Dual roles back in B-town: One ticket, double mazaa

Bollywood's good old double role formula is back in vogue! Filmmakers are re-exploring the genre either with original scripts like "Rowdy Rathore", and "Bol Bachchan" or by remaking classics "Seeta Aur Geeta" and "Satte Pe Satta".

The success of Akshay Kumar's twin avatar in "Rowdy Rathore", which entered the Rs.100 crore (about $20 million) club within two weeks of its release, proves how the formula is still a hit.

"Double roles have been a classic and successful format in Hindi commercial cinema down the decades. In the last few years, probably because cinema has become more realistic and less fantastical, the number of movies with double roles had reduced. But they never really went out of fashion," said Siddharth Roy Kapur, managing director, Studios, Disney UTV.

"If the audience enjoys the contrast between the characters in each of the two roles, as was the case in 'Rowdy Rathore', it means they get full 'paisa vasool' - two Akshay Kumars for the ticket price of one," he told IANS.

Rohit Shetty's "Bol Bachchan" is said to be inspired by 1979 movie "Golmaal". In the comedy, Amol Palekar didn't have a double role, but his character changed get-ups. The forthcoming movie, set for release July 6, features Abhishek Bachchan creating double dhamaal.

The buzz is that filmmaker Anees Bazmee is set to give a triple bonanza by presenting Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor and Fardeen Khan in double roles in his comic caper "No Entry Mein Entry", a sequel to "No Entry".

Others who might be seen into double role include Katrina Kaif in "Seeta Aur Geeta" remake, Arjun Kapoor in "Aurangzeb", Saif Ali Khan in "Judwaa" sequel, Sanjay Dutt in "Satte Pe Satta" remake and Arjun Rampal in "Ajab Gajabb Love".

"Double role films work for a change. Shakti Samanta's 'China Town' (which had Shammi Kapoor in double role) was an apt example which later inspired 'Don' and now 'Rowdy Rathore' and a few others. Double role movies can conveniently be used in both, action as well as comedy films," said trade analyst Vinod Mirani.

Recently, actress Vidya Balan made her first attempt at a double avatar - a dream she could live thanks to an endorsement deal with a new range of snacks brand Aliva. "I was getting to play a double role. Only Sridevi and Hemaji (Hema Malini) have done it so far. I have always wanted to do a double role and we don't have double roles for some reason in films any more," Vidya had said.

In recent times, Shahid Kapoor carried off the double role well with "Kaminey".

The formula has been a winner in yesteryears. Be it Dev Anand in "Hum Dono", Dilip Kumar in "Ram Aur Shyam", Rajesh Khanna in "Aradhana", Rakhee in "Sharmilee", Hema Malini in "Seeta Aur Geeta", Amitabh Bachchan in "Don" and "Satte Pe Satta", Sridevi in "Chaalbaaz", Anil Kapoor in "Kishen Kanhaiya", Salman Khan in "Judwaa", Kajol in "Dushman" and Shah Rukh Khan in "Don" and "Duplicate"-most of Bollywood's top stars have been there and done the double dhamaal!

-Radhika Bhirani