This thread reminds me of a long ago incident that happened to me in New York. We were a group of teens giggling and speaking in Hindi while walking down a street. We were stopped by an older gentleman who asked us if we were from India. He was originally from Russia and told us his entire family enjoyed watching Raj Kapoor movies both when they were in Russia and when they emigrated to the US. Across countries, continents and decades after his death, random strangers from different countries were able to have a conversation because of Raj Kapoor. That is superstardom to me.
Superstardom should not be handed to any Ram, Dev or Hari nor Rani, Devi or Harini as it seems to be currently. It has to earned through decades of work, in hundreds of films, through box office ups and downs.
It is laughable to consider Alia as a future superstar with just 2 films. Talk to me after she lasts 10 years and has a career that does not resemble that of an Abhishek or Imran (ie) that would have vanished without connections or last name.
In 10 years unless Bollywood miraculously has equal chances for women, DP, PC, Anushka, Kat Sonam et al would be where Kajol, Ash and Karishma are married or not, but definitely not on top.
Among the men, I see Ranbir where Amir Khan is and Ranveer where SRK is. Arjun could be Anil Kapoor. I don't see any of the others lasting 20 + years among the current lot of men let alone superstars.
Edited by meribaat - 11 years ago
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