The superstar has mentored more than any other people in Bollywood
Subhash K Jha (DNA; September 5, 2015)

Sooraj Pancholi and Athiya Shetty are not the only newbies to be mentored by Salman Khan. The superstar has gone out of his way to support and promote young actors, and sometimes actresses. And musicians too. Some of them have gone on to become major stars. Others couldn't build on Advantage Salman. Here's a list of Salman's protégées who made it and who didn't.

Hrithik Roshan: Salman took a shine to Roshan Jr during the shooting of Rakesh Roshan's Karan Arjun. Saw a bright future in the youngster. Personally took photographs of him and gave it to key media persons and producers.

Inder Kumar: Then there is Inder Kumar. Salman saw huge potential in this young actor too. Inder not only hung around Salman's home (like all his protégés) he also played roles in Salman's home productions and Salman-starrers like Tumko Na Bhool Payenge and Wanted. However every Salman protégée cannot be a Hrithik Roshan.

Arjun Kapoor: Although Arjun was Salman's sister's ex, Salman never held the broken relationship against Arjun. He encouraged the flabby shapeless star-kid to lose weight and become a potential star.

Himesh Reshammiya: It's not just actors who owe their careers to Salman. Himesh was only a struggling composer in Bollywood until Salman's ears fell on the Gujju composer's catchy songs. Salman repeatedly used Himesh songs in his film and sang Himesh's songs on screen. Big boost.

Kamaal Khan: Oh oh jaane-a-jana.London based singer hung around Salman until the hit-and-run case. Not heard of Kamaal since then.

Pulkit Samrat: There are Salman proteges who are helped by the superstar. Then there is Pulkit, Salman's rakhi-sister's husband, who spends so much time with Salman that he has begun to look and behave like a pocket-sized version of Salman. Same to same.

Armaan Malik: Anu Malik's nephew has shot to stardom with the Hero theme song sung by Salman Khan.

Sonakshi Sinha: It's not just the guys who benefit from Salman's mentoring. Look at Sonakshi Sinha! Who knows what shape her career would have taken if Salman and Dabangg had not happened to her?

Daisy Shah: Not every female discovery of Salman is a Sonakshi. Jai Ho!

Vinay Virmani: After Sooraj Pancholi it's Toronto-based Vinay Virmani whom Salman will mentor into stardom. Salman is the co-producer of Vinay's Dr Cabbie.And he has big plans for the newcomer.

Subhash K Jha (DNA; April 22, 2015)


Says Vinay, “It was quite an evening, and one that I am not likely to forget for a very long time. Modiji was at his articulate best. He won over the hearts of the Canadians and the Indian community in Canada.” Incidentally, Prime Minister Modi took a shine to his jacket and commented on it. “Coming from a person who has impeccable taste in clothes, I was very flattered,” says Vinay. The actor admits he was honoured, pleased and flattered to represent Canada’s Indian community at the dinner for the Indian PM. “There are 1.2 million people of Indian origin in Canada. And Modiji was the first Indian Prime Minister in 42 years to pay Canada an official visit. So it was quite a historic occasion. To be invited by the Canadian PM to host the dinner, was a singular honour.”