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115 Responses to “Koffee with Karan (Madhuri & Sonakshi)”
Sonakshi was given a great launch by Salman. Now how far she goes depends on her.
Episode was decent. Karan was a bit mean to sonakshi and note when Mads (who will always remain evergreen) said that if she was SRK she would get KJO to sign mads in a film.
Please don’t ascribe a blindness to me that I don’t have.
More than whether Madhuri should have been on by herself or not, what I really felt was that the show needs a new host. The credit for making me actually watch an entire episode of KwK goes to Madhuri (90%) and Sonakshi (10%).
This was a lovely episode. Both the ladies were so elegant, and Sonakshi is really different.
Nice to see some people obsessing over SRK here at least, because in the episode there wasn’t much.
It was all about Madhuri, and rightly so.
She likes SRK, and that was when he got some limelight.
Oldgold,
Watch it again. This time with hearing aid on, please.
Then pull out a calculator and count how many times Madhuri and Sonakshi bring up SRK on their own and how many times Karan does.
Unless of course you want to continue playing the dame of – I am an SRK fan and am not going to let inconvinient truths stand in way of my inane comments.
LOL! I can’t believe this.
Did you count how many times SRK’s name cropped up?
Well my fandom of SRK is no match for your hate of kjo/srk, so you won’t really catch me taking up your advice.
I go by the general impression I get, and I heard a lot of names.
-Salman was discussed at great length by both the ladies.
-Hrithik and Ranveer was mentioned a couple of times. -Madhuri herself brought up SRK a couple of times,
-and finally KJO brought up SRK’s name as usual *along with others* in the rapidfire round to put them in order of personal preference – and Madhuri put SRK on top.
Now if SRK’s name stands out for some viewers it’s not my problem. LOL!
Loved Madhuri’s comment about asking Amir not to be so serious for he isn’t really like that.
Of course he isn’t. All this hypocrisy of tackilng issues.
@ oldgold—Trust an avowed aamir critic/ hater to pick on a small innocuous bit from Madhuri’s words and blow it up to make Aamir look like a hypocrite–the favourite term of abuse utilzed by internet commenters, on people who seem more serious and sincere as compared to their favourites. Never did Madhuri imply anything negative of this sort. All she said was that aamir is and can be a mischievous person, that he could be less serious. It was an affectionate remark, made by an old colleagues and friend, somebody who has acted with him in two early nineties films. And acc to media reports, the friendship is very much alive todate.
In fact similar friendly remarks have been made by a couple of other costars–like Rani Mukherjee for example, somebody Aamir is pretty close to. Rani has wished that aamir would lighten up, be more cheerful and outgoing. And apparently, , aamir has changed after his second marriage, his wife’s outgoing nature having rubbed off on him.
And yet it does not stop Aamir from being involved with real and serious issues, other than films. In my book he is a decent honest and sincere Indian citizen–and i wish more people were like him, instead of mocking him.
Madhuri is somewhat obsessed by SRK. And SRK is obsessed with success as any other hero does. KJO is obsessed with himself. Sonakshi can become a one film wonder like Amisha Patel.
And SRK can even romance a lamp post with fantastic results.
Salman can romance with himself and with his shirt.
Aamir can romance with a script.
Madhuri and Sonakshi can easily play mothers to these Khans, Hrithik, Junior Bachchan and even Senior bachchan if he chooses to make a sequel to Paa. Every woman has a mother in her and she loves to mother rather than romance.
“PS Why does everyone have Abhishek and SLB at the bottom of their list?!”
Well Interestingly the opinions of film personalities are not different from the common ppl…par fans toh fans hote hain…rather than facing the truth they derive various kinds of illogical reasons….
Don’t agree here…Most of the times when the term “Actor” comes it’s always HR, Aamir nd SRK who are in top 3 (Ajay mostly is not in the list). Even ask Big B to give an honest answer nd u will see Abhi will not find a place….But agree that like every individual, film personalities are also biased…but only the no 1 will be the biased choice….if u will notice the 2nd nd 3rd choices picture will be clear…
as a star I wouldn’t have Abhishek in the top 3 (of course I’m not sure a top 3 makes any sense in this Hollywoodized system.. I think there’s Aamir and then everyone else but yes there is a top bracket of stars with more verifiable box office success than others.. Abhishek on the merits cannot be put in that bracket and certainly not at this point though as always his projects complicate things greatly.. the ‘debate’ between Abhi fans like myself and non-fans like yourself is precisely this.. do his projects run out first justifying your side of the argument or does he get a great deal of box office success eventually justifying my side..? As always I would say that Abhishek’s failures solidify some of my central claims about him far more than his successes could.. clearly enough people think in Bollywood like some of the ‘fans’ like myself! In any case this is the only debate and despite all his setback I’m still quite sanguine about his future.. of course this debate assumes a certain honesty and ability to recognize facts.. because many in the opposite camp weren’t willing to call his successes as his in one form or the other even when he had them.. so a debate assume one side is not like Donald Rumsfeld who still refuses to think he’s wrong in any sense.. one can’t persuade those who are not persuadable.. in this or any other matter!). ‘Actor’ is a different thing. In India people often used star and actor interchangeably.
My comment has nothing to do with Abhishek. Infact the makeup list of 5-6 actors has problem to begin with. Karan wants to hear some choices hence the list. Ideally let people blurt out who they think are good actors.
In anycase Karan gets the usual 4th position in any director’s list. What does he expect, to call people to show and ask their opinion about him. I think proper question would be to name top 5/3 contemporary directors.
Some of the wakeup questions are good. But you never know whether it is rehearsed or impromptu. Like when Saif and Kareena said compatbility test was impromptu but answers revealeded it wasn’t.
“In anycase Karan gets the usual 4th position in any director’s list.”
@Munna..
Even getting the 4th position in ur own show is not a pleasure thing…KJO is intelligent enough to understand the fact that where he stands…Then why is he putting himself in the list again nd again…to be humiliated again after getting 4th position…
“Some of the wakeup questions are good. But you never know whether it is rehearsed or impromptu. Like when Saif and Kareena said compatbility test was impromptu but answers revealeded it wasn’t.”
I did not talk the BO aspect at all..Let Abhishek prove in that front first then probably we will discuss. Right now Abhishek is out of top 5/6…
“‘Actor’ is a different thing. In India people often used star and actor interchangeably”
One can not argue with a person who thinks he knows all and everybody else is an idiot. I will seriously suggest u to come out of this blog (which is full of Bachhan fanatics) and go to various other blogs. You will find ppl having good knowledge about cinema and certainly they know the difference between a star and an actor.
“Maybe they’re like the directors who keep giving him important projects!”
What will directors do if they don’t have a script to impress Aamir. SRK is busy with his VFX. Hrithik has gone Aamir’s way…Salman’s image does not suit these films…Saif has started his prod house..
Take the example of Ashutosh and SLB…They did not take Abhishek after Yuva…or Sarkar…they are doing projects with different actors..moving from one to another…at last Abhishek’s turn comes (I agree that he is good actor to get these proj but def far from being best)….About Rathnam well Arvind Swamy case comes up…
Abhishek is doing whatever projects are coming his way…How on the earth one can explain signing movies like Game and players???? But Abhishek fans justify this by saying “He has turned to action genre in vengeance coz all his so called great cinemas did not work”…LOL
“In any case this is the only debate and despite all his setback I’m still quite sanguine about his future.. ”
Good …this is how every fan should be…always hopefull for his star…I am also sure he will bounce back…but for the time being accept the truth…When he will bounce back…abhishek fans will def see that the sequence of actors has changed in KWK…
Actually Gowariker had Abhishek on the shortlist for Lagaan and it’s something he’s referred to a number of times since! As for the Bhansali film this is by the way not the first time he wanted to do something with Abhishek but this rest is not known. I could mention a few other directors. In any case I don’t want to take up this sort of response too. For two reasons. Firstly I’ve repeated these things many times in the past including on this blog. As for saying things on a blog of “Bachchan fanatics” you are actually somewhat lucky to not have tussled with me on NG when I could be a far bigger headache! But I think you’re aware of some of this history too! Leaving this aside wonder why this blog of “bachchan fanatics” keeps attracting you!
But there is a second reason why I don’t just want to argue about the ‘facts’. Part of it is repetition but part of it is also the fact that people like yourself are not exactly of the persuadable sort when it comes to this matter (there might be others too.. I don’t know you beyond the blog of course). How do I know that? Well by the way you argue. Let me take a quick example. When Abhishek has hits those don’t mean anything because either we believe the lowest possible grosses about them or we give everyone else in the film credit but him. This is how we deal with his success. When he actually fails and the successes are safely in the past we suddenly become generous toward them but then start attacking him on other grounds in the present. When he gets the prestigious projects these don’t mean anything as these are those that no one else is interested in. When the projects are more commercial ones these are suddenly the worst movies on earth and defined as such by those who are otherwise not ‘idiots’ but let’s say not exactly lovers of fine cinema and something which is reflected in all their other choices. So doing these also does not get him any credit because hey no one’s interested in such stuff. Meanwhile stars do films like Kites and Race and Ra 1! But hey this doesn’t mean they’ll accept either an Italian Job remake or a Rathnam film. They have standards of course. I could go on an on. But what’s really the issue here? Let’s see…
If one simply forecloses a possibility for a star in one’s mind then of course one has to twist every set of facts rather perversely in one’s mind. Let me offer another example. For years I felt Salman was done with. He hadn’t done anything worthwhile in many years. The successes he had very few and far between and not of enough magnitude and nor was he landing prestige films with esteemed directors. But he had a bit of a shot in the arm with Wanted and now Dabanng has changed everything. I haven’t been able to stand Salman for a long time (though I liked him in Dabanng) but after this film I said more than that if he played his cards right he could be looking at a better future at this point than SRK. Never thought this would happen in earlier years but I changed my mind based on the facts. I could still keep arguing against him. One could be skeptical about the way he’s shaped his career and one might wonder whether he’ll change drastically all of a sudden but nonetheless Dabanng isn’t an ordinary moment and I’ll wait to see at least 2-3 releases to see how he’s handling his career post-Dabanng. But I could still keep saying that nothing’s really changed (and I could frame that case). But hopefully no matter how much one doesn’t like a star there are some basic facts one can agree upon.
I praised SRK for his MNIK performance (not under public pressure because on NG I offered a dissenting view on CDI which created hysteria.. so I’m not really bothered by this stuff). Tomorrow if SRK has a 150 crore hit in Ra 1, even though I don’t expect this to happen I will of course accept it and will probably re-calibrate my sense of his career. But it’s not only about 150 crore grossers. Because no SRK film has been the topmost grosser of its time since DDLJ (not one!) and yet people pretend he can do 150 or 200 crores just because Aamir or Salman did it. Well show me the money! If it’s evidence we’re invested in let’s have the same standard for everyone. SRK hasn’t had the highest grossers to beat Hrithik’s or Aamir’s or Salman’s through the past decade. Despite this entire argument I’ve often made if he got huge grossers in Ra 1 or Don or both I would have to look at things differently. So my personal likes and dislikes don’t blind me to the facts.
