The rise of unheroic heroes may well be attributed to the current climate in the Hindi film industry, where every producer, distributor and exhibitor is driven by the numbers game, writes Derek Bose
We have had actors. And we have had stars. We have also had star-actors like Balraj Sahni, Sanjeev Kumar and Naseeruddin Shah. Others like Amitabh Bachchan and Saif Ali Khan could perhaps be called ‘acting-stars’, since they have already attained stardom and are only now concentrating seriously on their craft as actors. But what would you call such emerging talent as Vinay Pathak, Kay Kay Menon, Shreyas Talpade, Ranvir Shorey and Rajat Kapoor?
They are no doubt gifted artistes. But they have not been around long enough for audiences to gauge their versatility or histrionic strengths in adequate measure. Moreover, they do not possess the looks, charisma or the fan following most established stars enjoy. And yet, they are showing up unfailingly in every other Hindi film hitting the screen these days. More often than not, they are being cast in pivotal roles, playing characters whose ordinariness is easy to identify with and amazingly enough, have been pulling off one major hit after another. In fact, they have become the most visible faces of Bollywood cinema today.
Here are some such unlikely poster boys dominating the multiplex screens:
RANVIR SHOREY: This Jalandhar boy took the television route (as a veejay) to films, debuting with Ek Chhotisi Love Story ten years ago. That was when the multiplex boom began and slowly, but surely, he has worked his way up through potboilers like Jism, Pyar Ke Side Effects and Mixed Doubles. Recognition came with Bheja Fry, followed by Khosla Ka Ghosla and Traffic Signal. Today, Ranvir is known for his restrained acting, with a special knack for comedy, thanks to films as diverse as Mithya to Ugly Aur Pagli to Singh is Kiing to Dasvidaniya. Next up are big banners like Chandni Chowk to China, A Rectangular Love Story and Do Not Disturb.
VINAY PATHAK: He started out from Ranchi and arrived in Mumbai via acting school in New York. Initially, he had to combine theatre with television while making brief appearances in films like Deepa Mehta’s Fire (remember the guide at Taj Mahal?) and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam. As with old pal Ranvir Shorey, the big break came with Sagar Ballary’s Bheja Fry. And since then, audiences have been applauding him for his performance in Khosla Ka Ghosla, Johnny Gaddar, Mithya, Khoya Khoya Chand… and of late, in the self-produced Dasvidaniya. Watch out for him next in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Oh My God!
SHREYAS TALPADE: It took Farah Khan’s box-office smasher, Om Shanti Om for Shreyas to outgrow the image of a deaf mute that marked his debut in Nagesh Kukunoor’s Iqbal. A Mumbai boy, he has been around for quite some time doing Marathi soaps and performing at stage shows across Maharashtra. After Iqbal, he has been seen in some inconsequential films like Dor, Apna Sapna Money Money, Aggar, Dil Dosti, Bombay to Bangkok… As Pappu Master in Om Shanti Om, he found fame and fortune and has since consolidated his position with Golmaal Returns and Welcome to Sajjanpur. He is now producing Kaande Pohe, a Marathi film, besides acting in some important films like Aashayein, Click and Paying Guest.
PARVEEN DABBAS: A Delhi boy, Parveen went to acting school in New York before landing Dillagi in Bollywood, followed by Mira Nair’s Monsoon Wedding in 2000. Significantly, these two films set a pattern in his career, as he alternated between Bollywood and international productions. Over the years, he has built a rich body of work, ranging from The Perfect Husband and Muskaan to The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb, The Memsahib, Breaking News, Khosla Ka Ghosla and Via Darjeeling. Unlike his contemporaries, Parveen maintains a low profile and is known to be selective about the films he signs. He can be seen next in The Good Friday and Alibaug.
RAJAT KAPOOR: The 1961-born Kapoor is senior-most among the present clutch of actors and wears many hats ~ ramp model, writer, director, producer and television anchor. He used to do theatre as well before making his acting debut in Dil Chahta Hai in 2001. For the best part of his career, he has been part of a crowd (more like a ‘character artiste’) but with several important films to his credit ~ Monsoon Wedding, Kisna, Khoya Khoya Chand, Krazzy 4, Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na, Dasvidaniya… His next major starrers are Raat Gayi Baat Gayi (which he is producing) and A Rectangular Love Story (which he is directing).
IRFAN KHAN: A Jaipur boy, Irrfan earned a scholarship to learn acting with the National School of Drama, Delhi and thereafter, moved to Mumbai in 1987. Following an extended stint in television (Chanakya, Chandrakanta, Sara Jahan Hamara, Darr...), he moved into films with Ek Doctor Ki Maut and Such a Long Journey. Asif Kapadia’s award-winning The Warrior brought him international recognition and two years later, in 2003, he got to play the title role of Vishaal Bharadwaj’s Maqbool. From there, Irrfan has not looked back. In the past five years, his most notable films were Rog, Yun Hota To Kya Hota, The Mighty Heart, Life… In A Metro, The Namesake, Krazzy 4 and Mumbai Meri Jaan. Now look out for Billoo Barber, New York: I Love You and Bhopal Movie.
PURAB KOHLI: A model-turned-veejay-turned-actor, Purab had been floundering about playing insignificant roles in some equally inconsequential films like Bus Yuhin, Supari, Vastu Shastra and 13th Floor, till My Brother Nikhil came up and gave him a new lease of life. He caught Mahesh Bhatt’s fancy and did two films ~ Woh Lamhe and Awarapan ~ for him. Only now, following the success of Rock On! (in which he played “Killer KD”, the drummer) has Purab made it to the big league with several important projects like A Rectangular Love Story and Geeta In Paradise.
KAY KAY MENON: A management graduate from Pune University, Kay Kay is a rather late starter in films. He dabbled in advertising, theatre and television without success and eventually in 1995, packed his bags for Mumbai to play a religious fundamentalist in a badly made film, Naseem. Four years later, he shot into prominence with Bhopal Express. From then on it has been a meteoric rise ~ Hazaaron Khwaishein Aisi, Deewar, Sarkar, Corporate, Life… In a Metro, Mumbai Meri Jaan, Drona… He is now one of the busiest actors around. Watch out for Tera Kya Hoga Johnny, Stoneman and Gulal.
The rise of these unheroic heroes may well be attributed to the current climate in the Hindi film industry, where every producer, distributor and exhibitor is driven by the numbers game ~ seeking high returns on low investments in the quickest possible time. These boys fit perfectly in the scheme of things as they are competent and come cheap. Moreover, most of the established stars have either out-priced themselves or severely cut down on work. Effectively, this is another way for Bollywood to catch up with Hollywood, where, at any given time, there are not three or four top-ranking stars, but at least a dozen heavy weights calling the shots.
Comments