In Bajrangi Bhaijan, Salman Khan amazes even himself, but his performance isn’t the only reason you should watch the film. There are others in his team who deserve credit for making the movie the Bollywood blockbuster that it has become. It you want to know the players who have made BB near-perfect, read on:

Salman Khan

From the first frame to the last, Sallu bhai has been anything but himself in Bajrangi Bhaijaan. He doesn’t show off his pecs unnecessarily, there are no signature moves from his earlier films and he actually makes you fall in love with Bajrangiwho takes it on himself to visit Pakistan and return Munni to her parents in Kashmir.

Harshali Malhotra

She may not have dialogues in the film but Harshali as Shahida steals the show with her expressions, innocence and million-dollar smile. Be it her telling Bajrangi not to be the simpleton he is, her emotions on Pakistan cricket team’s victory or her expressions, she is the reason many will watch the movie more than once. She looks Pakistani as do most of the actors portraying people from this side of the Wagah and it wouldn’t be wrong to say that her performance makes Bebo’s (Kareena Kapoor Khan) role seem secondary.

Nawazuddin Siddiqui

Chand Nawab the reporter may not be the best broadcast journalist from Pakistan but Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s portrayal of the journo has made him famous worldwide. Not only is Nawazuddin too good in the film, he dominates the second half after Bajrangi enters Pakistan. He has one-liners that you can’t forget afterwards, he is the one who turns even the most serious of situations light and his antics play an integral part in bringing the two nations closer.

Crossing the 100-crore mark is nothing new for a Salman Khan film but a film where he acts, makes viewers cry and doesn’t take his shirt off is something else!

Om Puri

If I ever go the religious way, I would like to walk, talk and impress people the way Om Puri does in his cameo. He plays a Pakistani prayer leader who runs a madressah. Not only does he have the respect of the children but he befriends the fugitives-on-the-run despite knowing that one of them is a Hindu from India. The scene where he bids farewell to Bajrangi will go down as one of the best in Bollywood recently: a Pakistani wishing an Indian a safe journey.

Kabir Khan

And then there is director Kabir Khan who comes up with his second film (after Kabul Express) that shows Pakistan in a positive light. Yes, his next film Phantom may never see the light of day in Pakistan due to the censors but in BB he wins people over on either side. Each character has something to offer and although a few scenes have been censored in Pakistan, the film delivers the much-needed message of peace and harmony between the two neighboring countries.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine August 2nd, 2015

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