Saturday, September 11, 2010

Rahul or Salman - Who is the real Biggg Boss??

This appeared in the Asian Age \ Deccan Chronicle
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Why Rahul G is a lot like Salman K
Amazing but true - these guys have more in common than most people would like to accept.For one, they are both in the same business – politics by any other name is still showbiz. At forty (plus or minus a year idhar –udhar), they are determinedly single, mothers across India consider them super eligible dulhas, they definitely fall into the ‘hotties’ category with a vast female fan following panting after them, both are dubbed mama’s boys by those in the know, both adore their sister(s), and qualify as eye candy in every which way. Of course there are significant differences – Rahul Gandhi keeps his kurta on in public, Salman can’t wait to peel his shirt off – anytime, anywhere. Gandhi looks like a lean and mean fighting machine, but nobody has seen his pack ( four, six or eight, only his trainer knows for sure). Salman is the original Sando – possibly the most famous actor in the world to flaunt his gut and guts. Salman’s rippling muscles get more media coverage than his leading ladies – which is not such a bad thing, going by some of the recent samples. Salman’s roster of girl friends qualifies him as a true blue marathon man. Not much is known about Rahul’s love life. Salman is an unapologetic alpha male, Rahul G , far more new age and metro, even charmingly retro. Perhaps, Rahul is happy to conform to the strong-silent matinee idol style of the ‘60’s, while Salman’s abs do most of the emoting, on and off the screen. Both come from established- in- the- chosen- field families – the Gandhis have run politics in India for decades. The Khans have been around in Bollywood for decades, too. Parivaar is key. The Khan clan sticks together through good and terrible times. Ditto for the Gandhis ( even though theirs is a more compact unit).Despite their hitting forty ( Rahul is a whisker away from the landmark birthday), they continue to be perceived as ‘Bachchas’ – Salman as the Bad Boy, Rahul as the Good Guy. India is waiting for both to grow up – but not in a hurry. At the end of the day it boils down to just one quality – mass appeal. And as any marketing guru will tell you – that’s one thing nobody can manufacture. It’s like Lycra – either you have it or you don’t. Synthetic charisma works only to a limited degree. Merely pumping someone up with an inventive hard sell strategy that overstates the image can lead to a serious case of overkill. But both these guys exude the real thing – they are bona fide icons , worshipped by fans and damned by critics. They arouse passion. And passion is always a positive attribute – it attracts the janata. Since their survival depends on the faith their constituency displays in their leadership, these boy-men are fortunate indeed that we have not packed them off so far, despite everything.
Now, here comes the clincher: Salman’s future as a big star depends entirely on the box office. Rivals may come and fade away ( as they have), but for Salman to hang on to his position, he must prove himself from one Friday to the next. He has had a string of pricey flops in the recent past. Now , with his Eid offering of ‘Dabbang’, Salman needs a super mega hit in order to hang in there as one of the film industry’s most bankable stars. If Chulbul Pandey does not click with the aam aadmi on the expected scale, Salman’s future will be somewhat dheela. With Rahul, we are likely to be much kinder. He is a lambey race ka ghoda. For one, he doesn’t shoot his mouth off, and when he does care to open it, he speaks thoughtfully and uses a direct, simple lingo that his followers can understand instantly. He listens more and promises very little. This is a perfect strategy, especially since nobody really knows what he stands for, or what his political plans mean in real terms. Since he is the closest thing to a Bollywood star ( good looks, gora-chikna , photogenic) in a country led by really old people, he can get away with token gestures and populist moves (‘ sipahi’ of Orissa tribals – most of whom looked totally blank during his much publicized visit to their neglected, even wretched mohalla). Never mind, he is at least making the right noises, and as we well know, in politics, that’s half the battle won. Bad Boy Salman is forever putting his foot into some place much worse than his mouth. That’s very much a part of his USP – that’s also why his hysterical fans love him. At the end of the day, both men are looking at numbers. It is numbers alone that keep them where they are. Rahul, as his party’s general secretary in charge of IYC and NSUI, is on a crazy recruitment spree. He has to enroll members on a war footing… or else. Given that about 50 to 70 million voters between the ages of 18 and 23 are being added between two general elections. It is Rahul’s primary job to chase this pool of youngsters and get them on board. Luckily for Rahul, there isn’t a rival in sight. Unless, of course, the incredible Priyanka decides to jump in (unlikely at this stage, but who knows?). Salman, poor fellow, risks losing that hardly worn shirt off his back each time a film tanks, and there’s no dearth of younger, hungry rivals snapping at his ankles.
I have a suggestion: Why not a Rahul Gandhi Reality Show on television? Salman had his very own Dus Ka Dum and will soon be the Bigg Boss. Rahul’s minders would do well to pitch him as the Next Big Thing on tv as he goes around the countryside screening fresh candidates and recruits. It will accomplish two major feats in one go – viewers will be trated to a spectacular Bharat Darshan and India will witness the birth of a Political Superstar. Perhaps Katrina can be roped in as co-anchor, now that she is… ummmm, officially single??
What an idea, Sirji… err… Madamji!!

