Salman Khan, peacocks and pigeons: The 90s soft-Bhai summer watchlist — featuring Maine Pyar Kiya

Once upon a time Salman Khan wasn’t Bhai.

Not the muscular, invincible, unflappable Bhai (brother), as he is called by his fans, who could destroy an entire army with his finger, but he was used to playing the ardent (and read often), rejected lover. You might remember a streak of films where Salman really did not get the girl, including Kuch Kuch Hota Hai or the mesmerising Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. Though to be fair in the latter, not getting the girl was the least of his problem, he had the slight issue of chattering to the skies, when depressed.

Nevertheless, there was a joy in watching Salman in the 90s, especially in Maine Pyar Kiya. Most of us millennials did grow up watching that film and a wary love of pigeons that seemed to emblem of love in this romantic tale, which also stars Bhagyashree. It was a trope Bollywood couldn’t get enough of: the poor girl landing in the rich, bratty boy’s mansion thanks to a twist of fate. They fall in love, but through a prolonged series of misunderstandings, songs…and many, many songs, the families might not so pleased with this little DIY fairytale that they’ve concocted for themselves. Toodles Suman, or so it seems.

Salman’s fiery Prem will never let that happen, and charges out to show her father that he is worthy of being his son-in-law. More songs, more Bollywood fighting, pigeons to the rescue, and it’s a happy ending. You know it, and you know why it’s a solid summer watch.

Another one, if you’re feeling particularly daring, is to try Hum Saath Saath Hain. Here, Salman switches gears entirely, and is quiet, reserved do-gooder, who loves his brothers deeply. He is in love with Sonali Bendre’s Preeti and they’re so shy that it takes an entire song of peacocks telling them to please confess. Plot twist: his mother isn’t thrilled about property matters involving the eldest son Vivek (Mohnish Bahl). Vivek and his wife (Tabu) leave. With no pigeons to guide Salman this time, he calls it quits with Preeti in a flame of sacrifice. But don’t worry—it’s just a 30-minute hiccup in a 3-hour saga.

If you’ve made it this far, reward yourself with reincarnation, melodrama, and Shah Rukh Khan punching fate in the face alongside Salman. Classic.