Looks like we agree on one SK (Shashi Kapoor) and split on another! :) While I definitely agree with you that merit as an actor has little to do with off-screen activities, whether good or bad, I am just not a Salman fan.

Admittedly, I have a very hard time putting aside his bad behavior (in addition to the crimes you raise, let's not forget beating at least one former girlfriend). This sort of thing makes it difficult for me to accept your proposal that he has a good heart - consistently, anyway. I'll try to look around (I won't say "past") all that, though, because the point here is his acting.

Even when I think of him only in his performances, I don't at all get his appeal. I certainly don't think he's the worst actor out there, not by any means. But he just does nothing for me. My favorite Salman performances are Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, where his star power and smooth, shmoozy persona are used very effectively; Maine Pyar Kiya, where he brings a real sweetness to his role; and Jaan-e-Mann, where he convinced me that his character learned and grew. Jaan-e-Mann in particular is noteworthy because it's such a weird, quirky movie, and I think all of the people involved with it deserve some credit for trying an offbeat project. I thought Lucky was ridiculous (the biggest problems being the horrendous age gap between the romantic leads and at least one major leap of logic in the plot), and Kyonki is the only Bollywood movie I've ever turned off without finishing.

Side note 1: for some affectionate thoughts on Salman, see Sakshi Juneja's blog at http://sakshijuneja.com/blog/2007/08/24/goodbye-my-sallu/

Side note 2: my favorite Salman epithets are "relentlessly shirtless" (Amardeep Singh http://www.lehigh.edu/~amsp/2007/08/king-of-bollywood-shah-rukh-khan.html) and "the shirtless wonder" (Kamla Bhatt http://kamlabhattshow.com/blog/2007/08/24/superstars-behind-bars-salman-khan-in-jail-sanjay-dutt-walks-out-of-jail/), even if he does nothing to encourage the costume/wardrobe department of his films. :)

Thanks for your comments. I have to agree on his past antics which certainly stirred up a lot of controversies. But as a powerhouse of talent- tere naam is proof enough. As for kyunki, you should have watched the ending. I must admit that watching some bollywood movies with crazy songs and unecessary slapstick comedy can be putting off but there are some good salman khan movies that are memorable like " Hum dil de chuke sanam". You should watch it.

Oh, I forgot about Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. I like that movie very much, and I like it more each time I watch it. He's good in that, definitely.

I don't think he is a good actor and banned his movies all together because of his drunk driving incident. My wife and friends agree with me in regards to never paying to watch Salman Khan movies so as not to encourage him.

I always felt his acting was a bit artificial and not upto par with his peers like Amir Khan and Sharuk Khan. But again they are in a different league.

I liked salman in Andaz Apna Apna and Hum Apke Hain Kaun. Both Tere Naam and Kyunki are remakes of South Indian films. Tere Naam is a remake of Tamil film Sethu. Vikram who did Salmans role in the original was phenomenal.

Salman Khan is an absolute enigma. OK - I dont' know what to think abou this off-screen personality.....you hear stories of him abusing Ash in her relationship, then his threats to Veveik and SRK, then his black buck case, then he drinks and drives and runs over someone killing the person. And then you hear the lighter side, how he's so charming and how he always donates to charity and how he hands out money to people on the streets for their childrens' operations. I mean c'mon people, we just can't judge him unless we really know him. I dont' know what the heck to believe about this guy.

But putting his whole personality aside and looking at just his acting. The man is abysmal. C'mon - he has no acting talent whatsoever. His emotional scenes make you laugh and his comical scenes are so bad at times they make you cry. And what's up with his fake english accent? Who is he trying to fool? Alright I'll give you one thing - he does try out a lot of different films unlike SRK....but wouldn't you rather stick to one genre you're good at instead of getting into multiple genres you absolutely suck at?

Yeah, the Sallu of old (Andaaz Apna Apna, Khamoshi, Maine Pyar Kiya, Hum Aapke Hai Kaun) those days showed a promising actor. But man were we wrong. I still don't see what SLB sees in Salman. Or what Hollywood director Willard Carrol saw in him to cast him in Marigold. Face it, any decent critic will tell you the man simply cannot act.

Sorry if I burst your bubble. Tere Naam was probably his most decent performance in modern times...but even that was not upto par based on how powerful the script was and what it required the actor to express.

Aakash

I encountered Salman very early on in my excursions into Hindi movies - I saw Hum aapke hain koun...! very early on - and I loved him. He was so just so sweet, earnest, adorable. I didn't know anything about him or his off-screen controversies; I just found him dear.

That initial impression has stuck with me, so that I see a gentleness and a sweetness in his characters that I always find very appealing.

The offscreen stuff - I don't know, I guess those things might prevent someone from being my number one favorite, but not from enjoying him in movies. I understand why someone might react differently, though.

l really really like salman ,he is the best.

oh yes........................

hey!!! i m crazy abt salman...he is superb.,,, roCkiNn,,,SEXY...!!! he is too gud in acting...fm..hum Apke hAi kaun ...to partner....

Rahat: Salman, a talent with fire and looks that would melt .......

Hina: We all are crazy fan of yours, as I got married on 27th December and my baby, Sarah(6 months old) was also born on 27th December. My husband, Anas is one of the craziest and ardent fan of yours. I wish he gets an opportunity to meet you coz, u have a youngest fan in my house.

I don't like salman because of his bad behavior. I know he is one of the smartest actors of the bollywood