I have never been a die-hard fan of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan but these days due to constant bombarding of his image everywhere I couldn't help but stop and think about him as person who seems to be everywhere. From posters on the back of BEST bus generating controversies over smoking of cigars to every advertisement on TV to KBC to every movie that comes in theater these days. India as a nation is breathing and living on Mr. Amitabh Bachchan these days!
The Bachchan family has become the First Family of Indian Cinema. The Kapoors are no longer visible with only Kareen Kapoor coming in newspapers for all the reasons except for her work! Whether it's a new movie or a new advertisement or it's the small screen. Mr. Amitabh Bachchan seems to be everywhere. So, at times I wonder what does this person has to attract all the attention and respect he gets.
Those who are die-hard fans of him and those who are not would know his life's story very well. All the magazines and news paper have made sure that we all know it, its another question whether we really are interested in it or not. He, started as a wanna be actor. The articles in magazines and newspapers have told that people didn't recognize him as an actor then. Everything was wrong about him, his height, and his voice. He even failed in an audition at the All India Radio! He had to struggle a lot. His first film 'Saat Hindustani' (1969) failed miserably, with Mr. Bachchan going almost unnoticed. It was his 13th film 'Zanzeer' which shot him to fame and we talk about 13 being unlucky!
Well, today everyone who wants to direct a HIT film wants Mr. Bachchan in it. He alone, its believed, can make or break a film. Films like Black proved that he is one of the finest actors in Indian cinema today but there are films where his presence was done to just pull the crowds like in "Kyun Hogaya Na". Then there is "Kaun Banega Crorepati" series. So many game shows came but none could surpass the popularity of KBC whether they promised more money or whether they had other celebrities like Anupam Kher and Manisha Koirala! There is a whole range of products for which Mr. Bachchan does the advertising. From soap bars to best clothing line to cold cream, he is everywhere. If you sit and watch TV for half an hour you would be able to count his presence more than the actors for which you are watching TV!
Can you imagine any other actor taking the place of Mr. Bachchan in Black or Anand or Agnipath? Why can't any other game show become as popular as KBC? Why can't we have a "Pappu Pass Hogaya" without Mr. Bachchan? When he was hospitalized recently, Mr. Bachchan occupied the front page of every leading newspaper for almost a week; they even gave his pulse and diet! Wasn't there any other news important enough to occupy the first page? Everyone was praying for his long life. The hospital was flooded with newsmen, well wishers and also by those who have their money running on Mr. Bachchan. I got a feeling that if (god forbid!) he had expired PM would have been forced to declare a National Holiday!!
What is it, which makes this person so popular for us Indians? Is it the feeling that a common person can also find a place among starts, which attracts everyone to him? Is it because he gives strength to the belief that "Its 50% hard work and 50% LUCK"? Is it because everyone lives his or her dreams through him? I am sure of one thing...the popularity of him has nothing to do with his acting skills. Why we have so many good actors like Nasruddin Shah, Om puri, Nana Patekar...etc. For him it's the Emotional Factor that no other actor could generate. It's only the Emotional Factor that makes him so big that he can pull off any movie or TV serial or any number of advertisement or a whole nation on his shoulder alone. I am sure it has to be this because I, myself couldn't address him without a 'Mr." prefix through out and come to think of it...he is just doing his job!
2 comments:
Hi,
To start with, I have been a great fan (not die hard) of AB since my childhood. Now, I am not one of those, who blindly follow someone or somethin. I have always had a habit of questioning the validity of process or people's act or even faith.
Kritika, to add to what you have written here, when he was h-palized, TV channels were showing people who have placed his image in their pooja ghar, equating him with the deities. Asking Mannat for him to get well soon.
If you look in base of all this, it has nothing to do with his acting skills. He had fallen badly, during his ABCL stint a few years back. He was the person who had fallen in eyes of everyone, was deep down with tax liabilities and today he has projects worth 250 croros waiting for him to get well. (Hope nothin happens to him or else Almighty save those producers). It has to do with his charisma, his strength onscreen and offscreen. You can correlate with him, in your low moments, in your elated days, in every instance of your lives. He is almost the most ideal version of the guy next door, to whom you can look for anything from just a casual company to your dire needs. He will be or seem to be there for you.
If you look at KBC, he is just phenomenonal. You correlate with what ever he does, the way he says DVITIYA to the way he dresses and addresses. He is the most ideal entity for Indians. He is the picture of "Indian".
What more beyond, he might be added only next to Mahatama Gandhi in making the ipact on Indians in past two centuaries.
Ashish
Well, I think its a great expression of thoughts. Irrespective of whether people find the AB omnipresence nice, irritating or unavoidable, I think what's important is the motivation he provides to one and all to work hard and EARN...money, fame, goodwill, blessings or just your bread.
Keep Posting.
Purabi
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