Abhishek's has had an indifferent run: debut Refugee-an ill-fated, cross-border love story-barely broke even. Then came, in quick succession, Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya-in which he plays a poor orphaned man in love with a high-flying ad executive/model-and Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, about a young army officer caught in a love tangle. Both bombed. Compare this to Hrithik Roshan's debut Kaho Na Pyar Hai which made Rs 40 to 45 crore all over India and you have the picture.
With a well-scrubbed face that could belong to a financial consultant and dancing ability that permits him to lift one limb at a time, Abhishek strangely hasn't disappointed too many people in the industry. Hrithik may be the man delirious female fans will hide under their beds, but Abhishek is the one they will show mommy.
Movie moguls have mixed feelings about him. Subhash Ghai confesses to have not "seen any of his films.... I've only seen the promos. If I judge him now, it will be unfair." Mahesh Bhatt is candid about the young actor's performance: "From what I have seen of him, there's no great talent. The boy is uncomfortable dancing and it shows. His directors have tried hard to make him ape his father while sadly the original version himself was rejected towards the end of his career till he returned in a new avatar on the small screen with a big bang."
To figure why Abhishek's initiation has foundered, one has to realise that here's a boy who is well-informed, who can talk about most things under the sun, who loves Discovery Channel and gifts books to his friends. And there he is in Dhai Akshar..., hands stretched, behind Aishwarya who is about to jump off a cliff, in a painful recreation of a memorable scene from Titanic. In a tribute to the suitor's dialogue delivery, the lady jumps off.
Amitabh feels his son will do well with a new subject: "His personality is a little different from the usual, kind of unique. He'll excel in a new kind of subject." (see interview). Choreographer Farah Khan elaborates: "He has a lot of talent but has chosen pathetic films. I also believe he has the potential to dance but he hasn't been presented well so far." Khan's faith in Bachchan Jr is undiminished despite his bad run: "He's replaced Hrithik in my film (co-starring Shahrukh Khan). Need I say more?"
Trade pundit Komal Nahata feels the boy and his films are mutually exclusive. "That he hasn't had a great start doesn't mean his career is over. Don't forget Amitabh too started with five flops. Abhishek hasn't been careful in selecting his films and in the last two cases, his directors."
Abhishek's professed attempt to work "only with good human beings" too hasn't helped. While fond, avuncular figures want him to choose his films carefully, Abhishek is keeping commitments he made on lazy jobless afternoons to old school buddies like Rohan Sippy and Goldie Behal, both rookies. "When I become big, I'll act in your films," he told them. Now he is doing a film with Rohan Sippy, and Goldie Behal's Bus Itna Sa Khauf Hai-co-starring Rani Mukherjee-is in a more advanced stage.
There's hardly anybody in the industry who isn't fond of Abhishek. Says Hrithik's father Rakesh Roshan: "He's very dear to me." From this springs his analysis: "I like his voice, his eyes. He has a powerful personality. He has a lot of understanding of the industry. All he needs is one good film...that'll happen soon." Will he cast him in his own production? "Of course. He needs a good story that suits him and he'll do a great job."
Raj Kanwar, who made Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, refuses to believe his film was bad. "It was unlucky at the box office," he says. Then, in an afterthought, he quips: "...haar ke baad hee jeeth hai (after defeat, comes victory)."
That may sound like a dirge, but trade people say Kanwar may have a point. Producers of his future films like Farah Khan and Rohan Sippy are in a way happy Abhishek hasn't had a great start. Says filmmaker-cinematographer Rajiv Menon: "Expectations are low right now. So, there's a good chance he'll surprise everyone with a truly great film." Menon adds that Abhishek has a certain "vulnerability"-a crucial quality, he feels. "Why wasn't Gladiator a megahit here? Because Russel Crowe could do everything, he could hit everybody, he was a superman. The era of big screen supermen is nearing its end. Abhishek is more like that real ordinary man in an extraordinary situation, which is what all good stories are all about."
But for now, even the ad industry is waiting and watching for a "reinvention of Abhishek," as Prahlad Kakkar says. "But if there's a campaign that has him along with his father, it will be a casting coup." Abhishek with the Big B, who's hot property again, many believe will be a very functional unit. Amitabh agrees it will be such a potent combo, he hopes to revive his ailing entertainment company ABCL with it-in fact, one such ABCL project is due soon. Says Amitabh: "There are other films in the pipeline where both of us figure but the producers have kindly allowed us to finish our project first since ABCL has gone through a bad phase and has to be revived."
Abhishek always begs his father not to come to the sets and watch him act. But if they do a film together, he will not have much choice. So a day'll come when on the sets, he'll stand up to his father and decide who's taller.
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