However if you foreclose a certain possibility for a star (in your case Abhishek) then you have to keep resorting to increasingly ‘idiotic’ explanations (yes sometimes such terms are well-deserved and in any case I wasn’t the one who introduced this vocabulary here) to account for facts that point in a certain direction. So big projects either in prestige sense or in commercial terms mean nothing except that most other stars don’t seem to have them. This is a bit odd given that there are supposedly 7-8 stars over Abhishek. So those stars would prefer doing some of the junk they currently do as opposed to working with directors any actor would otherwise be willing to sign on with. The same goes for some of the commercial projects. It’s like saying a star doesn’t want to work with either Scorsese or Spielberg but prefers working with Michael Bay! Again these examples could be extended because I have seen the naysayers say quite imbecilic stuff about Abhishek at every point in his career since Yuva.
But actually I do not think such people are really ‘idiots’. I think they pretend to be so or are forced into such positions because of either their own anxieties about Abhishek (which is always minimally a displaced Bachchan anxiety, something that too I will not get into here.. but not for example with yourself how you are also least charitable when it comes to Bachchan!) or at least their severe ideological positions with respect to him and/or his father or whatever else. Note it is perfectly fine to dislike both father and son but the ‘grounds’ on which one does so are important. One can dislike anyone for any reason at all. But when one produces reasons that are completely inconsistent and in total bad faith something else is going on. So again with Salman I just don’t like him. But I’m not hell-bent on deconstructing every aspect of his career! It’s not personal. I truly dislike SRK for his politics but I had no problem defending his record in some respects the other day (in the 90s), even over Aamir’s (as a cultural force).
But again if a certain possibility is foreclosed in your mind you will make the evidence conform to your predispositions. With Abhishek it is very obvious with you (and with many others I’ve encountered) that there is always this anxiety to foreclose anything that gets him credit. It’s once again a classic case of mutually exclusive explanations. A quick example:
1)His film isn’t a hit
2)Even if it he doesn’t get the credit
3)In any case he’s there because of his father’s name
and these reasons could be multiplied too. So we saw this with the D3 announcement. In any case the media attention was around Aamir. Not surprising given where Aamir is and given all the failure Abhishek has had recently. But this was still not enough. It was important to keep asserting this was only an Aamir film, that Abhishek wouldn’t have a proper role etc etc. If one truly believes what one claims to on Abhishek what’s the anxiety about?!
The debate is very simple really. If I am right sooner than later Abhishek will get his hits and will be a force to reckon with. If you are right he will stop getting any kind of worthwhile project over time because if you keep failing eventually the projects dry up. This is obvious! So what’s the anxiety about? That I predict a rosy future for him despite all the setbacks and based on the fact that he keeps getting very viable projects whereas you have to resort to increasingly ‘crazy’ theories to prove the opposite?! Or are you one of those ‘sensitive’ ones that I seem to encounter with alarming regularity who have no problem with anything (Abhishek or otherwise) but who are simply offended by my daring to advance Abhishek’s case in any sense? Well in this case you shouldn’t be causing shocks to your system by reading my stuff! But it’s a very simple debate. Either I’m right or you are. We shall find out. In the meantime you can retire to a world where Imran Khan chooses Break ke Baad over Dum maaro Dum or SRK prefers RNBDJ to Rakeysh Mehra!
Let me very clear one more time. I don’t have a problem with anyone who hates Abhishek or his father. But if one is going ‘argue’ one must make some sense. ‘Nonsense’ cannot be presented as one’s point of view. Or it can but don’t expect me to take it as seriously as anything else. If you think this is a fanatical attitude well that’s your problem. Hope you keep visiting though. As someone who criticizes Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan on the latter’s blog I don’t think I have much to prove. Provided the other side is willing to listen!
“Actually Gowariker had Abhishek on the shortlist for Lagaan”
I know this piece of news..But before Lagaan who was Ashutosh Gowarikar…director of Pehla Nasha and Baazi (a die hard copy..although i enjoy this movie a lot)…Abhishek was considered coz it would have given Lagaan the much needed publicity…Launch Of Amitabh’s Son…since he was not getting any takers for the movie…Also no need to tell what a bad actor Abhishek was at that point of time…Like every star son/daughter some one had to launch Abhishek also…
“Leaving this aside wonder why this blog of “bachchan fanatics” keeps attracting you!”
But I go to other blogs as well and even I m suggesting the same to u…It will probably breaka lot of ur myths…
“Imran Khan chooses Break ke Baad over Dum maaro Dum or SRK prefers RNBDJ to Rakeysh Mehra!”
I don’t care Imran khan as an actor/star..but then also I will tell this was a Brilliant decision…I am sure he must have been offered the role that Pratiek is doing. Why should he do a side role in Abhishek’s movie when he is getting main roles? This guy is doing movies as main lead with Katrina and kareena in Yashraj and Dharma productions. And come on Dum maro Dum is not some prestige movie by a prestige director that every body will want to be a part of it. It is just another Mardhar cop movie….But I enjoy this genre and will watch it for sure…
And SRK not doing Delhi 6 (i think u r referring this movie) is another excellent decision…The story line was a lot similar to Swades…
For me it is better to reject to projects which seems to be problematic rather than accepting just becoz it is from a prestige director…Aamir does this strictly..SRK did not do No Smoking…
But somehow again u have taken this argument in BO direction…I will again say I started this as discussion on “Acting” not “Stardom”…I cringe when I read here Abhishek as the best star actor of his generation. When we have a Hrithik with bigger stardom and a variety of performances like khnp, KMG, Lakshya, Krishh, JA and Guzarish…see the variety here ….
I will just pick one point here as illustrative of everything I said earlier:
“But before Lagaan who was Ashutosh Gowarikar”
you introduced Gowariker into the discussion and said that he took Abhishek at the end or whatever. When I suggested he considered him early on you suddenly change the terms of the debate. In other words there is that brief window after Lagaan at which point his casting decisions matter, otherwise they don’t! C’mon! If Abhishek were in JA you’d say that having flopped with SRK in Swades he had no choice and wouldn’t have got a bigger star. Much as Bhansali post-Saawariya gets Hrithik and it means something but post-Guzaarish he gets Abhishek and it again means nothing! So again I won’t keep beating a dead horse here but this is a classic example of how these arguments proceed. And I should no, I’m a pro at dealing with anti-Abhishek folks and for many years I’ve seen these sorts of arguments coming not a mile away but probably ten miles away!
If Ashutosh had signed Abhishek after Swades or Lagaan I would have agreed on ur point but the fact is he was not a good actor at that time. Since now he has matured and also the fact that these two directors have already worked with other actors, now Abhi’s turn comes.
“I’m a pro at dealing with anti-Abhishek folks ”
blowing ur own trumpet…Then why did u leave another blog and start ur own…
On your first point I won’t be going around in circles (though I see you’ve contradicted yourself once again on just this bit of the discussion!).. I don’t have much to add to the long comment I put up yesterday.. but to repeat the central point there for you any discussion that credits Abhishek with anything on the box office or acting front at any stage of his career is foreclosed.. I actually don’t have a problem with this position but you should be honest enough and admit this is your position and not pretend to ‘debate’ these things. What’s the point of a debate where there are no conceivable set of facts that could change one’s opinion?!
On the rest I won’t get into a discussion of why I left other blogs but if I just wanted to start my own I could have done this very early on.
“they derive various kinds of illogical reasons….”
And, what reasons did I derive?! Or you just had sya it?!
My point was that the rapid fire questions / responses are quite witless and fatuous. Clearly, Abhi is a better ACTOR than most STARS.
But, I DO remember who said what and will surely make a point when / if Abhishek is placed somewhere at the top by the same people because of his BO rather than his acting!
I am a big fan of Madhuri. During her hey days noone actually saw her interview and i think that worked very well in her favour because she is quite a bimbo.
I mean Sonakshi looked far more relaxed and intelligent. Madhuri on the other hand has been disappointing in her show as well as in this episode.
Maybe i had a very high opinion of her as being a perfect indian woman. Fact is that she is in terms of beauty, acting and dance but far from it in terms of IQ.
Re:
And SRK can even romance a lamp post with fantastic results.
LOL. He can do a lot more with a lamp post. Probably more than most actors.
Re: Why does everyone have Abhishek and SLB at the bottom of their list?!
Most of the guests know which side of their bread is buttered and tend to suck up to those who are more successful at the moment.
Madhuri is not a bimbo. But is not terribly cerebral either. She has been fairly good on the show and tends to be a little kinder and gentler than the other two judges. Malaika takes herself a little too seriously. Madhuri is pretty down to earth and accepts accolades and praise with a grace and poise. Not too modest nor at all arrogant.
Rajen is right. Madhuri comes across as down to earth friendly and homely person, somebody with a quiet sense of humour. Definitely not a bimbo, even if she doesn’t come across as cerebral.
I genuinely liked this episode, and have no wish to turn it into an SRK fan-aamir fan scrapfest.
My last word on this topic. I have never hated SRk, never brought him down; but yes, I tend to defend Aamir from what I perceive to be unfair attacks on an actor who has survived two decades depite his limitations ( his short stature being a prime source of meriment for his critics), who has touched many a fan with his films and performances, with whom some share a wavelength, a similar way of thinking….
I have ample respect for SRK, the star and the person; just wish his fans would respect fans of a rival/colleague. And I do wish KJo would stop wearing his SRK bhakti so openly.
LS, do you know definitely how tall Aamir is? I ask because people keep on bringing up his “short stature”, but I don’t see that he is significantly shorter than the other leading stars. I realize he is the shortest of the three Khans, but I also don’t see that there is more than a 2-3 inch difference between all of them. So why is this an issue only about Aamir?
Forget about sharing the show with madhuri— sonamshi should not be on the show.. Period. Sorry folks — I’m a rude guy and find her obese…
Where exactly in the states is madhuri roaming around in supermarkets unnoticed. And Has her hubby finally cometed his cardiology fellowship or not… Madhuri should be given the award for being so level headed– v few can tolerate this sudden oblivion after the limelight…
Bachchan grew a beard and tried to for five share but was back….
Sonakshi’s weight shows on her face. She certainly is not obese or fat but has some extra fat that she could do without. But, again it is a matter of personal preference.
She certainly is pretty but even from her responses, it seems she is always awaging a battle against those extra pounds.
I don’t think Madhuri could be called buxom by any stretch. Obviously I wouldn’t call Sonakshi ‘obese’ but she certainly has a buxom figure which wasn’t true for Madhuri. She’s like Neetu Singh in this sense. The latter too was buxom but she could often be a little overweight.
