From Dabangg 3 to Sher Khan: Status of Salman Khan's future projects

Despite the incessant criticism of the trailer and the song, the buzz around Race 3, starring Salman Khan, Bobby Deol and Jacqueline Fernandez, remains as strong as ever. Khan returns with another swaggering multi-starrer vehicle that promises a mix of action, entertainment, and ramps up his 'bhai' image. But even as he wraps up the promotions for the film, Khan has his plate full with multiple projects. 

At a recent interaction, Khan said, "The films happening are Bharat, Dabangg 3, Sher Khan, the dance film, Kick 2 – when the script is ready." 

Bharat

The first among those is Ali Abbas Zafar's epic Bharat. The film will see Khan transform from a young 20-year-old to a 90-year-old man, as he journeys alongside a newly independent India. Another multi-starrer, it marks the return of Priyanka Chopra to Hindi films, and will also star Tabu and Disha Patani in pivotal roles. 

However, make no doubt that it remains a film built around the myth of Salman Khan. The actor will kick off the first schedule of the film in July 2018. After Race 3 is released, Khan will go on the Da-Bangg tour before beginning work on Bharat.

Dabangg 3

Dabangg 3, produced by Arbaaz Khan, will be directed by Prabhu Deva. While the film has been in talks since 2015, it had to be pushed back due to another 'bhai' vehicle, Sultan (2016).

In March this year, the director had stated that the film was in its scripting stage and will have Khan and Sonakshi Sinha reprise their characters from the first two Dabangg films.

Dabangg 3 is set to be released on Eid in 2019. The film will reportedly be shot simultaneously with Zafar's Bharat. 

Dance film with Remo D'souza

The actor has also signed up for another dance film with Remo D'Souza. Tentatively titled, Dancing Dad, the film has been delayed since Khan's shoulder injury last year. The actor, earlier this week, confirmed in an interview with Mumbai Mirror, a tabloid, that he will be returning to shoot the film. 

"Remo and I were supposed to do another dance film last year but, unlike what he’d like to believe, everybody can’t dance, and I messed up my shoulder while training for the sequences. So that film was put on hold. Then, Race 3 came along. Now, this dance film is happening, and I will be training extensively for it," the actor was quoted as saying. The film is only expected to go on floors next year. 

Kick 2

This delay has put another sequel, Sajid Nadiadwala's Kick 2, on the backburner. Nadiadwala had announced the launch of the sequel to the 2016 hit in February 2018. The makers have also lined up Khan's Race 3 co-star, Jacqueline Fernandez as his leading lady. 

According to recent reports, the film is still in its scripting stage, and might take a while to go on floors. 

Khan also has his brother Sohail Khan's Sher Khan on the schedule list this year. Reportedly a period film, it will see Sohail return to direction after Freaky Ali (2016). 

Canned sequels

With so many projects lined up, it is natural that a few projects have disappeared from the actor's itinerary. Among these is a sequel to the popular Wanted (2009). The film proved to be a benchmark for Khan's career, and was seen as the first of the iconic films that launched him back into stardom in the last decade.

The film was reported to be helmed by Prabhu Deva, but the director seems to have his hands full with Dabangg 3, as a director, and the yet untitled 3D dance film, as an actor. But going by his recent statements, the Wanted sequel might have been canned for now. 

Another sequel that seems to have vanished is No Entry 2. Reports about the film gained credence back in May 2017, when producer Boney Kapoor was quoted saying, "I am going to meet Salman very soon and discuss the sequel. If he can’t do it then we will explore possibilities. We have a script ready so we will explore (other actors)." 

Incidentally, both Wanted 2 and No Entry 2 have Boney Kapoor as producer. With Kapoor now focussed on his daughter's upcoming debut, Dhadak, it is unlikely that the two projects will take off any time soon. 

Possible projects

The most unlikely statement was Khan's admission that he would be willing to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, provided 'he narrates a script'. "And a Sanjay Leela Bhansali film… when he comes and narrates it to me," he said at the end of his above statement. 

Khan and Bhansali have previously collaborated on Khamoshi: The Musical (1996) and Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam (1999). Interestingly, Khan was the original choice for Bhansali's Bajirao Mastani (2015). 

Back in December 2015, Bhansali had said in an interview with DNA, a daily, "I am dying to do a film with him. But the onus is on him and it all depends on him now." 

With Khan now returning the compliment, it remains to be seen if the filmmaker will respond. And if so, to which project. For now though, the star looks to be racing to an already packed schedule till 2019.