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Salman Khan
- 40 plus - The age
And single
And having gut
And huge male/female fan following

Any other example?

Yes, Salman is the original Sando – possibly the most famous actor in the world to flaunt his gut but not guts - I agree/disagree.

Salman is Wanna-be-Salman for small town guys till-date.

Salman isnt 'Bachcha' but yes, the innocence of child is present.

Re.: Critics
- Till worshipped by fans critics doesn't matter.

I guess we are fortunate that we are having Superstar Salman Khan after Dharmendra ji running housefull till-date And our pure bollywood entertainment is present till-date. Salman contribution is a lot since Maine Pyar Kiya.

Salman doesn't have to bother about future as He has made future already. Hits And Flops doesn't bother Salman. He is beyond the same.

- Dabaang is SuperHit And I have yet to watch
No tickets available

- HOUSEFULL
- HOUSEFULL
- HOUSEFULL

चंद्रमौलेश्वर प्रसाद said...

Good comparison between Rahul baba and sallu miya... but what will happen at the age of 60

Sallu miya will be
"silent matinee idol style of the ‘60’s,"
and Rahul baba will be flexing his muscles to rule the country :)

Sidhusaaheb said...

"Not much is known about Rahul’s love life."

Well, here's a tidbit: http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=30839

"Salman’s future as a big star depends entirely on the box office. Rivals may come and fade away ( as they have), but for Salman to hang on to his position, he must prove himself from one Friday to the next. "

Coming to think of it, Mr. Bachchan did well enough for himself on that front on account of Kaun Banega Crorepati. So, it's quite possible that Salman might also re-invent himself as a 'big star' on television.

goodluck said...

Salman Khan can survive by doing more bindass type movies and with some luck. He is not emotionally dependent on any woman and that makes him free to behave as he likes. At the end of the day, he is only an actor and there is always another friday with another actor.
Govinda, Salman, Akshay all are trapped to go overbroard with meaningless films. Thank god that we have some who can make a difference.

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It would be a great service to the nation if such ideas are put in as part of your writings

Lucifer said...

only if he was just Rahul. That passed down in-famous surname kind of puts off most of the intellectually accomplished girls in the country

Unknown said...

WHAT EVER ITS UPTO THE MIND AND SOUL.WE ALL NEED TO SEE RAHUL GHANDI AS A PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA. ITS ALREADY TOO LATE HE IS SUPPOSE TO BE THE P M OF OUR CONTRY AND HE IS HAVING THE GUTTS TO RULE THE CONTRY.AND INSHA ALLAH THAT DAY WILL COME SOON.HE IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE HIMSELF TO THE CONRTY(INDIA) NOT TO SHOW HIS 4,6,8 PACKS.AND HE WILL DO IT WE KNOW IT.

AND COMING TO SALMAN BHAI WHICH EVER THE MOVIE IT MAY BE EITHER WITH SHIRT OR WITH OUT SHIRT BEFORE RELEASING ITS A HIT MOVIE MAY BE HE IS 40 PLUS OR MINUS ALWAYS THE RESULT IS + .

Harish said...

dabangg.. what a bang.

after banging Aish's door, this is a bang in the right direction.

everready to mingle, this newly single bad boy of bollywood sings and swings in a way that no one has done in this film. Silly to the core, dabaangg yet doesn't bore. It shows salman the way he is.. sissy and silly. so he fits in like ball and socket.


On the contrast, rahul gandhi on the other side of 40 is suave and polished. and without any item. (that leaves us wondering about his sexuality)



id not be surprised if Muscle Taklu gets married to Dimple Bachhu.

Sando Khan and Khadi Gandhi.. ram (rahim, jesus aur prophet zoroaster) banaaye jodi. It will be such a secular-political statement..

anyways, Opposites attract...
hai naa?

Anonymous said...

mz de! aiyee shapath, you have said it all! actually, there is no real difference between the two khandaani brats, both hunger for publicity, appeal to the under 30s, flaunt their mysteriously single status and are dependent on cashflow from the masses for their "aana/jaana-pani-khazaana". i did not say "roti-kapda-makaan" since one doesn't need "makaan" and the other abhors "kapda".

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Jeevan Gaikwad said...

Loved every bit of it !