Serious thoughts cross my mind as I listen to some of the most devout admirers of Dr. Amitabh Bachchan who have stood by him through thick and thin during all the thirty-six years and more that he has been around and ruling supreme.
These "Bhakts" of the Bachchan are anxious about some roles Bachchan has played in some films in the past and two films which he has agreed to play now, one complete and one in the making, 'Nishabd' and 'Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay'. They very strongly feel that Bachchan should not have agreed to play the philanderer. The ageing man with a strong weakness for women in "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna". They genuinely and sincerely feel that the role did not suit his age and certainly not the grace, the dignity and the status which he has earned for himself. Now they are upset and are wondering why their icon is playing the elderly man madly in love with a nymphet in Ram Gopal Varma's "Nishabd" and shocked with his decision to play Gabbar Singh in "Ram Gopal Varma Ke Sholay" which RGV time and again claims to be his tribute to Ramesh Sippy's all-time classic, "Sholay". Some of them refuse to see their icon trying his time-tested talent in playing a variety of roles to prove his caliber as a complete actor. Some others go to the unimaginable extent of blaming Ram Gopal Varma for slowly but certainly damaging the image of the greatest icon of all times.
One woman in her early fifties, a school teacher, even grows unreasonable and illogical when she blames Varma for carrying on "a one-man wicked crusade" to destroy the man of a million dreams, first with "Sarkar" and now with "Nishabd" and "Ram Gopal Ke Sholay". She says "Ramuji" was playing with the innocent ambition of "the actor among all actors". Even as Dr. Bachchan is completing his shooting as Gabbar Singh and waiting for the release of "Nishabd", I give you some of their views and they are not views coming from the illiterate of the much-under-rated "janata". Besides the school teacher, I have two doctors, a house wife and a twenty-two year old young woman doing her final year in law. Listen to them, they have a voice and they want their voice to be heard.
Dr. Nachar is a practicing family doctor in Ghatkopar. He is so crazy about "Bachchanji" as he calls him that he has his dispensary plastered with hundreds of photographs of "Bachchanji". The doctor sometimes prescribes an Amitabh Bachchan film to his patients and buys tickets for those who cannot afford to. Says Dr. Nachar, "I have never dared to question Bachchanji whom I consider to be an avatar of God. But some of his recent roles are giving me sleepless nights. Where was the need for him to play Sam in "KANK" and now as if that was not enough he has fallen into the wild trap of Ram Gopal Varma by agreeing to play Gabbar Singh and the old man in love with a girl less than one-fourth of his age in "Nishabd" which I am told is based on "Lolita" which is a very dirty book which I have read. I have always told my patients that "Bachchanji" is the modern day "Mahapurush". What will i tell them now?”
Dr. Vinod Thakkar who lived in
Mrs. Charu Kanani was a fan of the Bachchan when she was nineteen. She confesses she was in love with him then. She is a mother in law and a grand mother now but her affection for her hero only grows stronger. She keeps in touch with all that happens in Bachchan's life as an actor and also his real life and keeps asking me endless questions about him every week. This time she has only one big question ' "Why is my Amitabh Bachchan doing all these dirty roles at this age? My children who have seen my madness for his now tell me how my great hero has gone mad in his old age by playing all kinds of roles, which can be played by any other actor but not by my Amitabh Bachchan. What do I tell my children when they make fun of me and my great hero?"
Says Sunita Sampai who is doing her degree in law. "Bachchan has been a part of our family. My grandparents loved him, my parents worshiped and he is my favourite actor. There are many young heroes today but I think there can be no one like Bachchan. But I cannot understand why he is experimenting with roles which I am sure will not appeal to his admirer and well wishers who have prayed for him."
These are just some of the many anxious voices about the new and bold steps taken by the actor of the millennium. I wonder what he has to say.
