Top Khan… the real Number One!
Ranjeeta
They are trend setters, the craze of the nation... They set pulses racing and cash registers ringing... Yes... this is Khan magic alive and kicking and hits amidst the wonderful trio of... Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh!
Cine Blitz gets top businessman Bharat Shah to put his finger on what makes them simply irresistible!
The idol of today pushes the hero of yesterday out of our memory, and will, in turn, be pushed out by his successor of tomorrow!
– Washington Irving
Noble words, yet very true… First, it was the golden trio of Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor who dominated the silver screen. Then came superstar Rajesh Khanna who swept the nation off its feet, only to be overthrown by an evil young man, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan.
Time and time again, the film industry has witnessed the birth of an idol who has created unprecedented hysteria…
Not so long ago, we were wondering who could possibly take the vacant throne when the screen registered the entrance of a chocolate-faced Aamir Khan with Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak. Overnight, he became the talk of the town, also because his debut film set the box office ablaze. After all, a touch of sensation last achieved by Rajesh Khanna! History had repeated itself. Girls swooned seeing their idol in the flesh and fan mail, written in blood, has been pouring in ever since.
Then, out of the blue, another sensation arrived, Salman Khan! Under the reliably hot banner of Rajshri Films, Salman easily carved a niche in the hearts of audiences. At that time, Indian cinema was undergoing a transformation. The video craze died a silent death and Maine Pyar Kiya gloriously drew audiences out of their drawing rooms and into the real big screen experience. Just when the Indian masses - the female population in particular - were busy comparing the charms of Aamir with Salman, the third Khan entered...
Shah Rukh Khan had already whetted the appetite by his appearance on the small screen. When this odd, cognac-eyed actor made his screen debut with Deewana, he created instant hysteria.
Today, the trio continues to rule. They conquer the top tiers, leaving their contemporaries far behind. The only competition they seem to have is between themselves!
This is the undisputed era of the Khans.
The huge film financier Bharat Shah, who has both personal and professional rapport with all three, was more than eager to analyse the various brands of Khan magic...
What is the reason behind Shah Rukh's astonishing success?
"From the very beginning, Shah Rukh has worked with good directors," explains Bharat Shah. "Nowadays, directors are the key to success. If you work with good directors right from the start, your career is made. Shah Rukh's films are almost all hits and that's why he is so popular."
What makes him tick?
"Shah Rukh has his feet firmly on the ground even after achieving so much. Success has not gone to his head. He also does not bully his producers or directors. He never cancels appointments, is very punctual and is far more professional compared to other artists. He takes his work seriously and does not interfere in other people's work like many other stars do. Clearly, anyone is lucky to have him!"
Shah Rukh has experimented with his roles and it has paid off. But is it advisable?
"Established stars generally do not choose negative roles. Shah Rukh, however, was very confident and he tested himself. In the current situation, no newbie will choose a negative role, possibly risking his career! In fact, no filmmaker today is prepared to take even newbies..."
When it comes to Salman, why does he evoke extreme reactions from people?
"A reserved person is generally only pleasant to people he likes. This is not just the case with Salman, but with everyone, including Aamir and Shah Rukh. If a person they don't know pesters them, they will definitely get irritated and can get rude. When stars are rude, they get criticised. It's not fair!
Salman is more reserved compared to Aamir and Shah Rukh. All three have different natures and you can't judge one or the other. Shah Rukh, on the other hand, has an advantage because someone who contacts easily is generally well-liked. His plus point is his friendly nature. People find Shah Rukh more approachable because he laughs and jokes around. With Aamir, I think it's his demeanour that works. He's a very well-mannered boy. Salman doesn't really reply to someone he doesn't know well. He's moody, but that's just how he is!"
Apparently, Salman is very bitter towards the industry crowd for the unfair treatment of his father after the Salim-Javed split...
"I am not aware of this, but if such a thing ever happens, it is not easy to forget. The scars, the bitterness remain. I see nothing wrong with Salman choosing not to work with certain people. His behaviour is justified. You would have to be a saint not to feel anger and pain."
Has he noticed any change in Salman since he started making films?
"Salman has not only become more popular after the success of Hum Aapke Hau Koun?, he has also improved amazingly in his acting. That's the advantage of working with good directors."
Will the black buck incident affect his popularity?
"I don't think so. After all, he is not involved in anything as drastic as the bombing! I don't think people should take this matter so seriously. There is a big difference between Sanjay Dutt's case and Salman's case. All that has been said and done, human life is more important than that of animals."
Regardless of the evidence, the industry still prefers to say that the whole shooting episode never happened...
"Salman himself has denied the whole thing! Many times innocent people have been sacrificed and he deserves the benefit of a doubt. Besides, Salman is very popular, he is in the top tier right now. The industry doesn't want to lose all that it has invested in him. Salman may or may not have committed a crime, but even if he has, he seems to be aware of his folly."
Then why doesn't he admit it?
"Admitting something is very difficult and it could get him into trouble. I don't think he committed a crime so serious that he should pay for it!"
The Jain order is pressuring the Barjatyas to ban the artists involved in this case...
"The Barjatyas belong to the Jain order which abhors non-vegetarian food. On the other hand, Salman's religion does not have so many taboos. Incidentally, this incident happened without the knowledge of the Barjatyas. Had they been there, the pressure would have been justified. The Barjatyas cannot be held responsible. How can they be expected to break professional ties? Today, 80% of the world's population eats non-vegetarian meals. Does that mean that if you are a vegetarian, you do not associate with non-vegetarians?"
Icons have a responsibility to their fans. Shouldn't they be a little careful about how they behave in public?
