| The
last hit film Shah Rukh Khan starred in was Om Shanti Om in 2007.
And despite the many flops, cameos, voiceovers, cricket teams, TV
shows, advertisements and tours that he has kept himself busy with
ever since, there is no denying the fact that now, three years later,
the 44-year-old King Khan's throne is in serious jeopardy. His fate
lies in the hands of the character (called Rizwan Khan) he plays
in his upcoming film My Name is Khan. Directed by Karan Johar and
co-starring Kajol, it is a combination that makes it a cinch to
do well at the box office - but will it be enough to redeem him
to the number one spot? One might take a heart stopping moment to
admit that it just might not. While the two other Khans - Aamir
and Salman - have always posed a serious threat to Shah Rukh, it
is in fact newcomers like Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan who are all
too eager and also too successful these days to let an opportunity
to reign go by. Will the new decade belong to them? Only Khan will
tell.
Meanwhile, SRK is doing everything possible to keep himself on the
media radar. He has reinvented his look, adding a six-pack and going
topless for Om Shanti Om. He has skimmed off his weight and with
it, many years off his age. HeÕs staying in the news: whether
it's being detained at an international airport (which many skeptics
feel was a publicity stunt to boost interest in My Name is Khan,
the film) or modelling with wife Gauri at Karan Johar's debut show
at India Couture Week, SRK has the media wrapped around his little
finger. Despite his last film flopping miserably, no one is willing
to pull him out of the spotlight. The man's charisma is keeping
him going.
And that charisma is irresistible. If tall, dark and handsome is
the yardstick to a man's good looks then SRK gets through with only
one out three attributes: dark. He is short by all standards and
when he made a debut into films, his unconventional looks were considered
everything but handsome. It is only with time that his dimpled smile
and 'S' eyebrows have become iconic. And irresistible, like his
charisma.
It was this charisma that had the house full at India Couture Week
last month, where he was walking the finale with wife Gauri Khan
for Karan Johar's debut show.
ÒThere are 160 celebrities expected today,Ó an over
excited cameraman gasped in the lounge. And while that was a bit
of an exaggeration, there were more than enough celebs to fill up
the front three rows of all six isles. Everyone from Yash Chopra,
Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, Farhan Akhter, Hrithik and Suzanne Roshan,
Priyanka, Preity, KajolÉyou name it and they were there.
All except the other Khans: Salman and Aamir and the some of the
other stars that had participated in Salman Khan's Being Human show.
Saif Ali Khan and Kareena came together and Jaya Bachchan came with
designer Sandeep Khosla to possibly bury the hatchet on the opening
night disaster. Some people came for SRK, some for Karan Johar and
some for Ranbir and Imran but it was quite obvious that some didn't
com because of SRK. No matter what they say, it was party baazi
at its very best.
Back to Shah Rukh, his walk of fame did not make this show better
than Salman's Being Human. In terms of fashion, both collections
were equally bad but in terms of drama and purpose, Salman Khan
stole the show. With films like Main Aurr Mrs Khanna and London
Dreams running well at the box office, he's stealing the limelight
these days too.
And that is exactly why Shah Rukh Khan desperately needs a hit film
to reclaim his number one spot.
Etching him in Rahul-Raj type roles, SRK's films with Karan Johar
have always been successful. And while Shimit Amin's Chak De India
managed to successfully pry him out of that stereotype, Karan Johar's
efforts into experimentation have not done that well. Kabhi Alvida
Naa Kehna didn't do well at all and now all too much is depending
on My Name is Khan. In My Name is Khan, Karan Johar steps into an
experimental mode again, cutting his hero to be an autistic Muslim
who is victimized by US authorities over his name. They mistake
his handicap for 'suspicious' behaviour.
Shah Rukh Khan is Rahul or Raj no more. At 44 he can no longer play
frivolous lover boy roles and he has to now take the road less traveled
and ventured into by the likes of Aamir Khan and even Amitabh Bachchan.
Can Rizwan Khan save his career?
|
