SRK vs. Big B debate is amusing. The latter is a has-been and the former on his way. Yet, the discussion happens and keeps recurring. Seriously, if there ever was and IS any danger to Khans’ kingship it’s from the super-dude Hrithik Roshan after his super-duper hits like Krish and Dhoom 2, which rival SRKS recent blockbusters. For reasons unknown to me - mostly political as they support rival parties vying for power in UP - SRK has decided to pick on Big B and his not-so-Big son Abhishek. Abhisheks greatest achievement so far has been getting hitched to one former Ms World. A Hollywood-reject, who more likely fell for his famous lastname, rather than his looks.
There was a time Mithunda was called’A poor mans Amitabh’. Now a days, it’s the otherway round - Big B is rich producers Mithunda. Big B can be seen on TV selling things from Pens, pencils to vests and underwear. It’s rumored that he even sold the coverage of his sons wedding to a TV channel for a hefty price. What happened to yesteryears Amitabh who seldom gave media interviews, who used to keep his private life off the public eyes?
The Heydays
Ratna(indian1969) has given a detailed description of his good old’Golden Days’. It was the days that anything BigB touched would turn into gold. A time that he gave Bollywood some of his best movies and biggest hits becoming a one-man movie industry. Son of noted Hindi poet Harivansh Rai Bachan, he quit a well-paying job to join the industry. His had to share screenspace with 6 more heroes in his debut’Saat Hindustani’. He had to bide his time acting in low-key roles till success finally beckoned with the watershed success of’Zanzeer’. Like DDLJ for SRK, Zanzeer was the movie that defined ABs career. He would play the’angry youngman Vijay’ in countless more movies, which brought him superstardom.
He also gave some really good performances in movies such as’Abhimaan’, ’Silsila’, ’Anand’, ’Chupke Chupke’ and’Sharabhi’. Most of them directed by legendary Hrishikesh Mukherjee, fondly referred to as Hrishida by the Bollywood movie industry. He played the role of a protagonist much different from his usual larger-than-life roles in other popular movies. Though not as successful as his mass-appeal stuff, they did establish him as an actor with potential who can do variegated roles.
Big Blunders
It’s common for non-Tamilians, especially Northies, to make fun of dark and stout South Indian heroes starting with Odori Maharaj Rajanikant; who despite his superstar status gets compared to a much lesser mortal Mithunda from Bollywood. Stuff like’Rajanikant stops bullets with bare hands’ are the usual staple of such discussions. During one of those occasional snipes in a popular forum, I read, a Tamilian counteracted it with the statement -’Hey. didn’t Amitabh bounce bullets away with his arm-guard in Shahenshah!’
BigB did act in lot of trash that tried to cash-in on his superstar status.’Mard’, ’Ganga Jamuna Saraswati’, ’Jadugar’, ’Toohfan’, ’Shehenshah’. and several more. Needless to say most of them bombed in the box-office, while others - though hits owing to his charisma - contributed to his fall from the numero uno position. His health problems owing to the accident on sets of’Coolie’, his dabbling in politics - contesting elections and getting entangled in scams - thereby tarnishing his image, which was followed by a temporary retirement of sorts created a vaccuum which waited for years to be filled by the current incumbent King Khan.
Badmash Budda
Intentional or not, that’s the image Big B has been cultivating of-late. Be it his lip-locks with Rani - young enough to be his daughter, or kisses with Jiah Khan - a girl his granddaughters age; or his on-screen admiration for Kiron Kher’s Chandigarh - whatever it means; or his dalliances with prostitutes.
It started with the washout movie’Boom’ which was a disaster. But that hasn’t stopped Big B from playing more of those’Sexy Sam’ roles, which have tremendously brought down his brand-value. Its’ rumored that besides his famous extra-marital fling with actress Rekha, Big B also used to have onenight stands with B-grade actresses. Supposedly thinking it’s true, Big B may not find anything wrong in the roles he chooses to act. However in the process he’s harming his reputation and position more than SRK ever could.
All said and done, we have had enough of you Amitabh. You’ve entertained us for decades now. If you can give us good stuff like’Sarkar’ you’re welcome to stay. However if you continue to do more’Sexy Sam’ KANK stuff, you better retire. As your pal RGV can tell you - Retire hona Bahut Zaroori hain, before you’re ignominiously shown the door.