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CINEMA:
ABHISHEK BACHCHAN
Missing
Magic
Though
box-office glory eludes the star son, in an industry where lineage is
everything, nobody's writing him off. Yet.
By Anupama
Chopra
 |
| Season
Of Setbacks |
It
isn't easy being Abhishek Bachchan. First, you have to contend with the
colossus-like shadow of an actor-father who was voted BBC's Star of the
Millennium and will soon be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussaud's. Second,
six months before your debut an unknown entity, Hrithik Roshan, makes
an astounding debut, even threatens the reigning superstar Shah Rukh Khan,
becomes the darling of the masses and raises the bar sky-high for newcomers.
Third, the media hypes your debut before a frame has even been seen. And,
perhaps the unkindest cut of all, your films flop.
This wasn't
part of the script. Abhishek-with his Amitabh-and-Jaya Bachchan lineage,
the backing of directors like J.P. Dutta and producers like Vashu Bhagnani,
and the full support of the media, was a star waiting to be born. The
industry had full faith that Abhishek's launch would be like that of a
rocket-up, up and up. As producer Ramesh Taurani put it, "Isko
to chalna hi hai (he has to do well)." But, as it often happens,
Bollywood proposes, box office disposes.
Refugee,
J.P. Dutta's well-crafted but confused Indo-Pakistani love story, opened
to full houses in June. The hype of Abhishek and Kareena Kapoor's debut,
combined with the clout Dutta commands post-Border, had audiences
flocking in. But the film, especially dry and meandering in the second
half, couldn't sustain. Collections started dipping from day four and
in the final tally it will just about break even. But despite the lukewarm
box office, Abhishek garnered positive reviews. He had screen presence,
expressive eyes and a gawky charm. He could act and hold his own against
stars like Sunil Shetty and Jackie Shroff. All he needed was a hit.
The industry
was hopeful that Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya (TJCG)-more hardcore masala
than Refugee-would do the trick. But TJCG, which released with
a high 304 prints worldwide, has come a cropper. According to Trade
Guide, TJCG showed 86.94 per cent collections in its first
week in Mumbai but recorded only 65.32 per cent collections in Delhi and
just 51 per cent in Bhopal. Producer Bhagnani insists he will more than
double his investment eventually but Film Information editor Komal
Nahta categorically states, "TJCG is a flop."
The film,
a remake of the Jennifer Aniston starrer Picture Perfect, was also panned
by the press. Abhishek's attempt to do the Uttar Pradesh-bhaiya act that
his father perfected, didn't go down well with either the critics or the
masses. "They haven't liked him in this film," says Trade Guide's
Taran Adarsh. "The audience wants to see Abhishek. Not a poor copy
of Amitabh." Dutta says that as Abhishek has Amitabh to compete with,
he must carve his own niche. "Otherwise, he will fall into a shadow
that is just too tall." Not surprisingly, a review in Mid-Day was
titled "Public ka jhadoo chal gaya (the public wields the
broom)."
Pg.
2
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