Sunday October 11, 2009
Top of their game
By SHARMILLA GANESAN
As a pre-Festival of Light special, we spotlight our choice of Bollywood’s brightest stars at the moment.
IT may be the world’s most prolific film industry, but Bollywood cinema has always been clustered around a few big names at a time. Every few years a new crop of fresh faces debuts on the silver screen, and a lucky few stay on to make their mark.
And the men generally have it easier than the women. Many of the current male stars made their debut in the early 1990s and are still at the top of their game. The three Khans – Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman – for example, who were regarded as the defining stars of the 1990s, remain in the top five list of Bollywood heroes.
Despite competition from newer actors like Abhishek Bachchan and John Abraham, these “older” hunks have stood their ground and even evolved with time. The only new face to crack this list is Hrithik Roshan, who burst onto the scene in 2000 with Kaho Na ... Pyaar Hai.
Leading ladies, on the other hand, seem to have a much shorter shelf life. The top five Bollywood heroines comprise predominantly new actresses. Even screen goddesses like Rani Mukherjee and Preity Zinta have been supplanted by the next big sensation. The veteran among the lot is Aishwarya Rai, who has been acting since 1997. The rest have only started acting in the past decade.
Of course, Bollywood is no longer the haphazard, regional business it used to be. As part of a multi-billion-dollar international industry, its stars now make their money and fame not only from acting, but also from brand endorsements, production and a whole host of other business ventures. So who are the stars presently ruling the roost in the glitzy world of Hindi cinema? Here’s our pick:
The main men
Akshay Kumar, flanked by Heyy Babyy co-stars Ritesh Deshmukh (left) and Fardeen Khan, is also recognised for his comedic talent No.1: Akshay Kumar, 42
Touted as the current king of Bollywood, Akshay has tasted both fortune and failure. His longevity and success in Bollywood cinema basically boils down to one thing: determination.
Throughout his career, Akshay has played the action hero, the villain and supporting roles. And in comedy, he seems to have found his forte. With back-to-back hits over the past several years, such as Namastey London, Heyy Babyy, Bhool Bhulaiyya and Singh is Kinng, Akshay has established himself as a hero of the masses.
While his much-hyped Chandni Chowk to China was a flop, he bounced right back with the recent Kambakkht Ishq.
The sheer volume of his work alone ensures his leading status over superstars like Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan, who tend to release only one or two films a year. Akshay reportedly earns up to 400 million rupees (RM28mil) per film.
No.2: Aamir Khan, 44
Aamir is the consummate actor, focusing on meaty roles rather than simply churning out films. He usually does only one film a year, and gets involved not only with his character, but also the film’s direction and production as well.
Having Aamir in his or her movie can cost a director somewhere around 80 million rupees (RM5.8mil). For his ad appearances (for brands like Toyota, satellite television provider Tata Sky and Titan watches), he apparently charges about 100 million rupees (RM7.2mil).
Aamir’s most recent films, Taare Zameen Par (which he also directed) and Ghajini, were super hits, further cementing his reputation as a quality actor who is also capable of drawing audiences.
No.3: Shah Rukh Khan, 44
No top five list of current Bollywood heavyweights is complete without the King Khan. While best known for his roles in hit films like Om Shanti Om, Shah Rukh is also an astute businessman who capitalises on his name.
The actor has been known to charge as low as 50 million rupees (RM3.6mil) for acting (especially for good friends like filmmakers Karan Johar and Farah Khan). His real money, however, comes from his brand endorsements, which apparently net him a cool 1.5 billion rupees (RM108.4mil) a year! Not to mention profits from his production company, Red Chillies Entertainment, and his cricket team, the Kolkata Knight Riders.
His recent releases, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Billu Barber, may have been modest hits by his standards, but with his upcoming My Name is Khan, which pairs him with his favourite heroine Kajol, Shah Rukh is still sitting pretty at the top.
No.4: Hrithik Roshan, 35
Hrithik’s combination of great acting, stunning good looks and fabulous physique has made him one of the most in-demand stars in Bollywood. Yet, this star, like Aamir, is extremely selective with his roles. The leading man doesn’t come cheap either – it is reported that Hrithik’s fee can go up to 100 million rupees (RM7.2mil). He also earns about one billion rupees (RM72.4mil) annually from his brand endorsements, which include Sony Ericsson, Acer and Coca-Cola.
His most recent movies were blockbusters Krrish, Dhoom: 2 and Jodhaa Akbar, and his upcoming film Kites, a home production, looks set to take him higher.
No.5: Salman Khan, 44
One may well wonder how Salman manages to stay so popular despite delivering a spate of flops (like Yuvraaj and God Tussi Great Ho) in recent years. The former bad boy of Bollywood, however, still commands a huge following. This is apparent from his sold-out stage performances and the fact that producers are still willing to shell out big bucks to have him – Salman charges about 50 million rupees (RM3.6mil) for his movies.
