What If Salman Khan, Not Shah Rukh Khan, Had Been Bollywood’s Romantic Hero of the 90s?

Salman Khan has always distinguished himself from the galaxy of Bollywood stars with his charm and now, larger than life aura. I often ponder what might have happened if he had been the romantic hero of the 90s instead of Shah Rukh Khan, despite his current fame as Bollywood’s ultimate action hero.

Salman Khan had his breakthrough in 1989 with Maine Pyar Kiya, directed by Sooraj Barjatya. In addition to making him instantly famous, the movie made him the archetypal romantic hero of the late 80s and early 90s. Salman Khan's 'Prem' had already won hearts all over the nation long before a dimpled kid from Delhi (Shah Rukh Khan) turned up to be the 'King of Romance.'

Salman Khan - The 'Prem' Of Bollywood

Every Prem made me fall for his romantic charm, whether it was the shy, charming boy-next-door in Hum Saath-Saath Hain, the silly, flirty charmer in Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!, or the hilarious Prem of Andaz Apna Apna. His reappearance as Prem in Prem Ratan Dhan Payo served as a reminder of that enduring bond even years later.

(Between me and you, his Prem in Biwi No. 1 is one I’d rather skip over and over.)

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However, Salman Khan had a turbulent 90s despite playing such iconic roles in hits like Judwaa, Karan Arjun, and Hum Aapke Hain Koun. but was frequently criticised for its lack of consistency. Tere Naam and other movies from the 2000s suggested his depth, but Chulbul Pandey's massy performance in Dabangg (2010) was what really reinvented him. In Dabangg, the actor changed his personality from that of a charming lover to that of a fearless - 'Bhai of Bollywood.'

Though I often wonder what IF he had continued down the romantic route rather than turning himself into an action hero. Salman Khan was initially offered several of the most well-known romance movies of the 1990s, like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Baazigar, and even Kal Ho Naa Ho, before Shah Rukh eventually landed them and obviously left us swooning. But, just think of how different the 90s movie scene could’ve been.

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Salman Khan Was 'Ultimate Romantic Hero Of The Era'?

Well…I am not the only one who thinks this. Salman Khan would have been the first choice if the Sanam Teri Kasam had been filmed in the 1990s, according to the director of Harshvardhan Rane led heartbreaking romantic movie. Vinay Sapru, who co-directed Sanam Teri Kasam went so far as to refer to Salman as the ultimate romantic hero of the era. Speaking to India Today, he said, "And I can’t help but agree. For me, Salman Khan will always be Prem first-the lover boy who could melt hearts with just a smile-long before he became the invincible action star we know today."

In the end, it's interesting to even think how the 90s would have changed if Salman were to play those classic romantic roles. Maybe Prem, instead of Raj or Rahul could've been 'King of Romance,' and the love stories in Bollywood had a different tone all together. However, for someone like me, who grew up watching - the shy 'Prem,' Salman will always be known the young boy whose smile could warm my heart and I'd want to have one like him for myself.

Salman Khan chose to reinvent, while Shah Rukh became the ultimate bollywood her, and that one decision ultimately shaped the 90s. One choice, one role, and the whole narrative of a time may shift. Would Salman Khan be as convincing as Bollywood's most popular love hero of the 90s? What do you think?