Magic of intensity
A loveable ‘Archie,’ dimples for those freckles, is what Shah Rukh Khan is to the Indian film industry. The ‘man with the face of a king,’ who remains one of Bollywood’s most bankable stars, celebrated his 38th birthday this week
ONE of the Hindi film industry’s all-time hits, the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, was little more in content than an Archie’s Digest. Khan was the loveable comic book hero, Archie, caught between two damsels.
Khan continues to play Archie. And it just works.
Which explains the success of such mundane flicks as Chalte Chalte, one of the handful hits this year.
Which could also be one reason why a period film like Ashoka, which showcased a different Shah Rukh Khan, failed to excite audiences. Oh yes, the film wasn’t that great either.
But then, how many of Khan’s super-hits have been monumental? Path-breaking? In a 13-year-career of some 49 films, hasn’t the Shah Rukh quotient been rather a straight line of sympathy-craving anti-heroes, and sugar-coated romancers?
The audiences admire his sincerity and bubbling energy, but give them Shah “Archie” Khan any day.
The Time magazine might have felt that Aamir Khan is the real “rebellious Khan” of modern Hindi cinema so what if this chocolate-faced Khan seldom rebelled on-screen. Fans feel there are only two super-stars in Bollywood: One, the mighty, invincible, Amitabh Bachchan. And two: Shah Rukh Khan.
Unlike the two other Khan super-stars (there are countless Khan star-lings) — Aamir and Salman — fame came to Shah Rukh through sheer talent. The sugar-coated “Rajs” portrayed by the actor might not linger on in memory; his Fauji role stays on. He has achieved the unthinkable: He graduated from television to cinema. And he did it in style. Not having the support of raring to go launch pads of uncles and family friends, Khan made a back-door entry to cinema, if you may.
He asked the audiences to hate him first. And then when they loved him, they decided to give him a wide berth. As long as Shah Rukh remained the boisterous, cheerful, go-happy-lucky, unpretentious, erring ordinary boy-next-door, what if he kills or kisses girls, they admired him for his sincerity to his work.
Unlike many of his peers, he didn’t step in to fit any time-honoured slot. He wasn’t in Bollywood to fit in the garlands of adulation created for the Big B. He wasn’t going to be the gharam Dharam. Some said he stood close to Dileep Kumar. And he went to ape the thespian. The audience continued clapping.
Loved by a multi-cultural audience, Shah Rukh is the delight of the NRI crowd. His star value has boosted the fortunes of such mediocre films as Hum Tumhare Hai Sanam keeping it on the Top 10 in the UK, even as it was panned in India.
What is the magic of this actor? What prompts the Indian film industry to tie-down over Rs1 billion on this actor, who wears a titanium disc on his spine? Despite they being mediocre, how come some of his films go on to become top grossers? And why do his films, despite being re-runs, rake in more moolah than the day’s releases?
Plain luck? The sure-fire end-result of hard work?
But then why do films that he pins much hope on fail to enthuse the box-office?
That is probably the unexplained enigma of the actor. The rapid-talking actor conveys a feeling of such intense sincerity even when he does a pathetic Duplicate or a soul-less Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, people give the actor the due respect.
They don’t mock him when he underscores “I am the best,” because at some sublime level, they know he is not lying. He is trying to be the best. He is bettering his best. And as far as Shah Rukh the actor goes, he indeed is at his best.
Actors can better their roles if their productions are re-made. Not Shah Rukh. He has delivered his best. And that is it. There never can be a better Devdas from Shah Rukh, there never can be a better Raj of his most recent Chalte Chalte from the actor; and there never can be a better enacting of Ashoka from the “King Khan.”
He is always at his best.
The audiences agree.
The industry awaits his releases: Soon to hit the silver screen are the Karan Johar production, Kal Ho Na Ho, and Farha Khan’s maiden venture, Main Hoon Na.
Nothing pathbreaking in either of them. Shah Rukh is just being the “Archie.”
That should work.