You wouldn’t call Madhuri buxom “by any stretch”? I would argue that her bust is her most prominent feature. Compared to her contemporaries like Juhi or Karisma, she was certainly more endowed. Some of my male friends have told me that this is the first thing a man notices about a woman, so I find it hard to believe you didn’t notice. And in the blogosphere I have read many comments by nondesis commenting on her “mature look”, and even complaining about her being “fat”, when all they were referring to was her bust. Except for her very early movies (when she was still a teenager), and even when she was otherwise slender, I think “buxom” is a very appropriate description for her. Of course, I don’t apply that as either an insult or a disqualification.
I don’t mean it as an insult either but I would never associate that adjective with Madhuri nor do I recognize her in the physical description you’ve just provided. I actually don’t think she was well-endowed at all. In fact for a great bit of her career she actually could have used a bit more weight though later she definitely put on a bit more than she should have. Don’t think though that the plump overtones of ‘buxom’ at all describe Madhuri. Neetu Singh in the 70s was the textbook definition of buxom. Sonakshi is along that spectrum. As for men noticing a certain part of the anatomy before all else I am unfortunately less enamored by the cult of the breast. The totality of the woman matters to me far more than this fetishization with different parts of the body. There is nothing wrong in being partial to certain features of the body, people have their preferences in this sense, we are all attracted to certain aspects more than others and I am no exception but in modern consumer culture there is a fetishization and to the extent that sometimes I am not sure if a woman is being discussed or parts of an animal on display in a supermarket meat section.
I am rather too aware of all these videos. With certain actresses the somewhat crude reference of ‘padding’ was often made and I can assure you Madhuri was no exception to this. The males who notice these things with a certain urgency are always trying to figure out whether a woman is well-endowed with ‘aid’ or without. especially with actresses would never consider her as such. DTPH is rather late anyway, Madhuri is a but overweight in this. Even HAHK is a bit late. But she still isn’t buxom even in these videos. Frankly, and I can’t get more explicit than this, but people who think she is well-endowed are just wrong. Of course being well-endowed is hardly the same as being buxom anyway. Every Sports Illustrated cover girl is well-endowed but not buxom!
I think it depends on how you use the word buxom. One usage is to describe some one full bosomed and other one is to describe someone healthy and plump.
In any event, if one were playing a word association game, the word ‘Buxom’ is probably not going to be in the firsr five words to describe Madhuri.
Satyam, I’m all for looking at the totality of a woman or a man, and don’t like to objectify anyone. However, that is different from merely discussing a particular aspect as we are doing here. I myself tend to look at a person’s face most of the time to judge her/his appearance, or to decide what impression s/he makes on me.
Anyway, if my previous comment is in moderation, I hope you will approve it soon.
OK, without prolonging the discussion any further, I will just say (1) I am well aware of artificial enhancements and can easily spot them; (2) I think our definitions of “buxom” vary.
I hope at least you enjoyed watching the videos, even though they are familiar.
@ oldgold. No hard feelings. And Idid appreciate your fair words on Dhobi Ghat and Aamir himself. So, peace.
@ sm–I have an old (May 1999) Femina article on Aamir. It mentions his height as 167.5 cm. Now that’s a precise number and I assume that they aren’y lying. Well according to this article Aamir is about 5’6′ tall. Now that’s a short guy–but ok by Indian standards, not dwarfish or anything.
@ alex adams–Madhuri is really one level headed celebrity.She has made a graceful move from public to semi-public life.
Thanks, LS. Aamir’s height has usually been reported as 5’5″ or 5’6″. Salman and SRK are about 5’7″, (though each officially claims to be 5’10″). So as I said, Aamir may be the shortest of the three, but it’s not as if the other two are that much taller. I believe Saif is also about 5’8″. So why the focus on Aamir’s height only? It’s true that back in the 2001-2002 time frame, I saw a few articles that referred to SRK’s small, even “diminutive”, but more to express surprise that a person with such a powerful aura on screen should be so different off screen. In any case, it was only Akshay from that generation of stars who is close to six feet. This was not a problem for anyone as all the heroines of that era were about 5’4″ or shorter. I think the heroes’ height only came to the fore after all the beauty queens started appearing in Bollywood, and found it difficult to find top heroes who could match them in height. Of the next generation of six foot heroes (Hrithik, Abhishek, Vivek Oberoi), only Hrithik has managed to reach the top level, so that still restricts the tall heroines to a small pool of potential mates onscreen. I don’t know how tall Ranbir or Imran is, but I think they are also close to six feet, and of course, Deepika and Sonam are also said to be almost six feet tall.
Is it? That’s what I read in the ever-so-reliable Bollywood press. I agree I was scratching my head in Saawariya to see how they managed to fit the six foot Sonam and the 5’10″ (to give him his official height) Salman into one frame and make it look normal, not strange, and kept thinking, “That girl doesn’t look like she’s six feet tall.” If you know their actual heights, please do enlighten me.
Salman Khan is 5’7 and SRK closer to 5’8 Amir is probably 5’5. Saif is also around 5’8 coz in LAK he was few inches shorter than Deepika and even the chor bazari song where Deepika is wearing flat sandals Saif still looked quite a bit shorter. Now height is not the be all and end all look at how successful these guyz have been and there are many such examples.
Yes sm you are spot on 10 years back or so the shorter heroes i.e. KHANS could get away with it but now it’s different.
Now talking from a Salman fan point of view. In BIWI no1 it was obvious he was shorter than Sush but it would look far worse now coz Salman has become more broader and the more muscle you put on around the shoulders chest area does make you look a bit shorter. If he toned up like similar to NO ENTRY or even PARTNER days he could look taller. Now I know this from experience lol but it does work.
Even in MPKK he only looked slightly shorter than Kat even though she is atleast 2 inches taller than him.
In Biwi No. 1, Sush said Salman is very secure and confident, and doesn’t have any problem acting with women who are taller than him, and even overruled the director to have Sushmita wear high heels in their scenes together. So there was no attempt to make her look shorter. Of course Shilpa is also very tall, even though she is part of the “older” generation, and when she or Deepika came on DKD they were both towering over Salman, but again he had no problem with it. I haven’t seen OSO, so don’t know how Farah managed it with SRK and Deepika.
On Salman’s build, it was only when he was bulking up for Veer that it threw off his body proportions. Funnily enough, while I thought it affected the way he looked in Yuvvraaj and MAMK, in Veer itself he looked fine, so the look worked for that role. Anyway he is back to his regular build now. In general I dislike actors being made to change their body appearance for any role.
In the songs especially ishq chandi hai sush is wearing massive heels and Salman normal shoes. He has always been confident acting with women taller (even though he has said he would have loved to have been slightly taller).
Citing Shilpa as an example is a good one. She has been opposite Salman many times and surprisingly it has not looked too bad. Now I don’t want to be offensive or anything but Salman being a very good looking guy certainly helps. One doesn’t focus on his height much.
Yes, his long hair and beefed up body did not look too good in YUVRAAJ or MAMK. It was also annoying to see Salman with short hair in WANTED then in another scene with the long hair lol. Thankfully he is close to his normal self and has removed his long hair. I think KICK we may see the Salman of old coz it’s going to be a very cahllenging and demanding film.
Sachin’s height is 5.5. That means we have 2 stars from different fields not very tall. But their achievements make them tall. Some are born tall and some achieve it. What about short people with no big achievements to their credit? They also achieve in their own way and loved, respected by their friends and families. Many actresses are quite short but that does not come in the way of their achievements.
To be realistic, a tall frame gives a boost to most of us. All of us want to have tall frames, slim bodies, perfect faces, fair complexion and the most lavish hair. With all these also, one cannot automatically become the greatest cricketer or one of the most accomplished actors or even a top industrialist etc. etc. But all those above attributes will definitely make it easy for many to be accepted more readily.
Aamir is gifted with a cherubic face and has maintained himself very well.
Those who call Aamir short are okay, but those who call him dwarfish are mentally sick.
One can talk about things over which one can have control. Height and colour are things over which no one can have any control.
One can have control over one’s choices, behaviour and attitude. That is what ultimately to be judged if that person is in the limelight.
And short people can take inspiration from Sachin, Aamir, Napoleon and a host of such celebrities.
I cannot believe so much bandwidth has been devoted to heights of the stars.
As if one or two inches in the height really is that big of a deal.
All three Khans are a relativley on a shorter side. Hasnt at all come in way of their success.
1 hardly finds all 4 khans without shoes- be it on beach or temple or under wedding mandap! It is well known and observable that all of them have their specially made elevator shoes & even chappals.
Salman & all other khans are highly insecure about this factor and it is quite evident. In Partner & Dabbang (even while taking bath in the morning) he don’t take off his thick sandals. Sonam is 5′ 10″ and Salman who is 5′ 7″ still managed to look as tall as her in Sawariya-guess how??Saif looks almost as tall as AB in Eklavya with his special shoes! Same tactics in Ohmkara too.
This is just an observation and surely not an attempt to take anything away from them.
Dont care how tall the Khans are or how well endowed Madhuri is.
I would just prefer to have coffee with Madhuri by myself rather than with Karan with SRK obsession there. Me and Madhuri can discuss my height and her statistics in private over coffee.
I am just back and am enjoying the above discussion incited by the “obese” word: lol. Must give me credit for bringing in spice..
Sonamshi may not fit the true WHO definition of obesity right now, but one can see telltale signs of recent weight loss– some of which are difficult to conceal to the discerning.
Even leaving that aside, saw a bit of her recent award function “performance”. She is a horribly lethargic nondancer. I mean, someone has had two or three v strong dialogues lcourtesy the writer and an interregnum face — and u becum d next big thing.
If she wasn’t related with no shotgun connection, again the lightboy comment../…
Was reading somewhere that for unconnected strugglers, even lightboys charge a “tax” in kind for favors– a girl I know is doing a thesis on these things– formal results awaited -lol
Anyhow, why am I singling only sonamshi out. There is a generation of fraternal and familial connections abounding rite now. So much so, that unconnected people are in a minority.
Some of my influential friends are urging me to join forces to provide a “platform” for unconnected talents…..let’s see if somehing happens
Thanks Sm for your graphic descriptions of buxomness…
Agree with a lot of what u say ESP the bit about guys noticing certain things first!
But agree with satyam that madhuri for henkost part o her career was not well endowed in the way u mentioned.
Aamir is not only shot but conspicuously so.a but like Tendulkar. Read somewhere that short things try to compensate …. Pun intended….
Sm u said to my comment that manmohan Singh cannot be equated to arrahman. Plz elaborate — it’s interesting.
There is something about these personalities that amaze. Mms seemed to be a misfit in politics but is managing more than fine in terms of longevity. AR Rahman for all his spirituality and obvious talent ( I am his greatest fan) has displayed more discretion and professional acumen and even shrewdness than can be accounted for, on face value.
Sukhvindr didn’t get visa to perform army oscars to a song that he hAd actually sung. AR got to perform instead. There are whispers that there is more than meets the eye!
