Big B aura: Getting bigger and better with age

New Delhi, Nov 5: The accolades have not stopped pouring in for the Big B.

For most celebrities, 64 may be an age to 'Hang in their boots' and sit back to cherish fond memories of their achievements in the prime of their life.

Not so for the Big B. For, in his 60s, life seems to have just begun for the Superstar with one accolades after accolades coming his way when many of his contemporaries like Vinod Khanna, Dharmendra, Shatrughan Sinha or Shashi Kapoor have either opted for into semi-retirement or confined themselves to playing the stereotyped grandfathers in Hindi films.

Being conferred upon an honorary doctorate by the Delhi university yesterday, is the latest 'Feather in his cap' for the Mega Superstar this year, after being conferred the honorary doctorate by Britain's prestigious De Montford University in Leicester on July 19 and the Government of France deciding to honour Bachchan with its highest civilian award 'The Legion d'Honneur' (Officer of the Legion of Honour) on his birthday last month.

In fact, accolades, whether at home or abroad, seem to have become the order of the day for him over the last few years besides a host of international honours - from the installation of his wax statue in London's Madame Tassauds, French Company Lomani naming its perfume after him, mayor of French town Deaville handing him over the key of the town, Britain's Channel 4 naming him one of the top 100 film stars of all times, awards at the Marrakkesh film festival for two successive years and so on.

The accolades are but a reflection of the Superstar's immense contribution to Indian cinema, whether it be in form of his 'overpowering' aura as Bollywood's 'angry young man' in the 70s and 80s or in terms of his contribution to popularising Bollywood on the Global scene - he was the first Bollywood star to have his wax statue installed at the London's Madame Tassauds Museum a few years ago and has, over the years become India's best known face abroad through a host of International awards and his role as the ambassador of the India International Film Awards.

What perhaps explains the immense popularity of Mr Bachchan is the fact that like his contemporaries in Hollywood like Sean Connery, Jack Nicolson and Richard Gere, the Superstar has carved a distinct niche for himself even at this age. Infact, as an actor, the Big B only gets better with age.

Having dazzled many a cinegoer (while shocking many others) with his 'flamboyant' portrayal of 'sexy Sam' in Karan Johar's 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna', a 60 year-old who believes in living life to the fullest, Amitabh is set to appear in an array of characters in his forthcoming ventures, portrayals which reflect his amazing versatility as an actor.

At 64, Big B is all set to make what could easily be seen as one of the biggest makeovers by an actor in the history of Indian cinema- the 'charming' and 'witty' Jai of Ramesh Sippy's 'Sholay' will now play the menacing Gabbar Singh in Ramgopal Verma's remake of the film, shooting for which began a few weeks ago.

Further, the coming months will see the actor play an old man experiencing a feeling of sexual attraction for an 18-year-old girl, played by newcomer jiah Khan, in Ramgopal verma's 'Nisshabd'. Also, he will be seen in Ravi chopra's 'Babul' as a 60-year-old who gets his widowed daughter-in-law remarried amid oppsition from society.

According to analysts the fact that at the age of 64, Amitabh continues to be offered central characters like that in Ravi Chopra's 'Baghban', Govind Nihalani's 'Dev', Mahesh Manjrekar's 'Viruddh', Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Black', Ramgopal Verma's 'Nisshabd', Ravi Chopra's 'Babul' and now, Verma's 'Sholay' is undoubtedly a reflection of the actor's unfading charisma as his tremendous growth as an actor over the years.

The roles are still being written keeping him in mind puts Amitabh in league with Hollywood greats like Anthony Hopkins, Sean Connery and Richard Gere.

Given the tremendous verve displayed by the actor, the coming years could see more accolades and honours coming the way of this immensely talented actor.

UNI

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