Meet the managers-secretaries of our superstars
BOMBAY TIMES (February 20, 2013)
There's a joke that asks, 'Who is more important than the Pope?' And the answer is — the Pope's driver. Why? It's because the driver is the one who takes the Pontiff around. Likewise in Bollywood, there are driving forces behind our superstars, each with a distinct personality trait. While these traits are sometimes borrowed from the star, sometimes the people behind have their own individual characteristics.
In this context, a keen trade observer says, "One thing is clear, stars are constantly judged. With the constant media and public glare on them, they need to put their best foot forward, no matter what. Here's where the face behind them, or shall we say, the force behind them comes in handy."
Without much ado, we come to some of the names that are associated with the stars and what they are all about.
Amitabh Bachchan Rosy Singh
Always polite, never familiar. Her sentences start with a 'namaskar' and end with a 'thank you'.
Salman Khan Reshma Shetty
The best name there is in the business. Super efficient, super sensitive and a super gal.
Shah Rukh Khan Pooja Dadlani
She was hired to make communication with the Bollywood Badshah easier. But from the limited experience one has had, she's harder to get through to than even the man who has hired her.
Aamir Khan Advait
Young, energetic, friendly and can match Aamir's enthusiasm in conversations with the media, if required. Like his boss, he can disappear into oblivion too.
Akshay Kumar Zenobia
Efficient only when her boss wants her to be, otherwise incommunicado. In short, she treats you exactly the way she knows her boss wants you to be treated.
Hrithik Roshan Tanuja Mehra
As spaced out as the star. Very sweet on certain days, lost on many occasions.
Saif Ali Khan Nazia Ali
Courteous, almost like a wallflower. Unflappable. Knows how to treat Saif's visitors and yet maintains a definite distance.
Katrina Kaif Sandhya Ramachandran
Warm, efficient, engages you in a nice conversation because Kat can be very uncommunicative unless she's in the mood or you have the privilege of knowing her well.
Kareena Kapoor Khan Poonam Damania
Correct and caring, just like the actress.
Sonakshi Sinha Bhakti Nihalani
Courteous at the beginning of the meeting. Insists on sitting through it. Uncaring once the meeting ends.
Shahid Kapoor Shanti
Polite and professional. Cannot take decisions for Shahid, so in a sense, she cannot improve his public profile.
Anushka Sharma Ritika
No distinct personality trait, but fairly efficient with routine communication.
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