Also to add– I feel Sm and oldhold really enrich the discourse here and their comments as high quality ( whether we agree or not)
Besides Tata…..
am a die hard fan of madhuri yaar.she is uncomparable.i feel KJO should make a pair with madhuri and SRK.i bet to the box office collections.and also pair her with AAMIR in a script of kiran rao.i mean it.
I think Aamir would be willing to work with Rani. If I’m not mistaken she was considered at some point for Ghajini but couldn’t do it. There are not that many older actresses left who are viable. I doubt he likes the younger ones much either but in a D3 kind of deal he’d go along with whatever the choice was. Again he does end up working with kareena or whoever because most directors aren’t willing to cast Rani let alone other somewhat older actresses. Everyone zeroes in on the current 5 or so. SRK is a different deal though because here he has been trying in every film to act with younger and younger actresses. Again don’t believe Salman would have much of an issue either way.
Madhuri and Juhi are about two years younger than the Khans, while Rani is about 13 years younger, so it’s not fair to bracket her with Madhuri and Juhi. (Kajol is 10 years younger, and Kareena 15 years younger).
Madhuri and Juhi are in their forties and in any run of the fil, 40 plus heroines cant fit in. They cannot be college girls(though 40 plus heroes have an unfair advantage) and they cant be young romantic bimbos. Roles must be written for them and it is difficult to find such scripts for them where they can also pair with the happening Khans. it is like having the cake and eating it too. Having the cake of working with the Khans and eating a powerful role.
As for Sonakshi, her dancing to various famous numbers left me cold. She has to depend on acting rather than dancing to make a mark.
Madhuri and the chirpy Juhi would have made better combination. Sonakshi and Reena Roy would have been interesting. Or Sonakshi and Anushka.combination.
Madhuri and Juhi are in their forties and in any run of the mill film, 40 plus heroines cant fit in. They cannot be college going girls(though 40 plus heroes have an unfair advantage) and they cant be young romantic bimbos. Roles must be written for them and it is difficult to find such scripts for them where they can also pair with the happening Khans. It is like having the cake and eating it too. Having the cake of working with the Khans and eating a powerful role.
As for Sonakshi, her dancing to various famous numbers left me cold. She has to depend on acting rather than dancing to make a mark.
A heroine’s face is her most important asset. Meena Kumari, Hema Malini, Savitri, Sarita etc.
Surprisingly, the Madhuri – Akshaye Khanna jodi looked and worked well together in Aaja Naachle. Having said that, though, I must admit that in her current foray, Madhuri for the first time is looking aged. Still beautiful, but definitely “of a certain age”, a look that Aishwarya (the closest to her in age of working heroines) still hasn’t hit.
This discussion of the word ‘buxom’ is eternal.
From vague memory of my earlier discussion comes to mind.
Like all words there is a history.
The earliest (around 1100 0r so) can be related to the word ‘buh’ which meant ‘to bow’ and so was meant for women who were ‘obedient’.
It underwent several changes and just before the present definition ‘buxom’ was associated with the word ‘bosom’ (one can trace a similarity in the two words) and later the ‘thin fashion’ related the buxomness to the entire body.
Some dictionares give both the meanings.
I see that the American Heritage Dictionary quotes what I have written too;
1.
a. Healthily plump and ample of figure: “A generation ago, fat babies were considered healthy and buxom actresses were popular, but society has since come to worship thinness” (Robert A. Hamilton).
“The word ‘plump’ was never meant to be synonymous with ‘buxom’ but has become so.”
I guess you’ll have to take it up with Oxford and Merriam-Webster! Don’t think we can rely on meanings that are clearly obsolete and that didn’t become so over the last decade. On Madhuri as I’ve already stated and at least the men seem to be agreeing with me that she was neither considered plump nor full-bosomed!
Agree with Satyam here that madhuri is not well-endowed!
Sorry for being direct and blunt but Even in the “celebrated” “choli ke peechhhe” song — i wondered what the fuss was about?–lol.
Would put Manisha koirala, ayesha takia, mumtaaz in that category.
There was an actress in dev anands movie gambler and prem pujari (not waheeda)—dont know her name but remember her to satisfy your above inclusion critieria!
Just my “point” of view–pun unintended!
Oldgold, that song is a double meaning one in the most obvious sense.. that is the whole ‘charm’ of it! It would be strange if one did not think of this!
It’s like that joke SRK had recently at one of the awards — ‘what can you see when actresses bow down before you?’. Answer: ‘their sanskar’! Of course this was rather inappropriate for such an event but vulgarity is often no stranger to SRK. The fans insist it’s brilliant, understated humor.
I do disagree with Alex though. This was a brilliant video and Madhuri was gorgeous. Ghai gave Madhuri some great videos. Loved her ‘bada dukh deena’ in Ram Lakhan.
Not seen much of Jhalak Dikhlajaa but in the episode I saw, Madhuri was talking about how special Bada Dukh Dena was to her – the first time Lata sang for her
Cum on oldgold—dont pretend to be so naive…
Its like the principal asking the new kids where the school canteen is!!!
And yes—we all like “sanskaars”!!
“Madhuri is doing round in Mumbai, since last three months but still no major project news for her?”—good observation and agreee—Incidentally she looks her age now quite a bit….
February 27, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Madhuri deserved a show to herself… the pairing with Sonakshi is odd though I am likely to offend SM by saying anything against a Salman heroine!
February 27, 2011 at 4:01 PM
What’s to offend satyam.
Sonakshi was given a great launch by Salman. Now how far she goes depends on her.
Episode was decent. Karan was a bit mean to sonakshi and note when Mads (who will always remain evergreen) said that if she was SRK she would get KJO to sign mads in a film.
February 27, 2011 at 5:21 PM
exactly my thought when i first saw the headline on this post. mads deserves a show to herself. come on kjo.
February 27, 2011 at 5:35 PM
I agree – it felt slightly awkward – like Sonakshi was expected to say how much she loves Madhuri.
I’d like to see Mads interviewed by that woman who does Beautiful People
February 27, 2011 at 10:02 PM
Please don’t ascribe a blindness to me that I don’t have.
More than whether Madhuri should have been on by herself or not, what I really felt was that the show needs a new host. The credit for making me actually watch an entire episode of KwK goes to Madhuri (90%) and Sonakshi (10%).
February 28, 2011 at 12:03 AM
just kidding SM..
February 27, 2011 at 3:45 PM
Karan should walk around with a T-shirt that says – Its all about Shah Rukh.
February 28, 2011 at 12:51 AM
Correctly said Rajan. And can’t help feel that Karan brings in guests who are more likely to sing hossanahs to his best friend.
Still, it was wonderful watching the graceful Madhuri—and the promising ‘n’ pretty Sonakshi. Good show, overall.
February 27, 2011 at 4:18 PM
This was a lovely episode. Both the ladies were so elegant, and Sonakshi is really different.
Nice to see some people obsessing over SRK here at least, because in the episode there wasn’t much.
It was all about Madhuri, and rightly so.
She likes SRK, and that was when he got some limelight.
February 27, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Oldgold,
Watch it again. This time with hearing aid on, please.
Then pull out a calculator and count how many times Madhuri and Sonakshi bring up SRK on their own and how many times Karan does.
Unless of course you want to continue playing the dame of – I am an SRK fan and am not going to let inconvinient truths stand in way of my inane comments.
February 28, 2011 at 9:38 AM
LOL! I can’t believe this.
Did you count how many times SRK’s name cropped up?
Well my fandom of SRK is no match for your hate of kjo/srk, so you won’t really catch me taking up your advice.
I go by the general impression I get, and I heard a lot of names.
-Salman was discussed at great length by both the ladies.
-Hrithik and Ranveer was mentioned a couple of times. -Madhuri herself brought up SRK a couple of times,
-and finally KJO brought up SRK’s name as usual *along with others* in the rapidfire round to put them in order of personal preference – and Madhuri put SRK on top.
Now if SRK’s name stands out for some viewers it’s not my problem. LOL!
February 28, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Loved Madhuri’s comment about asking Amir not to be so serious for he isn’t really like that.
Of course he isn’t. All this hypocrisy of tackilng issues.
February 28, 2011 at 1:30 PM
@ oldgold—Trust an avowed aamir critic/ hater to pick on a small innocuous bit from Madhuri’s words and blow it up to make Aamir look like a hypocrite–the favourite term of abuse utilzed by internet commenters, on people who seem more serious and sincere as compared to their favourites. Never did Madhuri imply anything negative of this sort. All she said was that aamir is and can be a mischievous person, that he could be less serious. It was an affectionate remark, made by an old colleagues and friend, somebody who has acted with him in two early nineties films. And acc to media reports, the friendship is very much alive todate.
In fact similar friendly remarks have been made by a couple of other costars–like Rani Mukherjee for example, somebody Aamir is pretty close to. Rani has wished that aamir would lighten up, be more cheerful and outgoing. And apparently, , aamir has changed after his second marriage, his wife’s outgoing nature having rubbed off on him.
And yet it does not stop Aamir from being involved with real and serious issues, other than films. In my book he is a decent honest and sincere Indian citizen–and i wish more people were like him, instead of mocking him.
February 28, 2011 at 1:48 PM
Well I was giving people a taste of their own medicine when they split hairs to bring down ones they hate.
In fact KWK is put up here every week so that it can be bashed and accused and SRK and KJO mocked at and trivialized and…and…and….
So why cry when I do the same?
February 27, 2011 at 5:53 PM
Sorry- game of.
February 27, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Madhuri is somewhat obsessed by SRK. And SRK is obsessed with success as any other hero does. KJO is obsessed with himself. Sonakshi can become a one film wonder like Amisha Patel.
And SRK can even romance a lamp post with fantastic results.
Salman can romance with himself and with his shirt.
Aamir can romance with a script.
Madhuri and Sonakshi can easily play mothers to these Khans, Hrithik, Junior Bachchan and even Senior bachchan if he chooses to make a sequel to Paa. Every woman has a mother in her and she loves to mother rather than romance.
February 28, 2011 at 10:09 AM
i’m actually amused
February 28, 2011 at 4:37 AM
Quite disappointed, really. Neither seems very intelligent. And, SRK dose is thrust upon in every guest!
The best ever KWK was Abhi-Preity one where they pinned KJ down literally!
PS Why does everyone have Abhishek and SLB at the bottom of their list?!
February 28, 2011 at 12:29 PM
“PS Why does everyone have Abhishek and SLB at the bottom of their list?!”
Well Interestingly the opinions of film personalities are not different from the common ppl…par fans toh fans hote hain…rather than facing the truth they derive various kinds of illogical reasons….
February 28, 2011 at 12:55 PM
It is more aligned with power equation or personalities would be helpful in future. Normally first three are always any combination of Khans.
