Bollywood’s new faces - An article

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Bollywood's new faces

Shubhra Gupta

Imran Khan's days of being confused with the legendary cricketer are over. Or being introduced on TV talk shows as superstar Aamir Khan's nephew.

After last Friday, he may only be addressed as Jai aka Rats. That's what he's called in his debut film Jaane Tu.. Ya Jaane Na, which cleverly targets the segment that determines the box office health of a film these day s — the college-going guy and gal, or the just-out-of-it young adult.

The Jaane Tu.. gang is a whole lot like young college gangs everywhere: in and out of each others' homes and thoughts, engaging in constant confessionals, exchanging platonic palaver, till at least a couple of them realise they are actually sweethearts who want to live the rest of their life together. First-time director Abbas Tyrewala scores high by keeping it all credible, and within character: despite the film's few flaws — too long, tiresome flashback devices — it keeps you with it.

But the real star of the film, apart from Tyrewala's acute ear for dialogue (he probably speaks the same lingo as his young cast does), and A. R. Rahman's zingy score, is the fresh-faced Imran. He comes across as likeable but not dying to please, confident but not smug: he looks as if he could, and this is the ultimate test of an actor, very well be a Jai aka Rats. Imran is not the only first timer trying for stardom.

The year 2008 is turning out to be the year of the debutant. Last Friday was the clash of two young 'ans: Imran and Harman.

Love story 2050

The latter starred in Love Story 2050, a 'prem kahani' set 42 years in the future, in which Mumbai has apartments floating on the sea and cars flying the air. It was produced and directed by dad Harry Baweja, at an estimated Rs 60 crore, with the second half brimming with expensive special effects.

A mad scientist, a time machine and star-crossed lovers: Love Story 2050 had potential and a personable lead actor, but was sadly let down by the overblown script and the dated feel of the movie.

Harman Baweja, who looks like Hrithik Roshan's doppelganger (they'd win hands down in a look-alike contest), didn't appear new because his father, a filmmaker of the old school for whom sheer spectacle is more than half the battle won, didn't use novelty in his movie.

Poor Harman is made to woo a pretty-but-inspid Sana in the first half, and a red-haired Zeisha post interval, both played by Priyanka Chopra, rumoured to be his girlfriend in real life. But she does neither the film nor herself any favours, and that's sad because she is an actor who's capable of so much more.

The movie looks like it's tanked (at the time of writing, it's only been four days in theatres). But, such is the hunger in Bollywood for pedigreed youngsters that Harman's future projects, with A-list directors and actors, are already in the news. We also know that Imran's next will be Kidnap, a gritty action drama, completely different from his first film.

And that's because, at the moment, Hindi cinema is experiencing a huge dearth of new faces who possess spark. The Khans and the Roshans are all booked till 2010, working on their own home productions or with corporate houses who believe in locking dates far in advance. Aamir started the trend of working on one film at a time (his current hair-style for Ghajini graced all the photo-ops at the public appearances connected with Jaane Tu ..; the film is expected only in December). Hrithik followed suit, and now all the big stars worth their Bentleys are busy chanting the one film-at-a-time mantra. Even if Harman's first film didn't hit the jackpot, he knows he will be looked after.

The 'it' factor

It's all got to do with who you are and where you are coming from. Sikander Kher, son of Anupam and Kirron, who's also just made his first appearance in the flop Woodstock Villa and followed that with another film, Summer 2007, which barely lasted for a week, knows the advantages of lineage.

He also knows, like any other newcomer, that you need to have a certain 'it' factor for you to connect with the audiences.

And Sikander, one of the chosen few, has 'it'. He also stands out from the crowd of conventional, clean-faced heroes that Bollywood worships: it's a mark of how Hindi cinema is changing that Sikander is being considered for the hero rather than the villain. His films have flopped. He hasn't.

But there's always that one outsider who's first movie does well enough to create hope for a lasting innings.

Last month's Aamir, helmed by first-time director Rajkumar Gupta and starring debutant Rajeev Khandelwal, has been successful enough for producers UTV to put it on their winning list.

It's about a liberal Muslim doctor and a crisis of faith, set against the backdrop of a Mumbai — filthy, crowded bylanes and shanties, shot with a handheld camera — rarely seen in the movies.

Khandelwal's come from TV. And is not from a film family. Yet he's made an impression. And he has ambition and luck on his side. Remember a certain Shah Rukh Khan? He took a similar route, right to the top.

Link:

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2008/07/11/stories/ 2008071150130400.htm

Originally posted by: koolchick

except for rajeev....all of them have relatives in the industry...how abt we have some new faces that dont belong in the industry? they'd prolly be much better actors than these 😆