I have been an admirer of Big B’’s earlier works. Therefore as a former admirer of Big B, I find it very difficult to see his movies today. It is almost akin to seeing a lame horse struggle to cross over the finish line. It was one thing to see him be taken to an acting school by the likes of Dilip Kumar and SRK but today even ordinary side artist (as in Srakar) are slapping him around. It is difficult because you still remember Big B as that prized horse who could win some races easily.
I accept that Big B can choose however he wants his legacy to morph into. Nonetheless I find his hypocrisy very disgusting. On one hand he lobbied to ban a scene in Doom 2 in which his future daughter in law is kissed by Hritikh Roshan. Yet he is planning to dance to Kajra Re in live shows. Please tell me how is it OK to lust after one’s own daughter in law. When did that become acceptable in India? If Kajra Re is OK then should not the Kiss be allowed too?
looks like u r paid to write crap about Mr.Bachan and now his would be daughter in law Aishwarya….its such a shame tat you called her a modern day panchali…dont confuse journalism with illogical propaganda…for all I know u seemed to be a cheap link to the srk camp….whats ur business if she marries a peepal tree or a god…does it affect any of India,s many troubling issues….why not show respect and privacy to other,s private lives…are u 100% sure she has done it or u r also a slave to media gossips….and are u sure she is the only Indian who has done it….respect Mr.Bachan and Ms.Aishwarya for the accolades they have got for India….I bet they have taken India,s name far beyond your imagination…..wonder even if your immediate family recognise your existence…pathetic life that u r ..
It’’s amazing how people confuse a person’’s ”reel” life with their ”real” life. I personally am ecstatic that Amitabh is playing such characters…..new situations, new emotions……i dont think i can handle him playing another boring ol father…baabul was boring enough….i”d take a sam anyday. Nishabd is looking really interesting…….new terrirtory for AB… so cmon people…think out the box, be open minded……..!
This is stupidity and hypocrisy at its best. Stupidity as one does not understand what cinema is and is trying to judge an actors personal character or image based on the roles he plays. Hypocrisy as it is okay for some person to be a bad/negative character in a movie but it is not okay for one wonderful actor to be the same. You guys cannot make a difference between the potrayal of a character and a character.
It is every actors dream to play author backed roles in films made by good directors. Gabbar Singh happens to be the one of the best and famous characters ever created in Hindi film history. Similarly “sexy sam” and nishabd character seem like wonderful roles to me.
It is fortunate that at this juncture Amitabh need not worry so much about his “image” to please people like you, that we get to see him display his acting prowess in different characters.
Get over this image hangover and appreciate this wonderful genius at work.
I understand the point that you are making in this post and agree that Amitabh could have avoided the ”Sexy Sam” role in Kabhi Alvida”. However, you must respect and understand the fact that an actor must portray a character in a film, regardless of what is media image or status may be. Naturally, an actor should experiment with a variety of roles, surely without trying different roles, you cannot get across your talents. If Amitabh were to play it safe earlier in his career, then he would have done the same type of role and maybe we would not get to see his greatest performances. I”m making the point that you must take a risk, sometimes it pays off but sometimes it doesn”t. We have two choices, do we want Amitabh to be a part of ‘’safe projects” where he is father of the family and solves every problem. He could easily do this and get away with it because he is Amitabh Bachchan. But thats not what Amitabh Bachchan is all about, me and you know that. This man was born to be innovative..
wow….too much being asked and answer for….
Amitabh Bachchan is being creative as an actor, and in KANK, let’’s admit it, he was the only refreshing character. No man should stop being a creative and experimental actor just because of his “age”. Stop thinking like a 200 year old woman plz. Show some forward thinking and let people try new things.
money rules the world….with abhishek in the ”buy one get one free” package he has to do something. Lets face it no matter how the media portray Abhi as an ”actor” , he just can”t be one:) or may be the media are right, one does get to see abhi ”ACT”. So AB sr has to be the bread winner even if it is at the cost of becoming CHEAP…he was nothing but that in KANK.
what will he say…