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2007 saw a huge number of spectacular comebacks: from the hugely hyped return of Madhuri Dixit to the subtle and delightful one of Begum Para in Saawariya. Here's a look at some of the supremely talented actors who chose this year to make their reappearance on the bada parda.
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| The undisputed queen of Bollywood broke a million hearts when she gave up films to move to the US after marriage in 1999. In 2002, she did reappear with Devdas, and though Madhuri was immensely appreciated in the movie, it wasn't really a solo. She shared screen space with Aishwarya Rai, who played the meatier role of Paro. Then, after five years, in 2007, Madhuri made her first, spectacular comeback with Yash Raj Films' Aaja Nachle-a project written especially for her. Though it received mixed reviews and trade reports, the film is, reportedly, still going strong. Not the super hit blockbuster one would have expected Dixit to make her comeback with, but a great start, nevertheless. There are rumours that she has signed yet another Yash Raj film, though the news is yet to be confirmed. Looks like the actress with the blinding smile is back for good! |
| Dharmendra It's ironic, really. At a time when his children are pining for hits, papa Dharmendra has scored a hattrick this year. He starred as an ex-boxer in the family drama Apne with his real-life sons Sunny and Bobby Deol. The film opened very well, especially in the northern territories. Creatively, this was a fabulous comeback year for Dharam paaji. He played the love-struck man who audaciously elopes with his grey-haired girlfriend in Metro and shone as the sharp-as-a-needle gang boss in Johnny Gaddar. What's interesting is that in his returning year, garam Dharam has taken up unconventional roles and has chosen to break his typecast as an essentially mainstream, non-experimental star. |
| Vinod Khanna Vinod Khanna starred in many hits throughout the '70s and early '80s, including Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), Muqadar Ka Sikander (1978) and Qurbani (1980). The impossibly good-looking and charismatic actor became a follower of the spiritual teacher Osho and left films for eight years. After rejoining, he did several interesting films such as Dayavan (1988) and Chandni (1989). In 1999, he received a Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to cinema. He's now made his long-awaited comeback-on the small screen, though. Khanna is currently acting as the lead in the serial Mere Apne produced by Smriti Irani, which airs on the newly launched 9x channel. He plays the role of Kashi Nath opposite Irani. |
| Begum Para This one was a truly memorable homecoming. One that happened after 50 long years. Para did films like Shama, Mehdi, Pedro and Dada in the '40s, but was tired of being typecast as the amoral, liberated woman. She finally gave it all up after marrying Dilip Kumar's brother Nasir Khan. Beautiful and grace personified, 80-year-old Begum Para made a comeback with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya this year. She played the role of Nabila, Sakina's (Sonam Kapoor) overprotective grandmother who keeps her tied with a safety pin. A difficult role with touches of humour and pathos, Para's effortless performance won hearts all over again. |
| Manorama If Begum Para made a comeback after 50 years, Manorama did so after 18 years. The story is such: Water director Deepa Mehta could envision only Manorama as Madhumati, the corrupt head of the widows' ashram. She was a huge fan of Manorama's and remembered seeing her in a film called Dus Lakh when she was very little. Mehta asked Uma DaCunha, Water's casting director, to find Manorama. After a lot of effort, DaCunha tracked her down in a chawl, completely cut off from films. Who can forget Manorama's comic-villainy in films like Seeta Aur Geeta? And those who've seen Manorama as Madhumati in Water vouch for her spellbinding talent that has, thankfully, remained untarnished |
| Sarika Sarika has been in films ever since she was a child in the '60s. She then made her debut as leading lady, but gave up her career after marrying Kamal Hassan. A divorce later, Sarika came back and was seen in the embarrassingly dull five-minute role of a widow in Baabul last year. But this year rolled out the red carpet for this light-eyed actress. Sarika's performance in Parzania as the Zoroastrian woman who loses her child during the 2002 riots received critical acclaim. Then she played the uppity homemaker Sheetal in Bheja Fry, the surprise hit of the year. Manorama Six Feet Under, another hit, saw her play the pivotal role of Manorama. |
| Mithun Chakraborty After films like Jallad, Loha and Gunda in the late '90s, Mithun returned to Bollywood with Elaan, Lucky: No Time for Love (2005) and Chingaari (2006). However, his real comeback film, his first hit since his second innings, was Guru, released in early 2007. In Guru, one of this year's first successes, Mithun's portrayal of Manikdas Gupta, an upright and idealistic newspaper man, was highly appreciated and the industry welcomed the talented actor with open arms. Truly a deserving comeback for this star who, at one point, was considered Amitabh Bachchan's rival. |
| Juhi Chawla The typical Bollywood heroine of the '90s, Juhi Chawla gradually moved to more experimental cinema. In 2003, she was seen in Nagesh Kukunoor's Teen Deewarein and in Jhankaar Beats. 2005 saw her in a variety of small roles in films like Paheli and Home Delivery. But this year, she came back in a full-fledged role in Swami, where she played a middle-class housewife. She was also seen in the ambitious Salaam-E-Ishq opposite Anil Kapoor. Chawla will now be seen in Bhootnath in 2008 and plans on giving her time regularly to interesting cinema. In a recent interview with this writer, she said she also hoped to revive the production house she had formed with friends Aziz Mirza and Shah Rukh Khan. |
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