By Rahul Aijaz/Express Tribune
Several Pakistani stars have crossed over to Bollywood throughout the years, but only a chosen few have become superstars. Not that being in Bollywood’s 1Billion Club guarantees stardom, but it definitely helps build a reputation.
Since Aamir Khan’s 2008 blockbuster Ghajni, a film’s success has been marked by how many crores it collects at the box office, giving rise to 1 billion to 7 billion clubs. If we believe that numbers don’t lie, Pakistani actor Mahira Khan recently made it into the elite of the Indian film industry.
According to Bollymoviereviewz the Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira-starrer Raees has grossed INR 1.4 billion in seven days. With the success of her Bollywood debut, Mahira joins her Humsafar co-star Fawad Khan in the club.
According to ibtimes the latter entered the club with his Bollywood outing, Kapoor & Sons, which touched the 1 billion mark when it collected 1.04 billion in India. Following the release of Ae Dil Hai Muskhil, Fawad has managed to have two films in the club after the Karan Johar directorial collected INR1.1 billion despite the many controversies it faced.
From an on-screen couple in Humsafar to being loved by Bollywood fans, it has definitely been an interesting journey for Mahira and Fawad. Some may argue that they paired up with superstars such as Shah Rukh, Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma to reach the status. But, nobody can overlook their growing stardom and the fact that they bring a certain kind of class and elegance with their presence.
Many stars who crossed over, have tried to break in and establish a solid ground in Bollywood. Ali Zafar made waves when he debuted in Tere Bin Laden in 2010. He went on to star in several films such as Mere Brother Ki Dulhan alongside Imran Khan and Katrina Kaif and Kill Dil with Ranveer Singh and Parineeti Chopra. His recent outing was in Dear Zindagi, where he played a brief role.
Humaima Malick made her debut in Raja Natwarlal opposite Emraan Hashmi in 2014, but failed to make a mark, never to be seen again. Similarly, Imran Abbas appeared in horror film Creature 3D but remained unsuccessful in garnering much interest. However, he made a cameo appearance in Ae Dil Hai Mushkil too.
It must be said that the club is not a guarantee that your next film will be successful. However, more often than not, it means a star has captivated their audience. While this race to join the club has been criticized by many for putting entertainment value ahead of quality cinema, it does showcase a star’s power to fill cinema halls.
While Fawad’s vast fandom has landed him several roles in high-profile films, Mahira is still new to the scene. However, while it took him several films to finally join the club, Mahira did so with her debut film. Be it beginner’s luck or not, her fans wait with bated breath to see how this success translates into more and better roles for Pakistan’s leading female star.
(The featured image at the top is that of Pakistani actress Mahira Khan)
