Actor Salman Khan’s appearance in Singham Again was shot just before the film’s release and attached to prints at the very end. The cameo marked the superstar’s entry in Rohit Shetty’s crime versewhich already has big stars like Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Tiger Shroff. The idea was to show the public that this universe is bigger than their imagination. But not every grand gesture ends up being impressive.

When you bring Salman Khan on board, your stakes rise. You have to justify his fame and invincible screen presence. He becomes both the meat and the power of your film, whether it’s a cameo, a special appearance, or a role in his own right. And Singham Again failed to justify what it actually stands for.

Imagine waiting for the entire film to end, just to see Salman in a static five-second film, still devoid of context or background. He simply stands on the outskirts of Singham’s cabin and says, “Swaagat Nahi Karoge Humara‘. Now, we understand that the makers probably only wanted to reveal that Salman has officially joined this cop couple, but what about the treatment he deserves on-screen as one of the rightful superstars of the century? Did the police side become bigger than his celebrity at that point? He is not a usual popular actor or someone who is famous for his stardom. He represents the masses and carries with him a 36-year megastar legacy.

Is it so difficult to take inspiration from his special appearances in films like Pathaan? In the Shah Rukh Khan starrer film, he jumped on a moving train in the middle of nowhere and took away all the applause and whistles for his memorable performance that saves the day. You convinced Salman to be a part of your film and half the job has been done. There are so many things we could have done to use our name and fame in Singham Again.

It was enough to give him time and more to play. Action, comedy, drama…mostly action, but they chose to make him stand still for a few seconds. The only action happening in this scene was Ajay Devgn turning his chair to see him.

Leaving the action, Salman’s appearances in Dhai Akshar Prem Ke and Saawariya seem more relevant and impressive than his small appearance in Singham Again today. Even when he doesn’t become the rowdy hero on screen – a truck driver in DAPK and a lost lover in Saawariya – he creates more noise and leaves a longer effect on the audience’s mind.

With Singham Again, it’s almost like they caught Salman and then stopped thinking about what’s next.

And all this happened in a cinematic universe known for crafting fabulous cameos: Ajay Devgn entering in Sooryavanshi or Akshay’s introduction in Singham Returns. Cameos in Rohit Shetty’s films made Bollywood history, but Salman’s cameos didn’t even seem celebratory, let alone gripping or historical. At best, it was a brief appearance. Oh, look! Salman as Chulbul Pandey…and then poof, it’s all gone before you can even blink.

There is no universe without bright stars, and when you find the brightest, it is your duty to make sure its shine never fades.