Salman Khan's Eid Connection: Will it Work for Kick?

Highlights

• Salman Khan wasn't always the presiding deity of box office blockbusters that he is now. For nine long years, from 2001 to 2009, the superstar starred in 16 flops. Remember Yeh Jalwa? Lucky: No Time For Love? We thought not. Salman was more famous for his antics off screen than on it until he chanced upon a hit formula in 2009 with Wanted. It was this: Salman film + Eid release = big bucks.
• Wanted, which coincided with Eid ul Fitr, was an instant hit, breaking box office records, and was hailed as a comeback of sorts for Salman. Since then, almost every Eid has been booked for a Salman release. In 2010, Dabangg collected a whopping Rs 81 crores in the first week and also fetched it's star his first Star Screen Best Actor award.
• In 2011, Salman Khan played Bodyguard to Kareena Kapoor and the movie was declared a blockbuster.
• 2012's Ek Tha Tiger broke even more records than Dabangg and Bodyguard, collecting Rs 45 crores on its first day at the box office.
• 2013, however, saw arch-rival Shah Rukh Khan take Salman's place on Eid. Shah Rukh’s Chennai Express created a new bench mark in box office profits. Salman had no release in 2013 and 2014's Jai Ho, released to coincide with Republic Day in January rather than Eid, wasn't accompanied by the din of cash registers ringing that a Salman film was expected to herald.
• However, 2014 is still counting down and, once again, Eid will bring with it Salman. His forthcoming movie Kick, co-starring Jacqueline Fernandez, will celebrate Eid ul Fitr at the box office in July. The trailer and the songs Jumme Ki Raat and Hangover are already hits.
• July will prove or disprove the Eid rule.