Bollywood vs. Hollywood (Related to IIFA)

The International Indian Film Academy awards are being billed as Bollywood's Oscars. That is a point of contention — India's older, established Filmfare Awards and the National Film Awards both claim that title.

But judged on star power alone, theIIFA awards gala, coming to the Rogers Centre on Saturday, has nearly enough wattage to rival Hollywood's Academy Awards. Or at least, perhaps, the Golden Globes.

For those of us unfamiliar with the celebrity talent who will walk the red carpet on Saturday — they rank among the world's most recognizable faces — here is a guide to a few of Bollywood's beautiful visitors and their Hollywood equivalents.

Shah Rukh Khan, 45. If you spot this guy and he's not being mobbed, shout out for him to quit smoking. That should get the attention of Bollywood's highest-paid actor. Butting out has been a struggle for him, but he rests easy with the title of "King Khan," a play on his name — shah is king — and on his status in the industry. His stature is so high, he is single-handedly ramping up the star wattage at this year's awards. The man with the arresting onscreen persona began his film career in the early 1990s, breaking the formulaic good-guy protagonist by being a villain in his films (Baazigar, Darr). He is one of a handful who have risen in the industry without any family in showbiz. Shameless one-upmanship over rivals is part of his charm.

Hollywood counterpart: Given the resemblance of his Don: The Chase Begins Again to the Mission Impossible series, and given the oft-swirling gay rumours, he has long held the title of Bollywood's Tom Cruise. But he has not engaged in sofa-jumping antics or pontificated on the use of vitamins to cure depression. So we think it more accurate to call him Bollywood's Brad Pitt.

Anil Kapoor, 51: After this weekend, you're likely to next see this guy next in Mission: Impossible 4 with Tom Cruise — which was being filmed earlier this month in Vancouver masquerading as Bangalore. Kapoor's evolution as an actor began long before his roles in Slumdog Millionaire and 24 Hours. He was a memorable superhero as Mr India in the '80s (by Shekhar Kapur, the guy who made Elizabeth I and II). He has played lead roles in a variety of movies, too many to list, since 1979. In the late 1980s, when Bollywood seemed to be floundering with poor scripts and no mega stars on the horizon, he steadied the ship by consistently churning out hits. And guess what, he's looked the same forever. Plastic surgery? Reportedly, five of them over the years.

Hollywood counterpart: His quiet personality, well-established status and the longevity of his career gets him the title of Bollywood's Harrison Ford.

Saif Ali Khan, 41. When he first surfaced in Bollywood in the '90s, he came with an aggravating spoiled, rich-boy attitude of self-entitlement. To be fair, this guy is actual nobility, heir apparent to the title of Nawab (ruler) of Pataudi. His father — and his father before him — was also captain of the Indian cricket team. His actress mother (coming to T.O.) is from the top-notch literary lineage of Bengal's Tagore family. As for this Khan, after some initial success in films, he was forgotten until he surprised critics as co-star of Dil Chahta Hai, a film about youth, in 2001. From that comeback role arose multiple lead roles typically in hip, urban, rom-coms. He broke out of that typecasting with brilliant performances in 2006 in Omkara, an adaptation of Othello, and Being Cyrus, about dysfunctional relationships. With these villainous roles, he demonstrated acting skill that put him in the big leagues. He owns such a wicked wit that he's said to often incorporate funny lines of his own into his roles. It's not surprising then that he's in town to emcee the IIFA Rocks fashion and music show on Friday.

Hollywood counterpart: The eye candy appeal, diversity of career and still-growing profile gives this man the best potential as Bollywood's Leonardo DiCaprio.

Priyanka Chopra, 28: A model and actress, she gained international attention with the Miss World title in 2000. Considering her earlier career duds, you could have been forgiven for dismissing her as a has-been. But Chopra — once linked with Hollywood hottie Gerard Butler — wasn't about to fade out of the limelight quickly. She taught herself how to act, then earned some serious cred with movies such as the comicMujhse Shaadi Karogi and Don: The Chase Begins Again. Since then, this buddy of Shah Rukh Khan has established herself as a serious thespian, winning best actress awards for the film Fashion. She now commands top rupee in Bollywood.

Hollywood counterpart: With her dominating screen presence, her appetite for action roles, and her trademark pout, she is Bollywood's Angelina Jolie.

Preity Zinta, 36: Zinta is best known to Canadians for playing the true life story of an abused woman in Deepa Mehta's Heaven on Earth. That Genie-nominated role also won her the best actress award at the Chicago International Film Festival. Zinta, reported to be a party girl, is often described with the one adjective she says she hates: "bubbly." She does not conform to female stereotypes in her acting career, shies away from submissive roles, once writing against abuse of women in a BBC online column. She also became the first female owner of a cricket team. She went on to win a bravery award for testifying against Mumbai's underworld — and sticking to her testimony — in a criminal case against a producer. Whether her testimony helped nail the bad guys remains unclear.

Hollywood counterpart: Her ability to dance with abandon and the trademark smile could make her Bollywood's Cameron Diaz. But her charitable work, outspokenness and sustained celebrity makes for a slightly younger Sandra Bullock.

Hema Malini, 62: Chalk one up to nostalgia. The evergreen Hema Malini is today seen on more TV screens in Toronto than in Mumbai. For immigrants who came to Canada in the 1970s, she remains a "dream girl," a title that stuck after a film by that name. She proved to be the gorgeous and gutsy girl from the South Indian city of Madras (now Chennai) who managed to break through the North Indian stronghold of Bollywood and become the leading female star of her time. She also takes the crown for being scandalous without creating a scandal. She married a married man — Dharmendra, a lead actor in the '70s — and she did it with such quiet dignity that it didn't dent her reputation. Needless to say, his reputation was never threatened. They both reportedly converted to Islam, which allows polygamy, to enable them to be married. The happy family — she, he, his sons, their daughter — will be at the IIFAs.

Hollywood counterpart: She and her Hollywood incarnation were born in the mid 1940s, began their film careers around 1970, and broke prevailing social norms. One does not wear "revealing" clothes in public. The other was famous for not disrobing for a nude scene in a Broadway play. Meet Diane Keaton.

Torstar News Service

Credit: https://www.thespec.com/news/article/551717--bollywood-vs-hollywood