In the run-up to the release of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo, the funny guys at YouTube channel Shudh Desi Gaane have hit it out of the park with a video that spoofs the film’s title track. The focus of the four-minute clip is Salman Khan’s transition from the lover boy Prem of his debut film Maine Pyar Kiya to the ‘dilwala’ Prem of Prem Ratan Dhan Payo. In these 26 years, Salman has romanced generations of leading ladies and journeyed from teen heart-throb to larger-than-life superstar, earning a chequered filmography and a few pounds and wrinkles along the way. What hasn’t changed, according to us, the video and most Salman fans? The timeless appeal of his Prem.

As the promo has been telling us for months, Prem is back — “Main waapas aa gaya” — in Sooraj Barjatya’s big Diwali release. And how! Having watched the first day-second show at INOX (South City) on Thursday, we feel that this Prem is better, fresher and more endearing than the Prems we have seen Salman bring to life on screen. Because Prem Dilwale is more Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

The lovable Hanuman bhakt in the Kabir Khan box-office blockbuster is now the good-natured Ramleela actor in Prem Ratan…. But the attitude and accent, the simplicity and the straightforwardness remain the same. Prem Dilwale is a fun guy with a wisecrack at the tip of his tongue and with his heart in the right place. In fact, you will not be the only one who thinks you have stumbled into a show of Bajrangi… when you walk in to Prem Ratan…. From that short-sleeved kurta to the heart-warming smile, Salman looks like he’s having as much fun playing Prem Dilwale as he did being Bajrangi Bhaijaan.

What we loved best about this Prem? His superb sense of humour and spot-on comic timing. When Anupam Kher’s Diwan — who Prem lovingly calls Bapu — tells him that he’s never been married, Prem says: “Toh aap virgin Bapu ho?!” When Princess Maithili (Sonam Kapoor) tells him that she likes him better without his moustache, Prem lands up the next day without one and asks her: “Naak nahin pasand kaho toh woh bhi katwaa le?”

But when it comes to romance, Dilwale is vintage Prem. That scene between Prem and Maithili, which starts off as a coy moment but slowly takes a semi-erotic turn with her taking the lead, takes us back to that scene on the terrace with Prem serenading Suman (Bhagyashree) in Maine Pyar Kiya’s Mere rang mein, as she changes from bridal wear to bling bedsheet. What makes this Prem even more attractive? White shirt to black vest… Prem hasn’t looked better. Or dare we say, younger?

PREM TO PREM: HIS TOP 6

Maine Pyar Kiya:
Salman’s big debut had him play the ideal son, friend and lover, the man who could romance with as much intensity as he could land a few punches. That shot of him in the driveway, with his arms held out wide as Bhagyashree runs into them, made every girl want to be romanced. By Prem.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!:
Five years later, Prem was back in a Barjatya film, yet again as the honest and heart-warming friend and lover, brother and devar. The Prem moment for us? When he picks up Madhuri Dixit’s Nisha and lovingly places her on the bonnet of his jeep in Pehla pehla pyaar hai.

Andaz Apna Apna:
“Jab tum Prem se milogi toh Prem ke prem mein prem deewani ho jaogi… meri premika.” Salman’s Prem in this cult comedy was so much goofy fun, giving us some priceless moments with Aamir Khan’s Amar. From his signature “Ooima” to that stomach upset scene… we loved.

Biwi No 1:
As the philandering husband who turns into a family man at the end, Salman had a blast playing Prem in this David Dhawan film, giving us a hero we rooted for despite ourselves.

Partner:
“Date doctor” Prem was a riot in David Dhawan’s take on Hitch, managing to give us some great chemistry with Govinda.

Ready:
This was ROFL Prem who was willing to pull out all the stops to marry the girl he loved. That last scene where the sherwani flies off his back, showing us those fab abs… wow!

The Salman-Barjatya partnership has been one strong and long one. Even when he hasn’t featured in some of their films, Salman has been a consistent part of the Barjatya fold, even advising Sooraj on script and casting. How has this team fared through the four films they’ve done together? t2 takes stock....

Maine Pyar Kiya (1989)

Script: The story of a poor little rich boy falling in love with the daughter of a small-time mechanic and defying the world to make her his own, struck a chord with many a lover and lover-to-be. MPK balanced family and romance well enough to be liked by a wide spectrum of the audience.

Romance: Dealing with two debutants, Barjatya made sure that even the gawky moments in the Prem-Suman romance had a we-too look and feel. And Prem the lover — breaking down rocks to singing Dil deewana — became every girl’s most-wanted boyfriend.