February 28, 2011 at 1:12 PM
Don’t agree here…Most of the times when the term “Actor” comes it’s always HR, Aamir nd SRK who are in top 3 (Ajay mostly is not in the list). Even ask Big B to give an honest answer nd u will see Abhi will not find a place….But agree that like every individual, film personalities are also biased…but only the no 1 will be the biased choice….if u will notice the 2nd nd 3rd choices picture will be clear…
February 28, 2011 at 1:30 PM
as a star I wouldn’t have Abhishek in the top 3 (of course I’m not sure a top 3 makes any sense in this Hollywoodized system.. I think there’s Aamir and then everyone else but yes there is a top bracket of stars with more verifiable box office success than others.. Abhishek on the merits cannot be put in that bracket and certainly not at this point though as always his projects complicate things greatly.. the ‘debate’ between Abhi fans like myself and non-fans like yourself is precisely this.. do his projects run out first justifying your side of the argument or does he get a great deal of box office success eventually justifying my side..? As always I would say that Abhishek’s failures solidify some of my central claims about him far more than his successes could.. clearly enough people think in Bollywood like some of the ‘fans’ like myself! In any case this is the only debate and despite all his setback I’m still quite sanguine about his future.. of course this debate assumes a certain honesty and ability to recognize facts.. because many in the opposite camp weren’t willing to call his successes as his in one form or the other even when he had them.. so a debate assume one side is not like Donald Rumsfeld who still refuses to think he’s wrong in any sense.. one can’t persuade those who are not persuadable.. in this or any other matter!). ‘Actor’ is a different thing. In India people often used star and actor interchangeably.
February 28, 2011 at 2:32 PM
My comment has nothing to do with Abhishek. Infact the makeup list of 5-6 actors has problem to begin with. Karan wants to hear some choices hence the list. Ideally let people blurt out who they think are good actors.
In anycase Karan gets the usual 4th position in any director’s list. What does he expect, to call people to show and ask their opinion about him. I think proper question would be to name top 5/3 contemporary directors.
Some of the wakeup questions are good. But you never know whether it is rehearsed or impromptu. Like when Saif and Kareena said compatbility test was impromptu but answers revealeded it wasn’t.
February 28, 2011 at 3:04 PM
“In anycase Karan gets the usual 4th position in any director’s list.”
@Munna..
Even getting the 4th position in ur own show is not a pleasure thing…KJO is intelligent enough to understand the fact that where he stands…Then why is he putting himself in the list again nd again…to be humiliated again after getting 4th position…
“Some of the wakeup questions are good. But you never know whether it is rehearsed or impromptu. Like when Saif and Kareena said compatbility test was impromptu but answers revealeded it wasn’t.”
Agreed here completely…
February 28, 2011 at 1:28 PM
Maybe they’re like the directors who keep giving him important projects!
February 28, 2011 at 2:48 PM
I did not talk the BO aspect at all..Let Abhishek prove in that front first then probably we will discuss. Right now Abhishek is out of top 5/6…
“‘Actor’ is a different thing. In India people often used star and actor interchangeably”
One can not argue with a person who thinks he knows all and everybody else is an idiot. I will seriously suggest u to come out of this blog (which is full of Bachhan fanatics) and go to various other blogs. You will find ppl having good knowledge about cinema and certainly they know the difference between a star and an actor.
“Maybe they’re like the directors who keep giving him important projects!”
What will directors do if they don’t have a script to impress Aamir. SRK is busy with his VFX. Hrithik has gone Aamir’s way…Salman’s image does not suit these films…Saif has started his prod house..
Take the example of Ashutosh and SLB…They did not take Abhishek after Yuva…or Sarkar…they are doing projects with different actors..moving from one to another…at last Abhishek’s turn comes (I agree that he is good actor to get these proj but def far from being best)….About Rathnam well Arvind Swamy case comes up…
Abhishek is doing whatever projects are coming his way…How on the earth one can explain signing movies like Game and players???? But Abhishek fans justify this by saying “He has turned to action genre in vengeance coz all his so called great cinemas did not work”…LOL
“In any case this is the only debate and despite all his setback I’m still quite sanguine about his future.. ”
Good …this is how every fan should be…always hopefull for his star…I am also sure he will bounce back…but for the time being accept the truth…When he will bounce back…abhishek fans will def see that the sequence of actors has changed in KWK…
February 28, 2011 at 3:51 PM
Actually Gowariker had Abhishek on the shortlist for Lagaan and it’s something he’s referred to a number of times since! As for the Bhansali film this is by the way not the first time he wanted to do something with Abhishek but this rest is not known. I could mention a few other directors. In any case I don’t want to take up this sort of response too. For two reasons. Firstly I’ve repeated these things many times in the past including on this blog. As for saying things on a blog of “Bachchan fanatics” you are actually somewhat lucky to not have tussled with me on NG when I could be a far bigger headache! But I think you’re aware of some of this history too! Leaving this aside wonder why this blog of “bachchan fanatics” keeps attracting you!
But there is a second reason why I don’t just want to argue about the ‘facts’. Part of it is repetition but part of it is also the fact that people like yourself are not exactly of the persuadable sort when it comes to this matter (there might be others too.. I don’t know you beyond the blog of course). How do I know that? Well by the way you argue. Let me take a quick example. When Abhishek has hits those don’t mean anything because either we believe the lowest possible grosses about them or we give everyone else in the film credit but him. This is how we deal with his success. When he actually fails and the successes are safely in the past we suddenly become generous toward them but then start attacking him on other grounds in the present. When he gets the prestigious projects these don’t mean anything as these are those that no one else is interested in. When the projects are more commercial ones these are suddenly the worst movies on earth and defined as such by those who are otherwise not ‘idiots’ but let’s say not exactly lovers of fine cinema and something which is reflected in all their other choices. So doing these also does not get him any credit because hey no one’s interested in such stuff. Meanwhile stars do films like Kites and Race and Ra 1! But hey this doesn’t mean they’ll accept either an Italian Job remake or a Rathnam film. They have standards of course. I could go on an on. But what’s really the issue here? Let’s see…
If one simply forecloses a possibility for a star in one’s mind then of course one has to twist every set of facts rather perversely in one’s mind. Let me offer another example. For years I felt Salman was done with. He hadn’t done anything worthwhile in many years. The successes he had very few and far between and not of enough magnitude and nor was he landing prestige films with esteemed directors. But he had a bit of a shot in the arm with Wanted and now Dabanng has changed everything. I haven’t been able to stand Salman for a long time (though I liked him in Dabanng) but after this film I said more than that if he played his cards right he could be looking at a better future at this point than SRK. Never thought this would happen in earlier years but I changed my mind based on the facts. I could still keep arguing against him. One could be skeptical about the way he’s shaped his career and one might wonder whether he’ll change drastically all of a sudden but nonetheless Dabanng isn’t an ordinary moment and I’ll wait to see at least 2-3 releases to see how he’s handling his career post-Dabanng. But I could still keep saying that nothing’s really changed (and I could frame that case). But hopefully no matter how much one doesn’t like a star there are some basic facts one can agree upon.
I praised SRK for his MNIK performance (not under public pressure because on NG I offered a dissenting view on CDI which created hysteria.. so I’m not really bothered by this stuff). Tomorrow if SRK has a 150 crore hit in Ra 1, even though I don’t expect this to happen I will of course accept it and will probably re-calibrate my sense of his career. But it’s not only about 150 crore grossers. Because no SRK film has been the topmost grosser of its time since DDLJ (not one!) and yet people pretend he can do 150 or 200 crores just because Aamir or Salman did it. Well show me the money! If it’s evidence we’re invested in let’s have the same standard for everyone. SRK hasn’t had the highest grossers to beat Hrithik’s or Aamir’s or Salman’s through the past decade. Despite this entire argument I’ve often made if he got huge grossers in Ra 1 or Don or both I would have to look at things differently. So my personal likes and dislikes don’t blind me to the facts.
However if you foreclose a certain possibility for a star (in your case Abhishek) then you have to keep resorting to increasingly ‘idiotic’ explanations (yes sometimes such terms are well-deserved and in any case I wasn’t the one who introduced this vocabulary here) to account for facts that point in a certain direction. So big projects either in prestige sense or in commercial terms mean nothing except that most other stars don’t seem to have them. This is a bit odd given that there are supposedly 7-8 stars over Abhishek. So those stars would prefer doing some of the junk they currently do as opposed to working with directors any actor would otherwise be willing to sign on with. The same goes for some of the commercial projects. It’s like saying a star doesn’t want to work with either Scorsese or Spielberg but prefers working with Michael Bay! Again these examples could be extended because I have seen the naysayers say quite imbecilic stuff about Abhishek at every point in his career since Yuva.
But actually I do not think such people are really ‘idiots’. I think they pretend to be so or are forced into such positions because of either their own anxieties about Abhishek (which is always minimally a displaced Bachchan anxiety, something that too I will not get into here.. but not for example with yourself how you are also least charitable when it comes to Bachchan!) or at least their severe ideological positions with respect to him and/or his father or whatever else. Note it is perfectly fine to dislike both father and son but the ‘grounds’ on which one does so are important. One can dislike anyone for any reason at all. But when one produces reasons that are completely inconsistent and in total bad faith something else is going on. So again with Salman I just don’t like him. But I’m not hell-bent on deconstructing every aspect of his career! It’s not personal. I truly dislike SRK for his politics but I had no problem defending his record in some respects the other day (in the 90s), even over Aamir’s (as a cultural force).
But again if a certain possibility is foreclosed in your mind you will make the evidence conform to your predispositions. With Abhishek it is very obvious with you (and with many others I’ve encountered) that there is always this anxiety to foreclose anything that gets him credit. It’s once again a classic case of mutually exclusive explanations. A quick example:
1)His film isn’t a hit
2)Even if it he doesn’t get the credit
3)In any case he’s there because of his father’s name
and these reasons could be multiplied too. So we saw this with the D3 announcement. In any case the media attention was around Aamir. Not surprising given where Aamir is and given all the failure Abhishek has had recently. But this was still not enough. It was important to keep asserting this was only an Aamir film, that Abhishek wouldn’t have a proper role etc etc. If one truly believes what one claims to on Abhishek what’s the anxiety about?!
The debate is very simple really. If I am right sooner than later Abhishek will get his hits and will be a force to reckon with. If you are right he will stop getting any kind of worthwhile project over time because if you keep failing eventually the projects dry up. This is obvious! So what’s the anxiety about? That I predict a rosy future for him despite all the setbacks and based on the fact that he keeps getting very viable projects whereas you have to resort to increasingly ‘crazy’ theories to prove the opposite?! Or are you one of those ‘sensitive’ ones that I seem to encounter with alarming regularity who have no problem with anything (Abhishek or otherwise) but who are simply offended by my daring to advance Abhishek’s case in any sense? Well in this case you shouldn’t be causing shocks to your system by reading my stuff! But it’s a very simple debate. Either I’m right or you are. We shall find out. In the meantime you can retire to a world where Imran Khan chooses Break ke Baad over Dum maaro Dum or SRK prefers RNBDJ to Rakeysh Mehra!
