In a country where two-thirds of the population is below 35, it took a 57-year-old actor’s movie – Pathaan — to bring the ka-ching back to a battered Bollywood. That’s the gravity-defying, logic-defying stardom that Shah Rukh Khan represents.
Not too long ago, the know-it-alls were writing hasty obituaries of Bollywood and about the takeover by South Indian cinema. But Pathaan’s opening day box office collection of Rs 57 crore is now going into the hall of fame folklore, along with the Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) shows at Mumbai’s Maratha Mandir. Shah Rukh Khan didn’t even do media rounds as pre-publicity—no Big Boss or The Kapil Sharma Show appearances. He only screened Pathaan trailer at the International League T20 in Dubai and showed up before a huge cheering crowd three days before the movie’s release.
And in an unexpected twist, it brought Kangana Ranaut (who later insisted the film should be called ‘Indian Pathaan’), Anupam Kher, Ajay Devgn and Karan Johar together in praise. Just like it brought out the frenzied dancing fans grooving to Jhoome Jo Pathaan in cinema halls across Indian cities….
Pathaan review – daft Shah Rukh Khan spy caper is more fun than Bond
After the truth-shower 