Salman Khan’s Bhaijaan trailer release: Much awaiiiiiiited

No, first let’s get the title right. It is Kisi ka Bhai Kisi ki Jaan (KKBKKJ) (somebody’s brother, somebody’s life). Clever pun on the sobriquet that has been associated with Salman Khan since Bajrangi Bhaijaan, released eight years ago. If that interests you, the original title of this film was Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali. Salman Khan was last seen in a star-cameo in Pathaan, reprising his role as Avinash Singh Rathore, alias Tiger, from the YashRaj Films’ eponymous franchise of a spy thriller series. With superstars, you often have to wait for quite long them to come before the invitees, even after they reach the venues. And then the proceedings go on for up to two hours. In this case, we had to wait three hours and fifteen minutes for the arrival. That might be okay for the fans, but for media-persons, who include senior citizens, it might be an ordeal. But, to their credit, almost all of them sat through the event, which was held at the PVR Multiplex, Juhu, Mumbai, yesterday.

Security was very tight, even for media-persons. Wrist bands were a must to gain entry. The lift was decorated as if it was a wedding. To get their snacks, media-persons were asked to go-up to the fifth floor from the third, using an escalator, but on your return trip, there was no escalator, so you had to balance your drink and popcorn, as you negotiated your climb-down along the stairs.

Members of the unit and others associated with the film were so many that they had to be arranged in two rows. The compere remarked that Salman looked fit and trim. Salman, who loves leg-pulling, attributed his physique to dengue and Covid. He said he really missed the presence of Venkatesh Daggubati, with whom he shares a long-standing relationship. Venkatesh, who returns to Hindi cinema after 28 years, could not make it to the event. Salman was happy to be re-united with Bhumika Chawla twenty years after Tere Naam.

KKBKKJ is a home production for Salman, the credit going to his mother, Salma’s Salman Khan Films. It is now a standard practice for Salman to release his films on religious festivals. KKBKKJ will hit cinemas on 21 April, which will probably Eid Day. Viewers who have not had enough of lungi dance (Chennai Express), can have a new variant, where you might see more of the star’s thighs than you did in Chennai Express, performed here by Salman, Venkatesh and Ram Charan, in the number Yentamma, which was partly shown on the occasion. Some sensitive individuals down South have pointed out that these are not lungis (which they call veshti), but dhotis. Veshtis are kind of sacred to them. Making solid impact on screen with the way he says, “Power”, Jagapathi Babu, popularly known as JB, is cast as the baddie, Rowdy Anna. Sure enough, Salman counters his bombast with a more earthy response, “Will power.” JB was present on the occasion.

Also in the cast are Pooja Hegde as Bhagya Gundamaneni, Jassie Gill as Bhaijaan's brother, Raghav Juyal as Bhaijaan's brother, Siddharth Nigam as Bhaijaan's brother, Bhagyashree and Shehnaaz Kaur Gill. Gill won hearts by her candour, confessing that she loved to see herself on the screen. When she was very young, her mother had taken her to an audition for a music video, where she was rejected. But her mother had such confidence in Shehnaz that she predicted, “One day, you will work with Salman.” It took a long time, but the prediction came true. A music video veteran, she has been part of Bigg Boss 13, but this is her Hindustani feature films debut. The unit sorely missed the presence of actor Satish Kaushik, who passed away recently.

When a section of the audience opined that his six-packs are the result of VFX, 57 year-old Salman gave a glimpse of his toned body as he unbuttoned his shirt, getting the crowd to swoon. Indulging in banter, Salman made fun of Raghav Juyal’s dancing. “He’s a good dancer. But give him steps, and…even Jassie (Gill) Paajee would do them better.”

KKBKKJ is directed by Farhad Samji, who began as a writer-duo with his brother Sajid. His first film as independent writer director was Housefull 4. KKBKKJ is a remake of Veeram, and the rights of Veeram were held by Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, who gave them to Salman. In a departure of sorts, we were shown about a minute of each song before the trailer was unveiled. Be pepared to listen to Salman mouthing Sanskrit dialogue, probably from the Geeta, about DharamKshetra and YuddhaKshetra.

Trailer link: https://youtu.be/bsi8_9EoYyg