Let me very clear one more time. I don’t have a problem with anyone who hates Abhishek or his father. But if one is going ‘argue’ one must make some sense. ‘Nonsense’ cannot be presented as one’s point of view. Or it can but don’t expect me to take it as seriously as anything else. If you think this is a fanatical attitude well that’s your problem. Hope you keep visiting though. As someone who criticizes Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan on the latter’s blog I don’t think I have much to prove. Provided the other side is willing to listen!
March 1, 2011 at 2:08 AM
“Actually Gowariker had Abhishek on the shortlist for Lagaan”
I know this piece of news..But before Lagaan who was Ashutosh Gowarikar…director of Pehla Nasha and Baazi (a die hard copy..although i enjoy this movie a lot)…Abhishek was considered coz it would have given Lagaan the much needed publicity…Launch Of Amitabh’s Son…since he was not getting any takers for the movie…Also no need to tell what a bad actor Abhishek was at that point of time…Like every star son/daughter some one had to launch Abhishek also…
“Leaving this aside wonder why this blog of “bachchan fanatics” keeps attracting you!”
But I go to other blogs as well and even I m suggesting the same to u…It will probably breaka lot of ur myths…
“Imran Khan chooses Break ke Baad over Dum maaro Dum or SRK prefers RNBDJ to Rakeysh Mehra!”
I don’t care Imran khan as an actor/star..but then also I will tell this was a Brilliant decision…I am sure he must have been offered the role that Pratiek is doing. Why should he do a side role in Abhishek’s movie when he is getting main roles? This guy is doing movies as main lead with Katrina and kareena in Yashraj and Dharma productions. And come on Dum maro Dum is not some prestige movie by a prestige director that every body will want to be a part of it. It is just another Mardhar cop movie….But I enjoy this genre and will watch it for sure…
And SRK not doing Delhi 6 (i think u r referring this movie) is another excellent decision…The story line was a lot similar to Swades…
For me it is better to reject to projects which seems to be problematic rather than accepting just becoz it is from a prestige director…Aamir does this strictly..SRK did not do No Smoking…
But somehow again u have taken this argument in BO direction…I will again say I started this as discussion on “Acting” not “Stardom”…I cringe when I read here Abhishek as the best star actor of his generation. When we have a Hrithik with bigger stardom and a variety of performances like khnp, KMG, Lakshya, Krishh, JA and Guzarish…see the variety here ….
March 1, 2011 at 6:09 AM
I will just pick one point here as illustrative of everything I said earlier:
“But before Lagaan who was Ashutosh Gowarikar”
you introduced Gowariker into the discussion and said that he took Abhishek at the end or whatever. When I suggested he considered him early on you suddenly change the terms of the debate. In other words there is that brief window after Lagaan at which point his casting decisions matter, otherwise they don’t! C’mon! If Abhishek were in JA you’d say that having flopped with SRK in Swades he had no choice and wouldn’t have got a bigger star. Much as Bhansali post-Saawariya gets Hrithik and it means something but post-Guzaarish he gets Abhishek and it again means nothing! So again I won’t keep beating a dead horse here but this is a classic example of how these arguments proceed. And I should no, I’m a pro at dealing with anti-Abhishek folks and for many years I’ve seen these sorts of arguments coming not a mile away but probably ten miles away!
March 1, 2011 at 7:00 AM
If Ashutosh had signed Abhishek after Swades or Lagaan I would have agreed on ur point but the fact is he was not a good actor at that time. Since now he has matured and also the fact that these two directors have already worked with other actors, now Abhi’s turn comes.
“I’m a pro at dealing with anti-Abhishek folks ”
blowing ur own trumpet…Then why did u leave another blog and start ur own…
March 1, 2011 at 8:09 AM
On your first point I won’t be going around in circles (though I see you’ve contradicted yourself once again on just this bit of the discussion!).. I don’t have much to add to the long comment I put up yesterday.. but to repeat the central point there for you any discussion that credits Abhishek with anything on the box office or acting front at any stage of his career is foreclosed.. I actually don’t have a problem with this position but you should be honest enough and admit this is your position and not pretend to ‘debate’ these things. What’s the point of a debate where there are no conceivable set of facts that could change one’s opinion?!
On the rest I won’t get into a discussion of why I left other blogs but if I just wanted to start my own I could have done this very early on.
February 28, 2011 at 2:24 PM
“they derive various kinds of illogical reasons….”
And, what reasons did I derive?! Or you just had sya it?!
My point was that the rapid fire questions / responses are quite witless and fatuous. Clearly, Abhi is a better ACTOR than most STARS.
But, I DO remember who said what and will surely make a point when / if Abhishek is placed somewhere at the top by the same people because of his BO rather than his acting!
February 28, 2011 at 2:55 PM
“And, what reasons did I derive?! Or you just had sya it?!”
I was not talking about u..but ppl here have already derived reasons..
“Clearly, Abhi is a better ACTOR than most STARS.”
Well it’s just ur opinion…can not argue on that…IMO Abhishek is not a better actor than Aamir/SRK/HR/Ajay/Saif…(among the big stars)…
February 28, 2011 at 7:56 AM
I am a big fan of Madhuri. During her hey days noone actually saw her interview and i think that worked very well in her favour because she is quite a bimbo.
I mean Sonakshi looked far more relaxed and intelligent. Madhuri on the other hand has been disappointing in her show as well as in this episode.
Maybe i had a very high opinion of her as being a perfect indian woman. Fact is that she is in terms of beauty, acting and dance but far from it in terms of IQ.
February 28, 2011 at 8:44 AM
haven’t seen these videos but she’s fine on Jhalak.. she is still quite radiant..
February 28, 2011 at 8:14 AM
Re:
And SRK can even romance a lamp post with fantastic results.
LOL. He can do a lot more with a lamp post. Probably more than most actors.
Re: Why does everyone have Abhishek and SLB at the bottom of their list?!
Most of the guests know which side of their bread is buttered and tend to suck up to those who are more successful at the moment.
Madhuri is not a bimbo. But is not terribly cerebral either. She has been fairly good on the show and tends to be a little kinder and gentler than the other two judges. Malaika takes herself a little too seriously. Madhuri is pretty down to earth and accepts accolades and praise with a grace and poise. Not too modest nor at all arrogant.
February 28, 2011 at 1:35 PM
Rajen is right. Madhuri comes across as down to earth friendly and homely person, somebody with a quiet sense of humour. Definitely not a bimbo, even if she doesn’t come across as cerebral.
February 28, 2011 at 2:27 PM
LOL. He can do a lot more with a lamp post. Probably more than most actors.
And someone can’t do anything with an opposite sex. LOL
February 28, 2011 at 2:29 PM
@ oldgold–
I genuinely liked this episode, and have no wish to turn it into an SRK fan-aamir fan scrapfest.
My last word on this topic. I have never hated SRk, never brought him down; but yes, I tend to defend Aamir from what I perceive to be unfair attacks on an actor who has survived two decades depite his limitations ( his short stature being a prime source of meriment for his critics), who has touched many a fan with his films and performances, with whom some share a wavelength, a similar way of thinking….
I have ample respect for SRK, the star and the person; just wish his fans would respect fans of a rival/colleague. And I do wish KJo would stop wearing his SRK bhakti so openly.
February 28, 2011 at 3:21 PM
My comment wasn’t aimed at anyone in particular, including you.
It was for the general trend here.
On ones own show one can show ones bhakti I presume.
February 28, 2011 at 6:03 PM
LS, do you know definitely how tall Aamir is? I ask because people keep on bringing up his “short stature”, but I don’t see that he is significantly shorter than the other leading stars. I realize he is the shortest of the three Khans, but I also don’t see that there is more than a 2-3 inch difference between all of them. So why is this an issue only about Aamir?
February 28, 2011 at 7:11 PM
Forget about sharing the show with madhuri— sonamshi should not be on the show.. Period. Sorry folks — I’m a rude guy and find her obese…
Where exactly in the states is madhuri roaming around in supermarkets unnoticed. And Has her hubby finally cometed his cardiology fellowship or not… Madhuri should be given the award for being so level headed– v few can tolerate this sudden oblivion after the limelight…
Bachchan grew a beard and tried to for five share but was back….
March 1, 2011 at 3:43 AM
You’ve given a whole new definition to ‘obese’.
March 1, 2011 at 5:25 AM
No way Alex is Sonakshi obese. She has curves in all the right places now ashwarya is looking obese
and even Salman has put on a few pounds which I hope he loses sooner rather than later
March 1, 2011 at 6:10 AM
‘Buxom’ is probably the right word for her though she could lose some weight.
March 1, 2011 at 6:20 AM
I think she is a little heavier now than she was in Dabangg, but she still looks very good.
Madhuri could also have been described as “buxom”, or Alex’s definition of “obese” during her heyday, couldn’t she? Her weight fluctuated quite a bit.
March 1, 2011 at 7:56 AM
Sonakshi’s weight shows on her face. She certainly is not obese or fat but has some extra fat that she could do without. But, again it is a matter of personal preference.
She certainly is pretty but even from her responses, it seems she is always awaging a battle against those extra pounds.
March 1, 2011 at 8:05 AM
I don’t think Madhuri could be called buxom by any stretch. Obviously I wouldn’t call Sonakshi ‘obese’ but she certainly has a buxom figure which wasn’t true for Madhuri. She’s like Neetu Singh in this sense. The latter too was buxom but she could often be a little overweight.
March 1, 2011 at 8:20 AM
You wouldn’t call Madhuri buxom “by any stretch”? I would argue that her bust is her most prominent feature. Compared to her contemporaries like Juhi or Karisma, she was certainly more endowed. Some of my male friends have told me that this is the first thing a man notices about a woman, so I find it hard to believe you didn’t notice. And in the blogosphere I have read many comments by nondesis commenting on her “mature look”, and even complaining about her being “fat”, when all they were referring to was her bust. Except for her very early movies (when she was still a teenager), and even when she was otherwise slender, I think “buxom” is a very appropriate description for her. Of course, I don’t apply that as either an insult or a disqualification.
March 1, 2011 at 8:24 AM
I don’t mean it as an insult either but I would never associate that adjective with Madhuri nor do I recognize her in the physical description you’ve just provided. I actually don’t think she was well-endowed at all. In fact for a great bit of her career she actually could have used a bit more weight though later she definitely put on a bit more than she should have. Don’t think though that the plump overtones of ‘buxom’ at all describe Madhuri. Neetu Singh in the 70s was the textbook definition of buxom. Sonakshi is along that spectrum. As for men noticing a certain part of the anatomy before all else I am unfortunately less enamored by the cult of the breast. The totality of the woman matters to me far more than this fetishization with different parts of the body. There is nothing wrong in being partial to certain features of the body, people have their preferences in this sense, we are all attracted to certain aspects more than others and I am no exception but in modern consumer culture there is a fetishization and to the extent that sometimes I am not sure if a woman is being discussed or parts of an animal on display in a supermarket meat section.
March 1, 2011 at 8:31 AM
I see that Satyam requires proof. Even if I don’t convince him, I hope at least to provide some enjoyment.
