The REAL Himmatwalas!

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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.