Here’s how the first Dabangg film revived the Salman frenzy and saved single-screens…

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Revisiting Dabangg: 25 things interesting facts about the Salman Khan blockbuster

Here’s how the first Dabangg film revived the Salman frenzy and saved single-screens…

Team CE

Updated:19th Sep, 2021 at 5:09 PM

Abhinav Kashyap, brother of Anurag Kashyap, made his directing debut with Dabangg. Abhinav had previously worked as a screenwriter and assisted Mani Ratnam on Yuva (2004).

Abhinav and Anurag went to the same school as Salman and Arbaaz: Gwalior’s Scindia School.

Originally, Dabangg was conceived as a much grittier film with Randeep Hooda in the lead. It was Arbaaz who suggested a commercial canvas with songs and action scenes.

The film marked the Bollywood debut of Sonakshi Sinha.

Salman, who plays Chulbul Pandey, a swashbuckling corrupt cop in UP, took inspiration from Sonakshi’s father Shatrughan Sinha to grow his moustache.

The film was shot in Wai in Maharashtra and the UAE.

Sonu Sood, who plays the antagonist, Chedi Singh, fractured his nose during a scene.

Malaika Arora, married to Arbaaz at the time, performed the item number Munni Badnaam Hui.

Abhinav said the song was inspired by an old Bhojpuri folk song, Launda Badnaam Hua. Others claimed it came from the Pakistani song, Ladka Badnaam Hua, from the 1992 film Mr. Charlie.

The song became a catchphrase during the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Then Gujarat-CM Narendra Modi also punned on the song to mock the Congress Party.

The mention of ‘Zandu Balm’ in Munni Badnaam Hui led to an out-of-court settlement with Emami.

Late actor Om Puri was reportedly upset over his short screen-time. He originally had a much longer role in the film.

Dimple Kapadia, then 53, played the mother of Salman and Arbaaz, then 44 and 43 respectively.

In the song Tere Mast Mast Do Nain, there’s a poster of the 1989 film Chandni. Vinod Khanna, who plays Chulbul’s adoptive father, was one of the two male leads in Chandni.

Dabangg came on the heels of Wanted (2009), revitalizing Salman’s career and bolstering his ‘Bhai’ image.

Dabangg performed exceptionally well in single-screen theatres, already besieged by the multiplex boom.

Released on Eid, Dabangg became the highest-grossing Bollywood film of 2010, beating Golmaal 3, Raajneeti and My Name Is Khan.

Dabangg won the National Film Award for Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment.

The film was remade in Tamil as Osthe (2011) and Telugu as Gabbar Singh (2012).

Chulbul’s black aviators started a fashion trend.

The franchise got a sequel, Dabangg 2, in 2012. It was directed by Arbaaz. A third part,Dabangg 3 (2019), was helmed by Prabhu Deva.

In the aftermath of Sushant Singh Rajput’s suicide, Abhinav claimed in a Facebook post that Salman and Arbaaz tried to sabotage his career after he refused to direct Dabangg 2.

Dabangg is being adapted into a children’s animated series by the creators of Motu Patlu.

Mahesh Manjrekar was approached to play the father of Sinha's character, although he had solid plans to quit acting at that time. He eventually agreed.

Dabangg, made on a budget of 420 million, made an estimated 2.2 billion at the box office.