Birthday Special: What makes Salman Khan Bollywood's Bigg Boss

For better or worse, limelight is his constant companion.

As Bollywood’s most disputed celebrity for all the right and wrong reasons, the Dabangg star has often paid a hefty price for his irresponsible actions and fickle mood.

At the same, those who've witnessed his magnanimous side paint a dramatically different picture of the man.

Either way, Salman Khan continues to defy the rulebook and treat stardom on his own terms.

With his larger-than-life swagger escalating to new heights after every passing blockbuster, Khan has a lot to Jai Ho on his 48th birthday.

With the hunky movie idol turning another year old today, December 27, we try to find out why he’s Bollywood’s real Bigg Boss.

Bhaigiri zindabad!

‘Jiska koi nahi uska Salman Khan hai yaaron!’

From actors to directors to composers, the number of breaks he’s responsible for offering struggling artists is pretty commendable.

Heck, even the Jallad of BB7 is a mini celeb now courtesy Sallu’s constant mentions and ribbing.

Please ...

#UnfairSalman can trend all it wants on Twitter every weekend after Bigg Boss’s erratic host openly targets contestants and lovers Gauhar Khan and Kushal Tandon to favour Armaan Kohli and Tanisha Mukerji but it doesn't affect the real Khansaab in the least.

'Har team mein sirf ek hi goonda ho sakta hai. Aur is team ka goonda main hoon,’ remember?

We are all familiar with Salman’s shirtless ways.

But did you know many stars owe their success at baring the torso to the man?

His helpful guidance in bodybuilding has helped the likes of Hrithik Roshan and Arjun Kapoor to develop a physique worth drooling at.

Saying things for effect is the prerogative of every chat show attendee.

But Salman Khan’s debut at Koffee With Karan takes the cake with this baloney bombshell of an admission.

And guess what? Trending topic, of course.

If there’s something that gets even more footage than Kareena Kapoor in Bodyguard, it’s Salman’s silver-turquoise bracelet.  

Like Vinod Khanna’s chin cleft and Shah Rukh Khan’s dimples, it’s become an inseparable part (and one of the most photographed jewelry pieces) of Khan’s being.

Whether he’s hopping like a kangaroo in Dil deewana (Maine Pyaar Kiya), creating a step out of flicking pockets in Dhinka chika (Ready) or flexing his biceps for Bodyguard’s title song, Salman is quite a statement dancer.

Cult stuff, boss!

When was the last time Salman Khan played someone other than Salman Khan?

Hmmm…

Wow, to get paid Rs 60-70 crore for showing up in front of the camera and not giving a damn?

What an idea, Sirjee!

Salman Khan is not your regular superstar.

Why?

Let’s see.

He has more than five lakh followers on Twitter. He follows only seven. His tweets range from monosyllabic to moody.

One day he’ll photograph a mosquito, another he’ll slam a car company’s shoddy customer service.

By embracing his most famous friend-turned-foe Shah Rukh Khan at an Iftaar party, Salman Khan proved one thing to the world.

To understand what goes on in Bhai’s mind ‘mushkil hi nahi namumkin hai.’ 

If you thought only Karan Johar could get all the stars under one roof and Aamir Khan is the biggest marketing brain in the industry, think Salman Khan.

From assembling backbiting rivals to share a platform for his star-studded fashion show to setting up a successful franchise of his charity brand, Being Human, Salman Khan is far too entrepreneurial than he gets credit for.