Emotional Quotient (EQ): For his first film, Salman managed the emotional scenes well, though Barjatya did well to leave the heavy-duty drama to Alok Nath and Reema Lagoo.

Family Quotient (FQ): Released when Bollywood was going through an action phase, MPK — on the strength of its heart-warming songs and scenes — pulled in the family audience, all of whom walked in for a favourite… the Antakshari scene to the Kabootar song.    

Comedy: Laxmikant Berde’s Manohar took care of the comic scenes, but even Salman showed that he had the gift of comic timing.

Music: Aate jaate to Aaja shaam hone aayi, Barjatya pick Raam-Laxman pulled out a winner of an album, with the MPK OST being a firm favourite even close to 30 years later.

Heroine: One-film wonder Bhagyashree was okay as the girl-next-door, but Salman deserved a better leading lady on debut.

Salman: That sexy body to those striking looks, Salman made a splash in his first film as lead, giving us a hero that everyone loved. A star was born.

Hum Aapke Hain Koun..! (1994)

Script: A glitzy remake of their own Nadiya Ke Paar, this drama of, by and for the family packed quite a punch, its script — love and loss, sweetness and sacrifice — having something for everyone in the audience.

Romance: The Salman-Madhuri chemistry made sure that Prem and Nisha became an evergreen romantic couple, from that signature mock cough to the searing intensity in Pehla pehla pyaar hai.

EQ: We laughed when they laughed and cried when they cried. Even today, there’s rarely a dry eye when Renuka Shahane’s Pooja dies.

FQ: Song ’n’ dance to festive fervour, picnics to cricket matches… this was a family that did everything together, making families all over the country troop in for even a second or third watch.

Comedy: Laxmikant Berde’s Lallu was again the man who brought on the laughs, with Barjatya also relying on Bindu and Anupam Kher for the comic moments. We LOL-ed through some moments, but those jokes haven’t really aged well.

Music: Raam-Laxman notched up a total of 14 songs! No wonder the English stage adaptation was called Fourteen Songs, Two Weddings and a Funeral.

Heroine: Reigning queen Madhuri brought the spunky Nisha alive, making her sweet and sexy (that purple sari!) in equal measure. And yes, she got paid more than Salman did!

Salman: Showing a maturity not seen in his previous films, Salman excelled as the brother and devar. Our heart beat for him in parts, our heart went out to him in parts.

Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1997)

Script: A modern Ramayana, this multi-starrer was a bore when it released and finds negligible viewership in its TV reruns.

Romance: Salman’s shy Prem was a no-show in this department. The Saif-Karisma romance was goofy and the Mohnish-Tabu love story silent.

EQ: Trying to be a Hum Aapke Hain Koun…!, HSSH failed miserably, with even the mother-son emotional scenes failing to make us reach for our tissues.

FQ: Lots of songs, lots of family gatherings… when it came to appealing to the family, HSSH was all out there. We loved: The skit the whole clan puts up to welcome newly-wed Tabu into the family.

Comedy: Barjatya focused on teasing the tear duct, but forgot to tickle the funnybone.

Music: Raam-Laxman faltered this time, with no song — apart from the title track — making a mark.

Heroine: Sonali Bendre, cast opposite Salman, had precious little to do, with Tabu as the bhabhi stealing the spotlight.

Salman: After a string of over-the-top acts, Salman showed he could do simple well.

Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (2015)

Script: A royal backdrop, a fairy tale romance and switched identities…. Barjatya borrows generously from various films, but manages to leave his signature. Half-an-hour shorter and Prem Ratan… would have been a much better watch.

Romance: The chemistry may not be all that great, but that one scene where they turn it on… he teasing her back with a quill, she pulling him close, scores big.

EQ: The emotions between Salman and his siblings is vintage Barjatya.

FQ: “Har family mein problems hain… khushnaseeb hote hain jinke paas family hoti hai.” Family — fights to football match — is the focus of this film and Barjatya makes sure he doesn’t get his eye off target.

Comedy: Some great comic moments between Prem and Anupam Kher’s Diwan with Deepak Dobriyal bringing up the rear as Prem’s Man Friday Mansuri.

Music: Himesh Reshammiya steps in to score an inconsistent album, but the title — and its signature steps — are a rage.

Heroine: Just four when Maine Pyar Kiya released, Sonam Kapoor looks a little too young to be Salman’s leading lady, but matches him in physicality. The clothes are to die for, the acting not so much.

Salman: Stiff as Vijay, but super as Prem. The Prem we love.

Priyanka Roy
Which is your favourite Prem? Tell t2@abp.in