| Shah Rukh back at the top after Devdas |
 |
| By SUBHASH K. JHA |
| MUMBAI: Shah Rukh Khan has done it again. He has gone ahead and proved once again that he is aptly called the "King Khan" of Bollywood after his performance in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas, which is being touted as the biggest Bollywood blockbusters of all times. As to how Shah Rukh manages to be in the biggest and best films year after year, the actor dimples mischievously. "That's because I'm one helluva shrewd guy." Shah Rukh has been associated with and won awards for some of the biggest Bollywood films since he joined movies in the 1990s. The list includes Dewaane, Baazigar, Darr, Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge, Dil Toh Pagal Hai and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai in the 1990s. He was part of last year's super hit Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham and now Devdas. Told he has come up with yet another award winning performance, he retorts: "Isn't that how it is every year?" Shrewd, Shah Rukh certainly is. How else can critics explain his amazing stronghold over the box-office? Just as he seems to lose his grip on the top spot, he scrambles back. Devdas and to a lesser extent Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam, which also starred Shah Rukh and Madhuri Dixit, are profit-making ventures. Hum Tumhare..., which took three years to complete and was written off in India due to its tacky look and poor story, was a big money spinner in the overseas market. But it is with Devdas that Shah Rukh has actually bounced back to the top spot for which he faced a serious threat in the form of actor Hrithik Roshan in 2000. Hrithik had struck gold at the box-office in his sensational debut film Kaho Na...Pyaar Hai in 2000, but is struggling to regain his form. Shah Rukh's other competitors Salman Khan, Aamir Khan, Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt and Sunny Deol among others too are in search of that one hit that will take them all the way to the top. Salman, associated with hits like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aapke Hain Kaun, has not had much luck at the box office this year. His Tumko Na Bhool Payenge flopped badly. He is now looking to Yeh Hai Jalwa and Sethu to help resurrect his sagging film career that has been dogged by controversies and court cases. Sethu is a morbid love tragedy. Perhaps after Devdas and Shah Rukh, it's Salman's turn to turn to tragedy to meet with success. Aamir is still considering various scripts post-Lagaan and has clearly out-priced himself from the market. Ajay's last two films, Hum Kisise Kum Nahin and The Legend Of Bhagat Singh, have failed. There seem to be no takers for his Chori Chori. Trade experts say Sanjay Dutt is the most bankable star since legendary Amitabh Bachchan, but his devil-may-care image is hampering his heroic ambitions. A lot depends on Sanjay Gupta's Kaante where he is said to be mind blowing. Sunny Deol's larger-than-life image after Gadar - Ek Prem Katha has suffered severe setbacks, especially after the flop 23rd March 1931 - Shaheed where he attempted a historical character for the first time. His brother Bobby has just tasted average success in Humraaz, which will end up a loser in the long run, especially as the demand for Devdas, released a week later, will eat into the thriller's business. Vivek Oberoi could pose a threat to Shah Rukh if his impact in Ram Gopal Varma's Company is substantiated by one hit where he plays the conventional hero. He has Road and Saathiya coming up. Will they prove his box-office draw? As of now, it is clearly advantage Shah Rukh. Devdas is not only an author-backed solo-hero project, it's also an occasion for his detractors to eat humble pie about his trademark mannerisms and supposed inability to play characters by overcoming his megastar image. Competition has never been an issue for Shah Rukh. After Devdas the stakes are loaded in his favour. In August and September, the audience will see him in two guest appearances in Boney Kapoor's Shakti and Saathiya. He has also said yes to mentor Aziz Mirza and friend choreographer Farha Khan's films. But these will take at least a year to crystallise. "Right now I'm sitting at home doing nothing," says Shah Rukh |