They say success is a result of both hard work and fate, as you can only get something after the right time comes. However, whenever it comes to the dance with destiny, everyone likes to give it an extra push with some lucky charms. Now, some call it faith, some call it superstition, but one has to agree that belief in certain charms, rituals, and mascots sometimes makes dreams come true. Even when it comes to Bollywood celebrities, many have unique beliefs that they credit for their success. Today, let’s dive into the fascinating stories of Bollywood’s strange obsession with lucky charms, mascots, and more.
Salman Khan: The Firoza Bracelet
The ‘Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan’ star Salman Khan is one of the most popular celebrities in the industry. However, if there’s someone or something that can beat him in the game of popularity, it has to be his turquoise bracelet. It might have started as a style statement, but today is part of Salman Khan’s identity.
He has been seen wearing it for decades, and for him, it is his ultimate lucky charm. Once, back in 201, when at a party Salman unfortunately lost the bracelet only for a brief time, it led to a frantic search. Sources close to him found it hard to explain the expressions on Salman’s face when he realized that he didn’t have his lucky charm with him. Fortunately, soon enough the bracelet was found at the bottom of the bottom of swimming pool, and then the relief on Salman’s face was worth a million bucks.
Karan Johar: The “Falling” Heroines
Karan Johar, the man who has given Indian cinema some of the most loved romantic films, dramedies, rom-coms, and more has an unusual belief. According to him, if an actress injures herself while shooting, it is a sure shot sign of success. To back this belief of the filmmaker, there are BTS tales of Kajol, Preity Zinta, and Alia Bhatt. Everyone knows that Alia Bhatt fractured her ankle bone while shooting the song ‘Kukkad Kamaal Ka’ from her debut film ‘Student Of The Year.’ Despite the injury, Alia continued to shoot without break and the rest is history.
Rohit Shetty and Mohit Suri: Goa
For some filmmakers certain locations are lucky. They have to shoot a sequence, a split-second scene, or a song at their lucky location no matter what. And you will be surprised to know that for two Bollywood renowned filmmakers Rohit Shetty and Mohit Suri, Goa is their lucky location.
“Rohit Shetty has confessed it on multiple occasions that Goa is luck for him. For every project, he makes sure to shoot at the INOX location – the old building where the film festival is held. It is a must for him. Then there’s Konkan village as well,” shares line producer Shiva Naik.
Examples of Rohit’s love and faith in the land of Goa can be seen in his various projects- be it his comedy series ‘Golmal’ or his cop film ‘Singham.’
This location in Goa is now famous as Singham Point:
Coming to Mohit Suri, for him the “the Church shot is a must,” shares Shiva Naik.
In 2020, Mohit Suri’s two movies came out – ‘Dil Bechara’ and ‘Malang.’ The former was the last movie of late star Sushant Singh Rajput; alongside him, Sanjana Sanghi was the female lead. The latter starred Aditya Roy Kapur and Disha Patani in the lead. In ‘Dil Bechara’ Mohit Suri shot at St. George’s Church and St. Joseph Catholic Church, while ‘Malang’ had several shots of different Goa churches.
Shah Rukh Khan: The number 555
The Badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan, is known for his charismatic presence and charming personality that can make any woman irrespective of her age fall for him instantly. However, what a lot of people don’t know about the ‘Jawan’ star is his unwavering belief in the number ‘555.’ From his own wheels to his on-screen cars, the number 555 is always present. For instance, in the movie ‘Chennai Express,’ if you look closely, his bike’s license plate featured ‘555’. According to the ‘Pathan’ star, the respective number is his key to success and good fortune.
The Kapoor Family: The Magic of Number 8
On several occasions, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt have spoken about their love for number 8. The ‘Barfi’ fame actor confessed that his obsession or love for the number 8 has no superstitious reason, it is the birth date of his mother Neetu Kapoor (8th July) and thus, it is just lucky for him. The actor also mentioned that he was more than elated to know that just like him Alia Bhatt also has a fascination for the respective number.
Number 8 can be seen in various things around Ranbir Kapoor. For instance, the jersey of his football team displays the number 8, and the license plate of his car adds up to the same digit. The same was the case for Rishi Kapoor’s car plate.
As for Alia, the actress showed the importance of number 8 during her wedding. As she made the wedding post live, she shared 8 heartwarming pictures. The digit 8 was in the design of her kaleeras in the form of the infinity symbol, and the same was present in her mehendi as well.
A different perspective
Above are a few examples of where there are prominent signs of certain beliefs, but for many other stars in the industry, success can’t be determined by any lucky charm or mascot. Several believe that the universe provides everything on its own time and your decisions, your instincts, and the voice from your gut play a major role in defining your destiny. For instance, the ‘3 Idiot,’ ‘Laal Singh Chadha’ while reflecting on the topic of Bollywood, superstition, and success said all she believes is in the voice of her heart. “I just listen to my heart, follow my instincts, and work relentlessly. But I also take time to meditate, allowing myself the clarity to align my actions with my true purpose,” she shared.
Is all this a reflection of Indian culture?
Certain beliefs are imprinted in India’s cultural fabric. Traditions, rituals, gemstones, numerology, planetary transitions, and beliefs hold great significance in Indian culture. It can be said that Bollywood, being a microcosm of the country, mirrors these cultural nuances.
At the same time, one can not deny the fact that all these beliefs, whether rooted in tradition, faith, or personal experiences, highlight the human need for comfort and assurance in an unpredictable world. Bollywood is a world of creativity and imagination that runs on high stakes, every Friday is like the big result day for filmmakers, amid all the stress these beliefs might not assure success but do offer comfort.