March 1, 2011 at 8:39 AM
I am rather too aware of all these videos. With certain actresses the somewhat crude reference of ‘padding’ was often made and I can assure you Madhuri was no exception to this. The males who notice these things with a certain urgency are always trying to figure out whether a woman is well-endowed with ‘aid’ or without. especially with actresses would never consider her as such. DTPH is rather late anyway, Madhuri is a but overweight in this. Even HAHK is a bit late. But she still isn’t buxom even in these videos. Frankly, and I can’t get more explicit than this, but people who think she is well-endowed are just wrong. Of course being well-endowed is hardly the same as being buxom anyway. Every Sports Illustrated cover girl is well-endowed but not buxom!
March 1, 2011 at 8:33 AM
I think it depends on how you use the word buxom. One usage is to describe some one full bosomed and other one is to describe someone healthy and plump.
In any event, if one were playing a word association game, the word ‘Buxom’ is probably not going to be in the firsr five words to describe Madhuri.
March 1, 2011 at 8:34 AM
Satyam, I’m all for looking at the totality of a woman or a man, and don’t like to objectify anyone. However, that is different from merely discussing a particular aspect as we are doing here. I myself tend to look at a person’s face most of the time to judge her/his appearance, or to decide what impression s/he makes on me.
Anyway, if my previous comment is in moderation, I hope you will approve it soon.
March 1, 2011 at 8:40 AM
nothing’s in moderation.
March 1, 2011 at 8:44 AM
OK, without prolonging the discussion any further, I will just say (1) I am well aware of artificial enhancements and can easily spot them; (2) I think our definitions of “buxom” vary.
I hope at least you enjoyed watching the videos, even though they are familiar.
March 1, 2011 at 8:50 AM
didn’t watch them to be honest because I know them a bit too well! but yes let’s agree to disagree.
February 28, 2011 at 11:03 PM
@ oldgold. No hard feelings. And Idid appreciate your fair words on Dhobi Ghat and Aamir himself. So, peace.
@ sm–I have an old (May 1999) Femina article on Aamir. It mentions his height as 167.5 cm. Now that’s a precise number and I assume that they aren’y lying. Well according to this article Aamir is about 5’6′ tall. Now that’s a short guy–but ok by Indian standards, not dwarfish or anything.
@ alex adams–Madhuri is really one level headed celebrity.She has made a graceful move from public to semi-public life.
March 1, 2011 at 4:07 AM
Thanks, LS. Aamir’s height has usually been reported as 5’5″ or 5’6″. Salman and SRK are about 5’7″, (though each officially claims to be 5’10″). So as I said, Aamir may be the shortest of the three, but it’s not as if the other two are that much taller. I believe Saif is also about 5’8″. So why the focus on Aamir’s height only? It’s true that back in the 2001-2002 time frame, I saw a few articles that referred to SRK’s small, even “diminutive”, but more to express surprise that a person with such a powerful aura on screen should be so different off screen. In any case, it was only Akshay from that generation of stars who is close to six feet. This was not a problem for anyone as all the heroines of that era were about 5’4″ or shorter. I think the heroes’ height only came to the fore after all the beauty queens started appearing in Bollywood, and found it difficult to find top heroes who could match them in height. Of the next generation of six foot heroes (Hrithik, Abhishek, Vivek Oberoi), only Hrithik has managed to reach the top level, so that still restricts the tall heroines to a small pool of potential mates onscreen. I don’t know how tall Ranbir or Imran is, but I think they are also close to six feet, and of course, Deepika and Sonam are also said to be almost six feet tall.
March 1, 2011 at 4:31 AM
“Deepika and Sonam are also said to be almost six feet tall.”
Now THAT is a glaring exaggeration!
March 1, 2011 at 5:34 AM
Is it? That’s what I read in the ever-so-reliable Bollywood press.
I agree I was scratching my head in Saawariya to see how they managed to fit the six foot Sonam and the 5’10″ (to give him his official height) Salman into one frame and make it look normal, not strange, and kept thinking, “That girl doesn’t look like she’s six feet tall.” If you know their actual heights, please do enlighten me.
March 1, 2011 at 6:00 AM
Sonam is 5’9 and a bit
Deepika is exactly 5’9
March 1, 2011 at 8:58 AM
It’s more of a ‘disqualifying’ comment – I mean I’m absolutely sure they’re NOT six feet than knowing how tall they’d actually be!
March 1, 2011 at 5:33 AM
Deepika and Sonam are 5’10 max
Salman Khan is 5’7 and SRK closer to 5’8 Amir is probably 5’5. Saif is also around 5’8 coz in LAK he was few inches shorter than Deepika and even the chor bazari song where Deepika is wearing flat sandals Saif still looked quite a bit shorter. Now height is not the be all and end all look at how successful these guyz have been and there are many such examples.
Yes sm you are spot on 10 years back or so the shorter heroes i.e. KHANS could get away with it but now it’s different.
Now talking from a Salman fan point of view. In BIWI no1 it was obvious he was shorter than Sush but it would look far worse now coz Salman has become more broader and the more muscle you put on around the shoulders chest area does make you look a bit shorter. If he toned up like similar to NO ENTRY or even PARTNER days he could look taller. Now I know this from experience lol but it does work.
Even in MPKK he only looked slightly shorter than Kat even though she is atleast 2 inches taller than him.
Hope I made some sense
March 1, 2011 at 5:40 AM
In Biwi No. 1, Sush said Salman is very secure and confident, and doesn’t have any problem acting with women who are taller than him, and even overruled the director to have Sushmita wear high heels in their scenes together. So there was no attempt to make her look shorter. Of course Shilpa is also very tall, even though she is part of the “older” generation, and when she or Deepika came on DKD they were both towering over Salman, but again he had no problem with it. I haven’t seen OSO, so don’t know how Farah managed it with SRK and Deepika.
On Salman’s build, it was only when he was bulking up for Veer that it threw off his body proportions. Funnily enough, while I thought it affected the way he looked in Yuvvraaj and MAMK, in Veer itself he looked fine, so the look worked for that role. Anyway he is back to his regular build now. In general I dislike actors being made to change their body appearance for any role.
March 1, 2011 at 6:07 AM
Good point sm
In the songs especially ishq chandi hai sush is wearing massive heels and Salman normal shoes. He has always been confident acting with women taller (even though he has said he would have loved to have been slightly taller).
Citing Shilpa as an example is a good one. She has been opposite Salman many times and surprisingly it has not looked too bad. Now I don’t want to be offensive or anything but Salman being a very good looking guy certainly helps. One doesn’t focus on his height much.
Yes, his long hair and beefed up body did not look too good in YUVRAAJ or MAMK. It was also annoying to see Salman with short hair in WANTED then in another scene with the long hair lol. Thankfully he is close to his normal self and has removed his long hair. I think KICK we may see the Salman of old coz it’s going to be a very cahllenging and demanding film.
February 28, 2011 at 11:40 PM
Sachin’s height is 5.5. That means we have 2 stars from different fields not very tall. But their achievements make them tall. Some are born tall and some achieve it. What about short people with no big achievements to their credit? They also achieve in their own way and loved, respected by their friends and families. Many actresses are quite short but that does not come in the way of their achievements.
To be realistic, a tall frame gives a boost to most of us. All of us want to have tall frames, slim bodies, perfect faces, fair complexion and the most lavish hair. With all these also, one cannot automatically become the greatest cricketer or one of the most accomplished actors or even a top industrialist etc. etc. But all those above attributes will definitely make it easy for many to be accepted more readily.
Aamir is gifted with a cherubic face and has maintained himself very well.
Those who call Aamir short are okay, but those who call him dwarfish are mentally sick.
March 1, 2011 at 12:25 AM
Aamir is 5’4.Sachin tendulkar is also 5’4.With shoes Aamir is 5’6.
March 1, 2011 at 1:38 AM
One can talk about things over which one can have control. Height and colour are things over which no one can have any control.
One can have control over one’s choices, behaviour and attitude. That is what ultimately to be judged if that person is in the limelight.
And short people can take inspiration from Sachin, Aamir, Napoleon and a host of such celebrities.
March 1, 2011 at 7:58 AM
I cannot believe so much bandwidth has been devoted to heights of the stars.
As if one or two inches in the height really is that big of a deal.
All three Khans are a relativley on a shorter side. Hasnt at all come in way of their success.
March 1, 2011 at 8:06 AM
1 hardly finds all 4 khans without shoes- be it on beach or temple or under wedding mandap! It is well known and observable that all of them have their specially made elevator shoes & even chappals.
Salman & all other khans are highly insecure about this factor and it is quite evident. In Partner & Dabbang (even while taking bath in the morning) he don’t take off his thick sandals. Sonam is 5′ 10″ and Salman who is 5′ 7″ still managed to look as tall as her in Sawariya-guess how??Saif looks almost as tall as AB in Eklavya with his special shoes! Same tactics in Ohmkara too.
This is just an observation and surely not an attempt to take anything away from them.
March 1, 2011 at 8:43 AM
here is the textbook definition of buxom:
and here’s Madhuri’s most iconic song:
March 1, 2011 at 8:46 AM
here’s Merriam-Webster:
bux·om/ˈbəksəm/
Adjective: (of a woman) Plump, esp. with large breasts
here’s Oxford:
adjective
(of a woman) plump, with a full figure and large breasts:
March 1, 2011 at 8:58 AM
My last word on the subject.
Dont care how tall the Khans are or how well endowed Madhuri is.
I would just prefer to have coffee with Madhuri by myself rather than with Karan with SRK obsession there. Me and Madhuri can discuss my height and her statistics in private over coffee.
March 1, 2011 at 9:01 AM
lol!
March 1, 2011 at 9:00 AM
I hope Dr. Nene isn’t anywhere near here!
March 1, 2011 at 9:02 AM
I have seen Dr.Nene. I can take him on.
BTW, Alex – Dr. Nene is not a cardiologist. He is a practising Vascular surgeon.
March 1, 2011 at 11:04 AM
I think KICK we may see the Salman of old coz it’s going to be a very cahllenging and demanding film.
naveed, kick is one of the worst films.
March 1, 2011 at 2:00 PM
I am just back and am enjoying the above discussion incited by the “obese” word: lol. Must give me credit for bringing in spice..
Sonamshi may not fit the true WHO definition of obesity right now, but one can see telltale signs of recent weight loss– some of which are difficult to conceal to the discerning.
Even leaving that aside, saw a bit of her recent award function “performance”. She is a horribly lethargic nondancer. I mean, someone has had two or three v strong dialogues lcourtesy the writer and an interregnum face — and u becum d next big thing.
If she wasn’t related with no shotgun connection, again the lightboy comment../…
Was reading somewhere that for unconnected strugglers, even lightboys charge a “tax” in kind for favors– a girl I know is doing a thesis on these things– formal results awaited -lol
Anyhow, why am I singling only sonamshi out. There is a generation of fraternal and familial connections abounding rite now. So much so, that unconnected people are in a minority.
