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Hero worship had remained the Bollywood schema for generations but the new age Industry flavor can flaunt a newer set up evolving. Though Superstar worshiping hasn’t declined so far, with Salman, SRK and Hrithik invariably smiling their way to the banks, the actresses are gradually converting into show-stealers over their male folks and with what ease. In the last few months, there have been multiple films in which the actress has turned into a crowd-puller more than the actor.
Koimoi on the eve of International Women’s Day lists out the films in which the actresses became the primary reason for the audiences to flock in to the theatres for films.
A full blown Madhuri show undoubtedly. The sequel of the sparkling Abhishek Chaubey film Ishqiya, Dedh Ishqiya was intriguing for Madhuri more than Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi’s camaraderie. The graceful tonality she got to the pronunciation of ‘Iftekhar’ to the heart wrenching ‘Lihaaf’ moment, when the end credits roll down, you can’t forget Madhuri’s mesmerizing work. Most who went for Dedh Ishqiya did so for Madhuri more than the value of its prequel and luckily the actress proved that she still has her fortes of grit and mettle intact!
Sidharth Malhotra is drop-dead gorgeous! But the reason why people went for Hasee Toh Phasee was probably Parineeti Chopra, whose energy is becoming a new niche in the industry. She is effortlessly bubbly and never does the actress miss the mark in blending perfectly well emotions and energy in her performance. In fact when Hasee Toh Phasee got over, everyone was in consensus with the fact that Parineeti outshone everyone and everything else.
Why would a film called Queen sell? A year back Kangana Ranaut was an insignificant actress, barely taken seriously. And then a few weeks short of another trivial release, an interview of the actress went viral. No one had known what she was really like before a seasoned journalist got her on the couch of her show and made her open up. Ranaut was ferocious, bold and strong enough to call a spade a spade. There were no starry airs about her but she was so self assured and grounded that ever since then everyone in my vicinity has been waiting for Queen. And after you watch it this weekend, and you positively must, you’ll know that she is the sole crowdpulling factor for the film. And not without a reason. I agree that the story is centered around her completely but only an actress of superlative caliber like Ranaut can manage the magnanimity of what she did with such ease.
Many would disagree on this but Vidya Balan was quite a crowdpulling element for the film. Though Farhan Akhtar became an overnight star after Bhaag Milkha Bhaag grossed 100 crores at the box office, in terms of prowess Balan commands greater persona. The character mutely transforms into a nag from a seductress and does it with such subtlety. Farhan’s laughs were memorable but Balan’s nagging stayed on and pulled repeat audiences too.
Director Soumik Sen banked solely on the chemistry of Madhuri and Juhi to attain box office success. Frankly, there was no other aid available to the debutant filmmaker except cashing in on Maduri’s bankable star value, pitting her against a contemporary in a highly competitive role and get heads turning for it. Infact, from someone who has watched the film, Sen fell back on his leading ladies to the extent of giving the film’s narrative and lucidity a miss. In Gulaab Gang, it’s the ladies who make it work with their repartee. Take that out and there is no film to watch.
A quasi-Konkani and English film, the reason why this film is even remotely heard of is because it is Deepika Padukone’s first release this year probably. With no other name having the starry weight of getting the audiences excited, it is Padukone’s much touted success from last year that comes handy in getting Finding Fanny Fernandez, its share of limelight. Given Homi Adjania’s filmmaking abilities, it is quite an affair to look out for but when to get the crowds coming, it will be the whiff of Padukone’s magical name and the new found success that will get it going.
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