The Golmaal in Multi-starrers

The Golmaal in Multi-starrers • Nothing Familial about It • Trophy Project

That Ajay Devgn felt shortchanged by director Prakash Jha over his role in Raajneeti last year became evident when he didn’t show up for the film’s success party. You could hardly blame him either. What started out as a strong central role was ultimately reduced to a supporting part in the film, which seemed to focus more on younger, more saleable stars like Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Arjun Rampal.

Yet, Devgn duly signed Jha’s next film Arakshan, another multi-starrer featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Prateik Babbar and Deepika Padukone. But only days before the film’s announcement last week, Devgn pulled out. He’s also walked out of Rajkumar Santoshi’s ambitious Power, which had only recently been announced with Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt and himself.

Sources close to the actor say he has decided not to appear in films with other prominent stars, for fear of ultimately discovering that his role has been chopped. Devgn has reportedly made a resolution to appear in multi-hero projects only if the other actors are not as high profile as he is, or if he’s producing the film himself or has control of the project.

Encouraged by the success of the Golmaal franchise, Devgn apparently wants to concentrate on modestly budgeted comedies that could yield big revenues. It might appear to be good business sense, but could it be the beginning of the end of a once-fearless actor who delivered solid performances in dramatic films by directors like Santoshi and Jha?

From all accounts, it appears that Band Baaja Baaraat’s Ranveer Singh may well be the newest first-generation leading man to have arrived in Bollywood since Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and John Abraham. Perhaps, it’s a little premature to credit him with that much clout, but when was the last time a rank newcomer with no filmi connections carried a film on his shoulders like Ranveer has?

The industry is understandably excited. Reportedly, the debutant is swamped with movie offers. More producers are likely to stick their necks out and attempt to make films with newcomers. But how many will put their money where their mouth is, and bet on a complete outsider? Over the next three years, at least six male newcomers are expected to be launched. These include Varun Dhawan (son of director David Dhawan), Arjun Kapoor (son of producer Boney Kapoor), Saakshi Khanna (son of Vinod Khanna), Tiger Shroff (son of Jackie Shroff), Karan Deol (son of Sunny Deol), and Rinzing Denzongpa (son of Danny Denzongpa).

Some of these boys will inevitably show promise. Like Ranbir Kapoor, Prateik Babbar and Abhay Deol have. But these are just a few that break the clutter. Every other Friday we’re subjected to yet another privileged star-kid clunking his way through some idiot’s hard-earned Rs 20 crore. One look at Luv Sinha (son of Shatrughan Sinha), Adhyayan Suman (son of Shekhar Suman), Mimoh Chakraborty (son of Mithun Chakraborty), Jackyy Bhagnani (son of producer Vashu Bhagnani) and Harman Baweja (son of producer-director Harry Baweja), and you could tell they weren’t cut out to be actors. And yet, every single one of them gets a second chance.

Then again, this is Bollywood, where Abhishek Bachchan has managed to notch up only 10 hits out of 34 major releases, in a career spanning 11 years!

He’s unquestionably one of the best actors working in Hindi films currently, but he’s had a terrible year! This 30-something star who appeared in two big-budget turkeys in 2010, is reportedly so insecure about where his career is going, he decided to do some damage control. That included putting out a full-page advertisement of tweets and SMSes he received recently praising him for his performance in his last dud.

The actor is also rumoured to have embarked on a mission to snag a trophy or two this awards season. Insiders say he has not only promised to attend all major award ceremonies, but has also agreed to perform at one show, thus ingratiating himself with the organisers whose television ratings will surely receive a boost. Unlikely then that they won’t be thinking of him favourably when they decide on the awards. The actor also recently participated in cover shoots for two film rags that host popular award shows. Bring out the trophies, because that’s the way the cookie crumbles in Bollywood!

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Rajeev Masand

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