And then there is his fee for hosting the TV game show Dus Ka Dum (Power of 10), where he is reportedly being paid 890 million rupees (RM64.3mil) for the entire series; it is currently into its second season.
With two major productions coming out this year, Wanted (a remake of hit Tamil film Pokkiri) and Main Aur Mrs Khanna (with Kareena Kapoor), Salman could well surprise the naysayers.
Special mention:
Irrfan Khan, 47
While more known for offbeat or supporting roles within India, Irrfan has been making a name for himself internationally. Pivotal roles in international ventures like The Namesake, The Darjeeling Limited, A Mighty Heart and Slumdog Millionaire have highlighted him as an intense and sensitive actor, and Bollywood is starting to take notice. He was recently seen opposite Shah Rukh in Billu Barber and in New York with John Abraham and Katrina Kaif.
The wonder women
No.1: Kareena Kapoor, 29
Love her or hate her, this starlet is nothing if not confident. Though she has had her share of flops, Kareena has managed to brand herself as a bankable female lead. While noted for her glamorous image, she has also proven her acting mettle in films like Omkara and Chameli.
After the huge box-office success of Jab We Met in 2007, Kareena now charges between 40 million and 60 million rupees (RM2.9mil-RM4.3mil) per film.
With her recent outing, Kambakkht Ishq, becoming a super hit, Kareena proves that she is the reigning queen of Bollywood today, beating out even big names like Aishwarya Rai.
No.2: Aishwarya Rai, 36
Despite having slowed down somewhat after her marriage to Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya remains one of the most well-known Indians in the world. While her forays into Hollywood with films like The Last Legion and The Pink Panther 2 have not been very successful, she still enjoys top billing in Bollywood. Her recent hits, Guru and Jodhaa Akbar, have shown that there is more to this beauty than just gorgeous looks.
Her upcoming release, Tamil film Endhiran, with superstar Rajnikanth, apparently netted Aishwarya 40 million rupees (RM2.9mil), and she is also the brand ambassador for international brands like Longines, Lux and L’Oreal. She is also currently working on Raavan, a movie helmed by Mani Ratnam, one of India’s most lauded directors.
No.3: Katrina Kaif, 25
She may not be known for her histrionics, but Katrina certainly has used her stunning looks and glamour quotient to her advantage. Having played opposite showbiz titans like Akshay Kumar, Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan in a string of hits like Partner, Singh is Kinng and Race in recent times, she is undoubtedly a Bollywood darling.
Having perfected the art of playing the sexy, stylish female lead, Katrina reportedly charges about 35 million rupees (RM2.5mil) per film. She has also landed contracts to endorse brands like Olay and Nakshatra diamond jewellery.
Her latest film New York brought her positive reviews for her acting talent, signalling that this looker may have some other tricks up her sleeve.
No.4: Deepika Padukone, 23
This young starlet may only be four films old, but she is undeniably the hottest new face in Bollywood right now. While she was lucky to have a debut that any new actress would kill for (she was cast opposite Shah Rukh in the blockbuster Om Shanti Om), Deepika has proven that she is more than just another pretty face.
Her performance in Om Shanti Om earned a lot of praise, and she has since acted with Akshay (in Chandni Chowk to China), Saif (Love Aaj Kal) and other established actors. Already pulling in about 20 million rupees (RM1.4mil) per film, she is also a brand ambassador for famous brands like Tissot, Levi’s and Maybelline.
No.5: Priyanka Chopra, 27
Priyanka’s ascent to the top has not been easy; she seems to have a knack for acting in a hit, only to be followed by a succession of flops. The business-savvy actress has stayed in the game, however, by creating a diverse body of work and keeping her fees relatively low – she charges about 10 million rupees (RM720,000) per film.
After the back-to-back hits of Krrish and Don in 2006, she did a series of unsuccessful movies that put her in the back burner. She bounced back with Fashion last year, garnering critical acclaim for her gritty portrayal of a model’s life.
She followed this up with Dostana, which showed off her sexy, glamorous side to the hilt. With her most recent release, Kaminey with Shahid Kapur, also generating a lot of buzz, Priyanka’s spot among the top remains in her grip.
Special mention:
Freida Pinto, 25
Ironically, the Indian actress who is currently making the big bucks has never acted in an Indian film. After the stunning success of British director Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire, Freida has landed coveted roles in films by international stalwarts Woody Allen and Julian Schnabel. Her current earnings are reportedly in the region of £2mil (RM11.5mil). She has also apparently been signed as the face of Estee Lauder for a six-figure sum. Not bad for someone who has so far only been in one movie!
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