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More
on the great Bollywood divide
The Shahrukh Khan and Amitabh Bachchan rivalry has gained
so much notoriety that even the western media has dubbed it "A
tale of warring dynasties". This rivalry isn't only between
the two stars though; it has permeated the entire industry, dividing
Bollywood into two definitive camps. The Khan camp has, well,
most of the Khans including Salman and Saif, the Roshans and the
Mukerjis whereas the Bachchan camp has some of the Kapoors, some
of the influential directors and politically, BJP.
By Annie
Yousuf
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| Shahrukh |
Work
must go on and like true professionals, the two stars are still working
together in strategic projects. Rumour has it that the Shahrukh and
Amitabh will be appearing together with Abhishek in Shahrukh's Om
Shanti Om. In addition to that, Shahrukh has been signed on to do
an item number in Jhoom Barabar Jhoom, which is essentially an Abhishek
movie. However, there are also rumours that Amitabh has asked for
the script of Bhoothnath to be reworked to minimize Shahrukh's cameo
appearance.
It
seems that the two actors are playing the media smartly; strategically
choosing when and where to bring their rivalry to the forefront. Another
recent example of this strategic rivalry is the international stage
shows that the two have lined up for the upcoming year. The Bachchan
clan will be touring USA, Europe, and the Middle
East with a show called 'Tour One Amazing Night' in mid-2008, while
Shahrukh has a sequel to his highly successful 'Temptations' tour
lined up for USA, UK, and Canada in April 2008.
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It seems
like too much of a coincidence to have two major Bollywood stage shows
lined up so close to each other. Instep takes a closer look to see
which one of the two is actually the smarter player.
He won us over in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jaengay, he wowed us in Kabhi
Khushi Kabhi Ghum, and he brought us to tears in Kal Ho Naa Ho. Shahrukh
Khan is on a crusade to win over the world!
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| Strengthening
ties: Of late, Shahrukh has strengthened his ties with the rest of
the Khan's in Bollywood and he has also got Hrithik Roshan in his
boat (remember, Hrithik was Abhishek's best friend once upon a time,
before he was left out of his buddy's wedding list). The group dubbed
the "Bandra Boys" has been reported to be dining, dancing,
and spending quite a bit of time together. With the popularity ratings
of Saif, Salman, Aaamir and Hrithik rising everyday, Shahrukh has
been smart to bond with them. |
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Going public:
At a launch in Doha earlier this month, SRK warmed up to an audience
displaying his signature down-to-earth demeanour. While Big B shies
away from the media's intrusion to his personal life, SRK told the
audience comprising of journalists to "ask any question, you
want, personal or professional," and he answered all queries
thrown at him in his inimitable style. Bollywood fans in Doha were
also lucky to witness a rare emotional moment when SRK choked up when
a journalist thanked him for praying for his daughter, for a speedy
recovery, several years ago.
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Touching
people's hearts: SRK was also the next Bollywood
star, after Amitabh Bachchan and his bahu to be waxed at Madame
Tussaud's and when he flew to London
for the unveiling of the replica, he touched the heart of a young
female fan on a wheelchair who had come to London from France, simply
to catch a glimpse of him. The woman's wheelchair lost balance in
the crowd and she fell over, only to be helped up by Shahrukh himself.
He spoke to her and planted a kiss on her forehead; exuding strength
and giving the woman a memory which made her feel special.
On
the growth path: While his movie career grew, so did his TV career.
He successfully replaced Amitabh as the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati,
giving a boost to the shows ratings by bringing in a host of celebrities,
all in the span of one season. The episode aired during the Bachchan
wedding, featuring Kareena Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Salman Khan
and Katrina Kaif only served to strengthen the audience's inclination
towards the King Khan.
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| Amitabh |
Big B has
been the reigning King of Bollywood for over three decades and has
won the hearts of thousands of fans. To this day he has the ability
to give any actor a run for his money. The question is, can he give
SRK a run too?
Strengthening the Bachchan brand: The Bachchan brand has been strengthened,
especially now with the recent Abhi-Ash wedding. Amitabh, Jaya, Abhishek,
and now Aishwarya Bachchan are a formidable force in the Indian movie
industry, however it cannot compare to the SRK camp, especially now
with the Khan's and Hrithik joining forces.
Despite
the fact that the industry is divided between the two stars' camps,
there are also those individuals who have chosen not to take sides
and work with both, like Karan Johar, Preity Zinta, Kajol, Rani Mukherjee,
and Sanjay Dutt.
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| Keeping
private: The Abhiwarya wedding was a shock to fans and media the world
over. Bollywood fans everywhere were ecstatic to hear of the wedding
between Abhishek and Aishwarya and needless to say, everyone was anxious
to be a part of the wedding, even if that meant watching it on television.
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Unfortunately, Amitabh
failed to recognize this enthusiasm and not only deprived Bollywood
fans from being a part of the wedding but also colleagues and friends
by making an exclusive 100-something guest list which left out noticeable
stars. In addition to that, not only were extreme measures taken
to ensure that everyone was kept out of the wedding (tight security
and the beating up of journalists!), Amitabh, immediately after
the wedding defended his actions claiming his right to privacy.
While we respect that right, we also feel that as a personification
of everyone's dreams, the Bollywood couple should have been married
under the adoring gazes of Bollywood fans. The isolation truly annoyed
people all over the world and led to an eventual diminished interest
in the couple's honeymoon plans and life thereafter. On the other
hand, Shahrukh's bare-all attitude sends vibes of warmth to his
fans.
Choice of Roles: Amitabh Bachchan proved himself to be a versatile
actor when he reinvented himself in Mohabbatein, changing himself
from an aging hero to a father figure. But while Amitabh is diversifying
himself by taking on projects like Nishabd, Cheeni Kum and Sexy
Sam in Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna, audiences are a bit uncomfortable
seeing the icon in controversial roles. In contrast, Shahrukh has
maintained that he will not work in films that he cannot show to
his children. (While KANK is not exactly child material, SRK has
always publicly condemned his character)
Role model behaviour: In the build up to the wedding and in the
aftermath, the Senior Bachchan propagated superstitious beliefs
to millions of Indians by first marrying Aishwarya to a tree to
ward of the "manglik curse" and then visiting Tirupati,
donating 51 lakh rupees to seek blessings of the gods. Critics believed
there were many other charities more deserving.
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