The highly anticipated trailer for Baby John, starring Varun Dhawan, dropped yesterday, revealing the actor in a never-before-seen action hero avatar. While the film, directed by Atlee, is gearing up for a Christmas release, it’s the surprise cameo of Salman Khan that was expected to steal the show. However, to everyone’s surprise, the audience’s reaction has been far from ecstatic.
Salman Khan, known for his iconic presence, makes a brief appearance in the trailer, and it’s clear from the moment his eyes appear, that it’s him. But here’s the catch: fans are unimpressed. A surprise Salman cameo, once a surefire way to break the internet, seems to have lost its magic. The thrill of a surprise reveal is now diminished, with fans expressing their disappointment over the trailer giving away too much too soon. Comments like “Surprise cameo-reveals it before release-expects audience to get surprised in theatres” and “Why is he in the movie? If he is, why isn’t it a surprise?” highlight the sentiment.
This decision to reveal the cameo before the movie’s release has sparked a debate on the current state of movie marketing, with some fans feeling that the industry is increasingly relying on star power and cameos to hype up films rather than focusing on strong storytelling. One user even noted, “Vijay was already an established superstar when he did the original one, Theri. It’s sad that Atlee has to depend on cameos to sell the remake.”
While Salman’s loyal fanbase continues to celebrate his presence in the film, with some calling him ‘Sal-Man’ for his box office dominance, the marketing strategy seems to have backfired, leaving some fans questioning whether Baby John can hold its own without leaning on cameos. In contrast, Shah Rukh Khan shared his support for the film, praising Varun’s new persona and wishing the team success.
With Baby John set to face high expectations, the question remains: will audiences flock to theaters for Varun Dhawan’s action-packed performance, or is it all about the cameo?