A Bachchan for all seasons

Sarbjit is out. The reviews are in. And the critics have been unsparing


Saad Saud June 02, 2016
A star whose mere mention can set a hundred films rolling, launch any number of consumer products and bring traffic to a screeching halt. PHOTO: womensarena

Sarbjit is out. The reviews are in. And the critics have been unsparing.

Speaking during the run-up to its release, filmmaker Omung Kumar posited that Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was a director’s actor. Truth be told an actor is just that, an actor. Think Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Sridevi. Bachchan, on the other hand, is a star. A star whose mere mention can set a hundred films rolling, launch any number of consumer products and bring traffic to a screeching halt. A star who manages to literally get her act together, well sometimes.

Aishwarya Rai's dance moves prove she's still got it

This might explain why while her closet peers—Rani Mukerji and Preity Zinta—have faded from the limelight, Aishwarya has managed to remain the cynosure of all eyes. While both her contemporaries, the former and the latter, enjoyed an enviable record of delivering hit on hit and noteworthy performances, Aishwarya’s kitty is replete with consecutive duds and some conspicuous performances. True, there’s Raincoat, Choker Bali, Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, Guru, Taal and Provoked. But for every Guzaarish she’s done an Albela. For every Jodhaa Akbar a Hum Kissise Kum Nahin. For Dhoom 2 a Dhaai Akshar Prem Ke. For Pink Panther 2 a Mistress of Spices. For Enthiran a Kyun…! Ho Gaya Na.

Rewind to Cannes 2016. An intrepid Aishwarya reminiscing about her first innings at the gala remarked that no one in the world can take the experience away from her. Well, one nearly did. Long before the Cavallis, Saabs, and Armanis there was a Mrs Lulla. And what a sorry spectacle it was, every time. Must have taken a concerted effort on her part to transform the world’s most beautiful into a “dowager sofa set.” Luckily for us, out went the vomit-inducing sarees, blinding dresses, profane gowns and in came (actual) haute couture.

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Light years before the saga of a torrid affair (real or imagined) rocked the bubble that is Bollywood and a certain Miss Ranaut emerged unscathed, the then Miss Bachchan survived a Khan(s) enforced boycott et al. Long before an amma jee made it to the Cannes jury, the former Miss World had been there done that and drawn flak for her Lullaesque sartorial choices. Long before Bebo became a tandoori murghi and Kat a chikni chameli, Bachchan resuscitated her career with Kajra Re.

With a Kjo flick on the floors, both Jazbaa and Sarbjit turning out to be profitable ventures, one can but only wonder what makes Bachchan upstage all the others.

COMMENTS (5)

sabah | 7 years ago | Reply thank you for the article! true voice of ARB's wellwishers she is always best in an all ways...forever queen & lagendary female icon of all time in bollywood..
sudish | 7 years ago | Reply First of all a nice sensible article. To all those negative cowards who write negative comments on her, be it acting , or her beauty or the person she is. Whatever you consider her as ( plastic , melodrama, artificial bla bla. she is done it all , ruled the stardom even after marriage n giving toughest competition to her contenders of 20 n 30s. She has alwaz proved her acting abilities yet people comment on her acting skills n may be the sole reason is jealousy n off-course her breath taking beauty. The ability she carries herself in every character she does is that itself is an achievement. In today's world U cant see your own siblings shine so much , how would anyone accept someone to shine so much and that too in her 40s. She is least bothered about who comments what and she does her work in a dignified manner. Most of the women today consider her as their idol. A perfect blend of beauty and human being she is dat itself is an achievement. Her latest Movie "Sarabjit" is an answer for all ur crap negative comments on her acting abilities and this is a tight slap for all those negative worms here.
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