film industry.

Because he remained grounded, he was not swept away by the Rajesh Khanna wave of the seventies. Instead, he delivered back-to-back hits. He changed his strategy from romantic films and successfully captivated the audience by acting in action and comedy genres.

Despite acting for nearly six decades, luck was not in his favor regarding awards. He received a Filmfare trophy towards the end of his life, from the hands of his idol, Dilip Kumar. Dilip Kumar was very affectionate towards Dharmendra, and once said that if God sent Adam with a physique like Dharmendra’s, he would have been happy. 25th November, the poster for his upcoming film Ikkis was released. Unfortunately, he did not get to see it. Director Sriram Raghavan announced that Ikkis will be released during the upcoming Christmas holiday. Besides this, two other films are awaiting release.

As far as I know, there are about three more films that have been pending for a long time. Now, they might be released to capitalize on people’s emotions.

With a heavy heart, I will conclude without saying much more, using a line from his film Black Mail:

“Pal pal dil ke paas tum rehti ho, jeevan meethi pyaas yeh kehti ho…”

I had the unique opportunity to interview him back in Mumbai when he gave his very first interview there. I’ve been following his trajectory since he first landed in Bombay from Delhi. I was always sure this newcomer would make it big in Tinseltown, but where he has actually positioned himself is beyond my wildest imagination.

The Global Icon and the Billionaire Club

Recently, he officially became the wealthiest star in the world, surpassing Hollywood giants like Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio. His staggering worth is now pegged at over ₹12,000 crores (as per a recent Hurun report). He is an icon not just in India, but his success has catapulted him into a true global star.

When Barack Obama visited India, he famously praised Shah Rukh and even quoted a dialogue from Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ). Even the controversial American president, who has a love-hate relationship with India, lauded him in his speech.

His international accolades are immense: he’s received the highest civilian honors from countries like France (the Legion of Honour) and Malaysia (the title of ‘Datuk’). He has also been conferred with multiple honorary doctorate degrees by various universities worldwide. Today, he is frequently invited to deliver lectures at leading business schools globally, essentially acting as a global ambassador for our country. He is more than just our pride; his charisma mesmerizes the entire world.

If he has his grand residence ‘Mannat’ in Mumbai, he also acquired a villa, ‘Jannat,’ gifted by the ruler of Dubai at the posh Palm Jumeirah. He also reportedly owns properties in London and the USA.

Analysing the Secret of His Success

What is the secret to his unbelievable success? Hopefully, you’ll find this analysis compelling, as few can provide these behind-the-scenes details.

Shah Rukh is now the owner of the film production and distribution company Red Chillies Entertainment. He initially co-founded ‘Dreams Unlimited’ with Aziz Mirza and Juhi Chawla, but after three consecutive box-office bombs, the company suffered heavy losses. While anyone else might have crumbled, not Shah Rukh. He closed that loss-bearing venture and opened Red Chillies, this time choosing his better half, Gauri Khan, as his partner.

The next stumbling block was finance. A man of his stature could easily procure a loan, but Shah Rukh Khan is different. He knows that loans have destroyed many producers—take the recent case of Vashu Bhagnani, whose film Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (starring Akshay Kumar and Tiger Shroff) tanked, forcing him to repay ₹200 crores, reportedly by selling his property. Boney Kapoor and Jeetendra faced similar financial ruin after major flops.
Shah Rukh is not naïve. He smartly arranges his finances by pulling advance payments from his advertisers for future events and appearances. This creates a win-win situation: he doesn’t need to procure high-interest loans, and the advertisers secure him for their future campaigns.

We know Shah Rukh has a sports background (remember Chak De! India?). He purchased the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for around ₹300 crores. It was the brainchild of Lalit Modi, who coaxed Shah Rukh to join. Modi, with his Marwari ‘Bania’ business mind, foresaw the rosy picture: Shah Rukh would bring glamour, turning the cricket league into a carnival and filling the coffers.

Shah Rukh, on the other hand, showed the daring of a Miyan Bhai, believing ‘Fortune favours the brave.’ Today, KKR is reportedly valued at a staggering ₹9,000 crores plus, a testament to his sheer business acumen.

Let me also disclose a little-known fact: Mannat was originally a Parsi villa. He purchased it from the advance payments he received for acting in films, paying only around ₹13 crores for the sea-facing bungalow. It is now valued at well over ₹200 crores.

This is how he became the richest star in the world. Recently, at the success party for Aryan Khan’s record-breaking OTT series Bads of Bollywood, Shah Rukh committed that he is now relieved because his son has become a man and will run the family business. He says he will now only act when he truly feels like it.
He is only 60, and he still has “miles to go before he sleeps.”

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