"They should be careful about how they behave in public because being a celebrity means everything is blown up. Their actions have far-reaching consequences. Stupid mistakes are sure to backfire. We're talking about mature people here, not children! It takes a long time to earn a name for yourself and even more hard work to carry it. One wrong move can ruin everything."
Salman's shirt-stripping seems to have been added to his appeal...
"Not really, because in Hum Aapke Hai Koun? he hadn't taken off anything!" quips Mr. Shah. "The younger generation seems to like him shirtless. It has become his trademark and it suits him. Salman has a good physique and personality, comparatively better than Aamir's," smiles the financier. "In fact, all three Khans are lacking in the physique department!
Today, Aamir would not be respected if he started doing what Salman does on screen. Besides, there is no doubt that Salman has better physique than the other two. If he likes to show off his muscles, what's the harm?"
Why does Aamir stick to his strategy of making only two films a year?
"Aamir is very selective about his projects. The reason for his two-film limit is that he throws himself into every project. To the extent that he even checks the publicity campaigns! The way Aamir operates, he cannot afford to do more. Shah Rukh and Salman prefer to finish their work and move on. They believe that the director takes good care of the film because it is his baby too. Aamir believes that no film of his should flop. He fears that his career could be affected by a film that does poorly because of some mistakes in some departments. Whatever, he is very happy doing fewer films. He would make a brilliant director if he ever gives up acting. Sometimes I am amazed by his intelligence and the advice he gives to top directors."
As far as talent goes, who among the three tops the list?
"Aamir tops the list as far as talent goes! Not only that, he is also a perfectionist! He will give repeat after repeat if he is unhappy with his performance, even on the small screen. Often the director forgets who is in charge!"
Bharat Shah is bankrolling Raj Kumar Santoshi's next film, which will bring Aamir and Shah Rukh together for the first time. He has also bankrolled Dil Se and Darr and Salman's Bandhan, Josh is next in the pipeline. By now he must know which of the three has more business consideration.
"If business acumen is assessed in a project, Aamir definitely tops the list. Otherwise Shah Rukh is very business savvy and shrewd. He knows he is a hard worker. He wants to work in the best films, with the best directors, even if it means two shifts a day. He has three releases in a year and I don't think anyone in the top lists can override that. Shah Rukh is definitely number 1 right now and he is making the most of it. By the way, it is very heartwarming that all three have a stable family life. It is because of Gauri that Shah Rukh only does two shifts, otherwise he would not be bothered to do three shifts a day!"
In whom does he see traces of Rajesh Khanna or Amitabh Bachchan?
"I think Shah Rukh is more like Amitabh Bachchan, whereas Aamir is more like Rajesh Khanna. Aamir is more of a lover boy, whereas Shah Rukh plays different kinds of roles, which Amitji did. Aamir tried to experiment with his roles, but it didn't work. People prefer him as the cute lover boy next door. After Hum Aapke Hai Koun?, Salman is also best suited for romantic roles. I have a strong feeling that neither Salman nor Aamir can do negative roles as wonderfully as Shah Rukh did. Amitji holds the record for arriving on the sets early. He is very punctual and disciplined. I find this quality in all three Khans, otherwise they wouldn't be so successful!"
Who has the best personality?
"Undoubtedly Salman. If you asked him, he would agree, but he probably wouldn't like to boast about it!"
Who is more jovial?
"Aamir loves to be fun and witty with people he is friends with, like Raj Kumar Santoshi. Salman's image of being rude is all wrong. Shah Rukh enjoys being a copycat and can imitate almost anyone. I am sure he imitates me just as well!"
If he had to assign an adjective to each Khan, what would it be?
"For Shah Rukh, it would be aggressive because he wants to stay ahead in the race. He always wants to be the best. What is important is that he does it all in the right spirit. Aamir, on the other hand, is very sensible and content. Salman is cooler. I am sure he sometimes thinks about the fact that he has never won an award, no matter how good his performance is. He is very carefree but that certainly does not mean that he takes his job lightly! I am sure he will break his losing streak and win an award."
Who is the reigning superstar?
"Without a doubt, Shah Rukh! He has a huge fan following in India and overseas."
What about the competition between Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman?
"It's healthy! There's no manipulation, no dirty games. Now that Raj Kumar Santoshi is doing a film with Shah Rukh and Aamir, the expectations are high. Rajji should make a film that leaves a lasting impression in people's minds."
With the success of Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, will Shah Rukh's market price go up?
"I don't think so. Shah Rukh always wanted to maintain a decent price but after everyone moved with their price, he was forced to adjust. He felt that people would misunderstand if he didn't and it might affect his image."
Is the amount of money demanded by film stars justified?
"No, it is not, but we have few artists and the demand is high. Producers and directors have no choice. Today, no producer has the capacity to make and sell a film on his own. The three Khans are the safest bet. Producers, directors, distributors and exhibitors, everyone is in the game for them. Filmmakers would rather wait to sign them than take a newbie. In a project with one of the Khans, the chances of losses are almost eliminated."
Who is your personal favourite?
"Without sounding diplomatic, I can say that I generally like all three. Each has their own charm. Nobody can beat Shah Rukh in negative roles, Salman leads as a romantic and Aamir in uplifting entertainment!"
Any advice he would like to give them?
"I think all three should do completely different films, like Satya. Kaun and China Gate, at least once a year. Nowadays, all films look the same. There is nothing new about them. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai is a good film, but it seems to be a mix of a few recent films."
How secure are Aamir, Salman and Shah Rukh's careers?
"They don't need to worry for at least the next five years because their dates are already booked. I'm sure the Khans won't let anyone get ahead of them until then!"