Some of my influential friends are urging me to join forces to provide a “platform” for unconnected talents…..let’s see if somehing happens
March 1, 2011 at 2:02 PM
“Must give me credit for bringing in spice..”
I’m sure you could start riots in the right situation!
March 1, 2011 at 2:04 PM
Thanks Sm for your graphic descriptions of buxomness…
Agree with a lot of what u say ESP the bit about guys noticing certain things first!
But agree with satyam that madhuri for henkost part o her career was not well endowed in the way u mentioned.
Aamir is not only shot but conspicuously so.a but like Tendulkar. Read somewhere that short things try to compensate …. Pun intended….
March 1, 2011 at 2:24 PM
Sm u said to my comment that manmohan Singh cannot be equated to arrahman. Plz elaborate — it’s interesting.
There is something about these personalities that amaze. Mms seemed to be a misfit in politics but is managing more than fine in terms of longevity. AR Rahman for all his spirituality and obvious talent ( I am his greatest fan) has displayed more discretion and professional acumen and even shrewdness than can be accounted for, on face value.
Sukhvindr didn’t get visa to perform army oscars to a song that he hAd actually sung. AR got to perform instead. There are whispers that there is more than meets the eye!
Also to add– I feel Sm and oldhold really enrich the discourse here and their comments as high quality ( whether we agree or not)
Besides Tata…..
March 2, 2011 at 12:09 PM
am a die hard fan of madhuri yaar.she is uncomparable.i feel KJO should make a pair with madhuri and SRK.i bet to the box office collections.and also pair her with AAMIR in a script of kiran rao.i mean it.
March 2, 2011 at 12:26 PM
Keep dreaming. Aamir, SRK and Salman are not interested in acting with actresses their own age else Juhi and others would be cast in their movies.
March 2, 2011 at 12:38 PM
I think Aamir would be willing to work with Rani. If I’m not mistaken she was considered at some point for Ghajini but couldn’t do it. There are not that many older actresses left who are viable. I doubt he likes the younger ones much either but in a D3 kind of deal he’d go along with whatever the choice was. Again he does end up working with kareena or whoever because most directors aren’t willing to cast Rani let alone other somewhat older actresses. Everyone zeroes in on the current 5 or so. SRK is a different deal though because here he has been trying in every film to act with younger and younger actresses. Again don’t believe Salman would have much of an issue either way.
March 3, 2011 at 5:00 AM
Madhuri and Juhi are about two years younger than the Khans, while Rani is about 13 years younger, so it’s not fair to bracket her with Madhuri and Juhi. (Kajol is 10 years younger, and Kareena 15 years younger).
March 2, 2011 at 11:28 PM
Madhuri and Juhi are in their forties and in any run of the fil, 40 plus heroines cant fit in. They cannot be college girls(though 40 plus heroes have an unfair advantage) and they cant be young romantic bimbos. Roles must be written for them and it is difficult to find such scripts for them where they can also pair with the happening Khans. it is like having the cake and eating it too. Having the cake of working with the Khans and eating a powerful role.
As for Sonakshi, her dancing to various famous numbers left me cold. She has to depend on acting rather than dancing to make a mark.
March 2, 2011 at 11:38 PM
Madhuri and the chirpy Juhi would have made better combination. Sonakshi and Reena Roy would have been interesting. Or Sonakshi and Anushka.combination.
Madhuri and Juhi are in their forties and in any run of the mill film, 40 plus heroines cant fit in. They cannot be college going girls(though 40 plus heroes have an unfair advantage) and they cant be young romantic bimbos. Roles must be written for them and it is difficult to find such scripts for them where they can also pair with the happening Khans. It is like having the cake and eating it too. Having the cake of working with the Khans and eating a powerful role.
As for Sonakshi, her dancing to various famous numbers left me cold. She has to depend on acting rather than dancing to make a mark.
A heroine’s face is her most important asset. Meena Kumari, Hema Malini, Savitri, Sarita etc.
March 3, 2011 at 5:03 AM
Surprisingly, the Madhuri – Akshaye Khanna jodi looked and worked well together in Aaja Naachle. Having said that, though, I must admit that in her current foray, Madhuri for the first time is looking aged. Still beautiful, but definitely “of a certain age”, a look that Aishwarya (the closest to her in age of working heroines) still hasn’t hit.
March 3, 2011 at 6:27 AM
Madhuri and Dimple both worked with the father and son duo Vinod Khanna and Akshaye Khanna.
March 3, 2011 at 6:47 AM
This discussion of the word ‘buxom’ is eternal.
From vague memory of my earlier discussion comes to mind.
Like all words there is a history.
The earliest (around 1100 0r so) can be related to the word ‘buh’ which meant ‘to bow’ and so was meant for women who were ‘obedient’.
It underwent several changes and just before the present definition ‘buxom’ was associated with the word ‘bosom’ (one can trace a similarity in the two words) and later the ‘thin fashion’ related the buxomness to the entire body.
Some dictionares give both the meanings.
I see that the American Heritage Dictionary quotes what I have written too;
1.
a. Healthily plump and ample of figure: “A generation ago, fat babies were considered healthy and buxom actresses were popular, but society has since come to worship thinness” (Robert A. Hamilton).
*** b. Full-bosomed.***
2. Archaic. Lively, vivacious, and gay.
3. Obsolete. Obedient; yielding; pliant.
Actually while researching the meaning I find the history of the word is up there too.
Dictionary dot com;
–adjective
1.
***(of a woman) full-bosomed.***
2.
(of a woman) healthy, plump, cheerful, and lively.
There are others too.
March 3, 2011 at 6:57 AM
The word ‘plump’ was never meant to be synonymous with ‘buxom’ but has become so.
@satyam
Therefore Madhuri in that song with weird cringe inducing words can definitely be described as buxom, and Neetu Singh as plump.
March 3, 2011 at 7:27 AM
“The word ‘plump’ was never meant to be synonymous with ‘buxom’ but has become so.”
I guess you’ll have to take it up with Oxford and Merriam-Webster! Don’t think we can rely on meanings that are clearly obsolete and that didn’t become so over the last decade. On Madhuri as I’ve already stated and at least the men seem to be agreeing with me that she was neither considered plump nor full-bosomed!
March 3, 2011 at 8:59 AM
Guys and Gals,
We can debate till the cows come home if Madhuri is well endowed/buxom.
Its for us to wonder and Dr.Nene to know.
March 3, 2011 at 9:04 AM
I recall a song from Khalnayak…!
March 3, 2011 at 9:04 AM
by the way we will offend Jay if we keep talking about Madhuri like this..
March 3, 2011 at 9:46 AM
Jay? Who is that?
March 3, 2011 at 4:20 PM
Leave poor Mads alone. I saw bits of this and she is as gorgeous as ever.
March 3, 2011 at 4:33 PM
Agree with Satyam here that madhuri is not well-endowed!
Sorry for being direct and blunt but Even in the “celebrated” “choli ke peechhhe” song — i wondered what the fuss was about?–lol.
Would put Manisha koirala, ayesha takia, mumtaaz in that category.
There was an actress in dev anands movie gambler and prem pujari (not waheeda)—dont know her name but remember her to satisfy your above inclusion critieria!
Just my “point” of view–pun unintended!
March 7, 2011 at 10:33 AM
I think the actress’s name is ‘Zaheeda’ – do not recollect her being in ‘Prem Pujari’ though
March 3, 2011 at 4:42 PM
>Even in the “celebrated” “choli ke peechhhe” song — i wondered what the fuss was about?–lol.
There really was no fuss.
She was talking about her ‘dil’ behind the choli, but the one track minds went into a spin after the first line.
March 3, 2011 at 4:45 PM
Oldgold, that song is a double meaning one in the most obvious sense.. that is the whole ‘charm’ of it! It would be strange if one did not think of this!
It’s like that joke SRK had recently at one of the awards — ‘what can you see when actresses bow down before you?’. Answer: ‘their sanskar’! Of course this was rather inappropriate for such an event but vulgarity is often no stranger to SRK. The fans insist it’s brilliant, understated humor.
I do disagree with Alex though. This was a brilliant video and Madhuri was gorgeous. Ghai gave Madhuri some great videos. Loved her ‘bada dukh deena’ in Ram Lakhan.
March 3, 2011 at 7:11 PM
Not seen much of Jhalak Dikhlajaa but in the episode I saw, Madhuri was talking about how special Bada Dukh Dena was to her – the first time Lata sang for her
March 3, 2011 at 10:38 PM
the great thing about this song is Madhuri’s dance of course but also the video.. it is visually superb..
March 3, 2011 at 4:49 PM
Cum on oldgold—dont pretend to be so naive…
Its like the principal asking the new kids where the school canteen is!!!
And yes—we all like “sanskaars”!!
March 3, 2011 at 5:41 PM
satyam and alex adams – it was meant to be tongue in cheek. See rajen how useful smilies can be, which I forgot to add in that comment. Hahahaha!!
March 3, 2011 at 5:50 PM
Oldgold,
You forgot there is something inbetween choli and dil!
Tongue in cheek or padding in bra- it still was an iconic Madhuri moment.
March 3, 2011 at 5:51 PM
I’m thankful it was tongue-in-cheek! Even if Jeetendra gives the latter a bad name!
March 7, 2011 at 3:32 AM
there was rumor that he is going to bring both Mad and Sri together in KWK.
He replaced Sri with Sonakshi? Madhuri is doing round in Mumbai, since last three months but still no major project news for her?
But atleast she brought Sri from Hibernation.
Balki Has confirmed Sridevi doing movie specially written fro her by His wife. Even he is planning casting Sridevi opposite Bachchan in next.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-interviews/Sridevi-Amitabh-to-pair-up/articleshow/7633646.cms
March 9, 2011 at 5:41 PM
“Madhuri is doing round in Mumbai, since last three months but still no major project news for her?”—good observation and agreee—Incidentally she looks her age now quite a bit….
March 9, 2011 at 7:23 PM
Anupma Chopra’s Top 20 hindi films of all times-
http://www.tubaah.com/details.php?video_id=192055
March 9, 2011 at 7:46 PM
20. DDLJ
19.AAA
18.Chalti Ka naam gaadi
17.LRMB
16.Ankur
15.Ardh Satya
14.Lagaan
13.JBDY
12.Deewar
11.Haqeekat
10.Garam Hawa
9.Guide
8.Aanand
7.Bandini
6.Sahib Biwi aur Ghulam
5.Aawara
4.Pyasa
3.Sholay
2.Mother India
1.Mughal E Azam
March 9, 2011 at 9:27 PM
I would at the most agree with 8-10 films on this list!
March 9, 2011 at 9:06 PM
I would have added – Golmaal, Chupke Chupke, Trishul, Swades, Three Idiots and HAHK to the mix…………
March 9, 2011 at 9:08 PM
Ankur and Ardh Satya do not belong to the list…