Actors we'd like to see in these Hollywood remakes
Throughout the history of the Hindi film industry, filmmakers have unashamedly borrowed plots, screenplay, music, and even posters from the west. While some agree to the plagiarism, some insolently try covering-up by telling to the world they are 'inspired'.
Those exhibiting better sense purchase the remake rights and officially rejuvenate a film, often classics or those that have caught their fancy.
Ankur Pathak sprints down far into his imaginings, and picks 10 Hollywood films that should be re-created on celluloid with our Bollywood heroes. Read on:
Ranbir Kapoor, Imran Khan In Wedding Crashers
The ingeniously penned lines that the cleverly drawn characters John and Jeremy mouthed needed a strikingly powerful pair to justify the camaraderie. So Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson played a womanising duo, gate-crashing weddings to woo chic ladies, conveniently discarding the tentative liaison after they are done bedding them. The two characters were shamelessly amoral, and neither shared any room for anything as illogical as guilt.
Back home, the dishy Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan will be able to re-embody the same level of comradeship, more like a brotherly companionship, a teaser of which we were fortunate to see at an award ceremony. Unquestionable it is, what records the movie would break, and what trends it might set!
Only if this idea could be 'incepted' in the minds of some of our filmmakers.
Emraan Hashmi has always acknowledged his fascination to experiment with flawed and disturbed characters. It is also a fool-proof method for him to get out of being consistently typed as the serial-kisser. Hashmi, who has been successful whenever he has gone grey, could get under the skin of Teddy Danniels, a military guy who is so distressed, his psychotically damaged levels have reached insanity making him live in fictional-reality, which is partly self-created. The depth in the originality of the person Danniels was so plausibly extracted by Leonardo DiCaprio, it was disturbingly convincing. Emraan and his aloof persona quite suitably fits in to re-enact the heavy-duty performance. Now, we need a desi Scorsesee. It's his roughness, and raw uniqueness that qualifies Neil to play a blooming or a gloomy character -- from a dark horse, a depressed soul, a petty thief or best, an assassin. Imagine Neil, yes, a little uncertain, confidence starved, clueless about the scenario tagged alongside a Bollywood hottie, armed with everything the gadgets and the guns, hopping on a running train, sliding down under bridge. Neil's just the right man to carry off James McAvoy's Wesley Gibson, who arbitrarily is told that he is the son of a former assassin, and is trained so to continue the impending tasks. Yes, for that kick-ass companion, our ladies would create a riot! There have been suppositions about his uncanny alikeness to Hollywood star Tom Cruise. But don't mistake it to be the one factor why we'd like to see him as the inspirational sports agent. Majorly, it is the dialogue -- the non-stop yammer with an occasional pause, a tendency which we've more than often observed in Shahid's style, something he also shares with Tom Cruise, or wait -- Jerry Maguire. Maguire is an agent for sports-celebrities, who gets fired and suddenly loses his clients. His romantic inclinations aren't sorted, frustration is at its peak, and there are remote chances of fixing up things, i.e saadi to band baji padi hai. Somehow, Shahid resembles the partly chaotic-partly sorted Jerry Maguire, on a persistent lookout of something to cool his nerves down. He carries the rough sportiness with restrained sophistication, something that wraps up pretty much as Jerry. In Sam Mendez's Revolutionary Road, a married couple is seen coping up with the daily struggle of living. Frank Wheeler (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a disgruntled man at work, battling his innermost demons, along with high pitched dramatic tiffs back home with his wife (Kate Winslet). Salman might have blissfully indulged in the frolicsome entertainers, but a role like this would fetch him yet another breakthrough. Safely it could be assumed, if ever the movie is remade and the Bollywood actor agrees to play this part, it would be a role generations would be awed with. It's a performance Hrithik Roshan can devour in, and present his spectators with a source of warrantied amusement. It's a blockbuster franchisee, and the character sketched out is so resourceful, it gets increasingly difficult to figure out a film protagonist this memorable. The flamboyant rum-drinking pirate Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp), who banks heavily on his weapons of wit and manipulation, could be dramatically reincarnated by Roshan, who is charismatic enough to play the part. It is terrifically enthusing to picture Hrithik with the entire apparel, along with the cosmetic. He would be at ease with the accent too, and worth watching out for. So, enough of art-house dynamic drama for Roshan, which so far haven't confirmed their commercial feasibility, it is time to splash some on-beat strokes, and yes don a different hat. Papa Roshan, are you willing to take the voyage? We've seen him croon unabashedly to skimpily-clad heroines, subscribe to absurdity posing as comedy, and give us alarmingly loud performances, without any trace of logic or reasoning. Time to gain some reward points, Akki? Well, if this sensitive drama on a homosexual liaison is ever considered to be reconstructed, it would be awe-inspiring to see Akshay Kumar reprise the simple yet profound character of Ellis De Bar. It could be defined as Heath Ledger's masterstroke act and so it comes across as an exciting choice for Kumar, who can leave his comedy behind and take on a restrained role. David Fincher's fantasy film about a man who reverses in age had an unusual love story as well. Brad Pitt captured the core essence remarkably. Back home, the role would fit Shah Rukh Khan better than his super-hero costume. A task for SRK would be to attract attention solemnly unlike in MNIK fashion. Moreover, it is a part which directly attacks his capabilities, something that he enjoys, but also leaves room for him to mould himself distinctively and reach a new high. It's a remake desperate to be re-touched. And it would unquestionably ask for the perfection it deserves. Aamir Khan is an incontestable choice, to reprise the dreaded criminal Hannibal Lecter, for the stickler that he is. Though Anthony Hopkins registered himself in cinematic history with the phenomenal portrayal of the supremely intelligent psychiatrist turned psychotic mass murderer, Aamir is popular to pick up these rare unconventional parts and polish them with his uniqueness. His abilities would blend seamlessly with the enormous assignment the character has to offer. By just the visual of Aamir as a cannibalistic killer Hannibal Lecter, it lets pass chills across my bones.Emraan Hashmi in Shutter Island
Neil Nitin Mukesh in Wanted
Shahid Kapoor as Jerry Meguirre
Salman Khan in Revolutionary Road
Hrithik Roshan in Pirates of the Caribbean
Akshay Kumar in Brokeback Mountain
Shah Rukh Khan in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Aamir Khan in The Silence of the Lambs
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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