It's all about character!

Shivli Tyagi / TNN / May 4, 2007, 00:03 IST

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Is Bollywood going to get big on 'character' actors? AT finds out.

Is Bollywood going to get big on 'character' actors? AT finds out.
The success of a hatke script doesn't always lie in the way it is presented or marketed. Instead, it depends on the characters who leave an indelible mark on the audience after the credits start rolling.
The hero need not be the conventional dapper looking one. He can be the typical non-descript guy on the street who, thanks to the storyline, emerges as the lovable hero.A number of recent small budget films like Main Meri Patni Aur Woh, Khosla ka Ghosla and the recently released Bheja Fry have actually managed to turn a simple character into the real hero.
So does this mean that Bollywood is going to get big on 'character' actors rather than the conventional heroes?

Trade analyst Komal Nahata says, "There is a market for niche filmmakers today who love to explore different gamut of emotions on screen. The audience tastes have changed too and with producers willing to experiment with unconventional looking heroes, things are certainly looking up for the actors who are going in for character acting."
The change has been such, adds Nahata, that no longer does the hero hog the limelight in the film. "Take the case of a film like

Rang De Basanti. Even though Aamir Khan was the leading hero, the climax was hogged by Siddharth."
Actor Rajpal Yadav is happy at this development. "There are a lot of global changes happening in cinema. Films no longer just cater to fantasy trips. They have started projecting real-life situations. So, the first step in this direction is giving more attention to the characters rather than projecting the actor as a hero," explains Yadav.
However, actor Vinay Pathak who has won acclaim for his role in Bheja Fry says, "Things are changing for the better in Indian cinema. The audience is more aware, and willing to see different genres of films. Many young directors are telling interesting stories with believable characters and intriguing plots."
Of course one has to give credit to strong scripts. For if scripts aren't strong and intriguing, even the best of actors can't do justice to their talent. Take the case of Saif Ali Khan in Omkara. Says Yadav, "People remember the character of Langda Tyagi more than Saif Ali Khan in the role. As the character was so well etched out, people really appreciated it."
Scriptwriter Sridhar Raghavan, however, feels that the multiplex culture has encouraged small-budget films and, in turn, non-conventional stars to make a mark for themselves. "Today, you can make a film without a big star-cast or heavy budget. A good idea or script will sell because somebody believed in it," says Raghavan. He further adds,
"Also, character roles are getting stronger because of the kind of talent — the likes of Ranvir Shorey, Vinay Pathak, Irrfan Khan and KK — that is coming into the industry."
However, there are a few sceptics also. Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt feels that one can't call this a changing trend in the film industry. "It isn't new. Time and again, the audience do end up liking or appreciating the unconventional hero, thanks to the offbeat storyline. But then how many films like Bheja Fry can be made? Such films only spell the arrival of new talent and nothing more."

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