JEDDAH: Salman Khan is at the Saudi Film Festival, held in the King Abdulaziz Culture Center, Ithra, as part of the Sharqiah Season.
Often described as the face of Bollywood, the warm-hearted 53-year-old actor is giving a talk at the Center. He has made at least 80 Bollywood films and produced 30 films via his production company Salman Khan Films.
Khan worked as an assistant director after dropping out of college. His humble start as an actor was in a supporting role in a movie called “Biwi Ho to Aisi” in 1988.
His breakthrough movie was “Maine Pyaar Kiya” (I Loved) in 1989. Since then, he has been landing blockbuster after blockbuster. He is the most popular action hero in Bollywood and his action-packed movies are famed for keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. He has become the star of the biggest fan-base in Bollywood, and an inspiration to the present generation of actors. Even at the age of 53 he still puts up competition as an action hero.
According to the Forbes list of the 100 highest-paid entertainers in the world, Khan ranked 82nd, with earnings of $37.7 million.
Salman Khan also founded the Mumbai-based charity ‘Being Human in 2007, which provides education and health care services for the underprivileged in India.
His fans in Saudi Arabia are beyond excited about his arrival, and tickets sold out almost immediately for his appearance in “An Evening with the Stars.” On the stage he will be talking about his vast career, covering as many details as possible about acting and producing movies.
On Monday the Oscar winning Hollywood star Cuba Gooding Jr. will also take the stage.
This is a huge step in the pro-active persuasion of the Vision 2030, in which Saudi Arabia has been opening doors to different international artists to promote different cultures and forms of art in the Kingdom.