Hindi films and its reigning
heroes have never had it easy. Like the changing times, they have had to
constantly mould the language and expression of cinema to appeal to popular
taste. Very often though, actors have barely been able to explore their range
and ability to surprise us through their histrionics. Our superstars are namely
actors who have been able to survive decades of brewing old wine in a new
bottle, again and again and again. Take Salman Khan for instance- his films work
because people want him to perform rather than act- so there will be an equal
dose of humour, action, romance and dance- Salman style and all you got to do
is replace the title and heroine every time to make the film work! The crème de
la crème of our Hindi film industry has unfortunately succumbed to this trend-
be it Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan or Saif Ali Khan.
The trend of revising old hits
has meant lesser emphasis on originality and more riding on yesteryear glory
without justifying the purpose of it all. Right from RGV Ke Sholay to the new
Himmatwala- I am yet to see the point of repackaging the past. Only Farhan
Akhtar’s Don successfully took the previous film to a new tangent, making it
larger than life and uber stylish enough to forgive his attempt at a remake. Of
course, he also seems to have nullified the effort with a rather hapless
sequel- Don 2, just to milk the series for what it’s worth. Not much actually,
considering most people dismissed Shahrukh’s second attempt at recreating the
dark figure of the Don as a tedious exercise in self indulgence. So what makes
our heroes go for the tried and tested route every single time they sign up a
new film- is it only the fear of failure and loss of mass appeal? Which brings us to the question, “Is
veering from the norm a serious risk to an actor’s career in Bollywood?”
Thankfully, we have examples aplenty to prove this assumption wrong.
Irrfan Khan- From his appearance,
you might quickly mistake him to be a character actor but one look at the raw
intensity and earnestness this man brings to the screen and you know why he
manages to breathe life in to any role he plays. Look at what he did with
Maqbool or Paan Singh Tomar. A deserved National Award winning act by an actor
who can perhaps be the only successor to the legacy of cinema spurred by the
likes of Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri in today’s day and age. This man knows he
is in the industry for a cause and thank God for it!
Emraan Hashmi- Look closely and
Emraan has no distinct feature to be immensely distinguishable and guess what,
he can’t sing and dance around trees either! So what does this seemingly
unnoticeable gentleman do that gets him noticed every time? His earlier films
as a Bhatt camp protégé yielded hits galore thanks to his USP of an imperfect
man- delicious and intriguing because of his imperfections. It seemed like he
took pride in an ample display of grey shades in stead of all white or all
black. This smart positioning has led him to bag interesting roles one after
the other- my favourites are of course his potrayal of memorable characters in
Once Upon a Time in Mumbai, Shanghai and The Dirty Picture. This man makes them look that much
more real, bitter and earthy. You simply cannot take away the credibility he
offers to every film thanks to his uncanny charisma.
Abhay Deol- When I saw this man
in real life at a party during a film festival, he seemed too tall, lanky and
almost effeminate in his bearing. That was probably because he seemed so shy
and tacit and like the odd man out in his formal slim tie and black silk shirt
look where all of us were rather casually attired. Little did I know that this
man who stood out was actually poised to stand tall with his pick of films in
days ahead as well. From small films like Manorama Six Feet Under and Shanghai
to Oye Lucky Lucky Oye and even a more glamorous Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara, this
guy stands out as being particularly endearing. None of that typical Punjabi
dhamaal and cheesy dialogues will do for Abhay. Give him lots of meat in the
role and see him bite it off at his own pace, relishing every moment of being
different from the pack.
Aamir Khan- This man is the only
superstar who has managed to opt out of the rat race while still being a part
of it. He sets his own terms, creates his own mantra and sticks to it no matter
what. From the chocolate boy of films like Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak to the comic
tramp in Andaz Apna Apna, this man has tread all the miles that encompass
commercial cinema. He even packed in a mean punch as the vengeful lover in
Ghajini only to steal our hearts with the tender Taare Zameen Par. Trying to
find something in common in all his roles is like finding similarities in the
looks he sports with every film- don’t try it, you will be wasting your time.
John Abraham- Considering models
in acting don’t last for so long, John is something of an example of how great
looks, good marketing and smart business acumen can take a man far. His acting
may still be critiqued but the truth is, films are being made today keeping him
in mind, he is on the right track as a producer post the stupendous success of
Vicky Donor and the ladies simply cannot seem to get enough of him.
Arjun Rampal- Like model turned
actor John, one has to give it to Arjun for managing to hold his own in an
overcrowded sea of better qualified actors. His already married status
notwithstanding, this sizzling heartthrob has a sizeable reputation in the
industry and is being cast in roles he is able to make an impact in. All we can
say is Rock On.
Ranbir Kapoor- The most promising
young ‘star material’ in this bandwagon, this actor steals the show when it
comes to displaying a rare confidence to make his way into our hearts with his
choice of films. Never giving in to the temptation of repeating his act, this
RK scion has proved his mettle with an inimitable bank of good films in his
kitty- Rockstar, Barfi! and Wake Up Sid opposite an unlikely co star like
Konkona Sen at a time when even more bankable actors are choosing to go for
multi starrers and hot selling female costars. This man plays with fire and
seems to enjoy it. Can’t wait to see what Anurag Kashyap will do with this
talented star in Bombay Velvet.
Finally, I cannot end this piece
without mentioning two stalwarts who set box office ablaze in their halcyon
days and are now still sought after for their insatiable hunger and effortless panache for good roles no
matter how unconventional. Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor- looks like they
aren’t hanging up their boots anytime soon and that is music to the ears of
fans who still cannot seem to get enough of them. They’ve been there, done that
and are now excelling in fresh pastures- with new directors, multiplex audience
and zany scripts that stretch their limits. More veterans ought to show more
courage and take a page out of their book.
