'Yuva' to 'Guru': Abhishek comes out of Big B's shadow

New Delhi, Jan 14: Three years ago he was just a scion of the most famous family of Bollywood trying to establish a niche for himself in the tinsel World amid the towering shadow of the larger-than-life persona of his illustrious father, a legend called Amitabh Bachchan.

Along came Mani Rathnam's 'Yuva', instantly catapulting Abhishek Bachchan from an "also ran" star son to an actor endowed with a "hitherto unexplored raw appeal".

Its lukewarm public response notwithstanding, the 'searing intensity' of Abhishek's portrayal as the crafty and ambitious Lallan in 'Yuva' helped him carve a distinct identity for himself in the industry.

The critical acclaim and audience applause that came Abhishek's way in the aftermath of the film - he also won his first Filmfare award for his performance in the film - set the actor slowly but surely on the road to become the new heartthrob of millions of cinegoers.

It was a "new and resurgent" Abhishek that one encountered in the post-Yuva period with his subsequent films like 'Dhoom', 'Bunty Aur Babli', 'Sarkar', 'Bluffmaster', 'Dus' and 'Umrao Jaan' bringing into sharp focus the actor's versatility, a far cry from many of his lacklustre portrayals in the pre-Yuva phase.

Where pre-Yuva Abhishek was dubbed as a flop actor in the industry, films that followed 'Yuva' brought him audience applause as well as critical acclaim in equal measure- while as stylish cop in 'Dhoom' he set many a young heart aflutter, his street smart youth act in 'Bunty Aur Babli' made him a darling of the masses and front benchers; his "charming fraudster with a heart act" in 'Bluffmaster earned him a huge fan following among kids and youth while his cute and loving husband portrayal in 'Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna' endeared him to many a female cinegoer.

Now, with Mani Rathnam's 'Guru', his latest film that released on Friday, Abhishek's career seems to have come full circle. As Gurukant Desai, an ''ordinary villager with an extraordinary dream'' who make it big in the Corporate world with his tremendous enthusiasm, effervescence and spirit of persevering in the face of all odds, one is treated to an amazing versatility of Abhishek as an actor.

Set in the 1950s and moving through the decades till the present, "Guru" revolves around the ambitious Gurukant Desai, a villager who dreams big and moves to Mumbai with his wife Sujata (Aishwarya Rai) and brother-in-law Shyam Saxena (Arya Babbar) to fulfil his dreams.

When he reaches Mumbai, his only assets are two shirts and Rs.15,000. Much to his dismay, he realises that the business world is a closed community ruled by a handful of rich and influential people who don't believe in giving opportunities to new players.

The film is about how he forces his way in with righteous anger and the desire to achieve his goals - he sometimes has to go against the law, which earns him foes but his fairness also wins him admirers like Meenu (Vidya Balan).

The film also has Mithun Chakraborty in the role of Nanaji, owner of a newspaper Swatantra who is initially impressed by the aggressively ambitious Guru but decides to stand up to fight Guru when he learns that his means to make it big are not pure.

The sheer versatility of Abhishek's portrayal of Guru, coupled with a strong storyline of the film, loosely based on the life of business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani, has been drawing cinegoers in huge number to the cinema halls to watch what they feel is easily Abhishek's career-best performance after 'Yuva'.

Trade sources say that though the opening taken by 'Guru' has not been as stupendous as say 'Dhoom 2' or 'Krrish', specially in North India, interest in the film has been peaking up after the first day with Abhishek's once-in-a lifetime' performance leaving the audience overwhelmed, generating a huge world of mouth publicity for the film.

For, as one watches the young Gurukant Desai carry out with a dogged perseverance efforts to break into the then closed business world: or his forceful assertion of his means towards the end of the film, one cannot but feel for the character.

As Gurukant Desai, whose determination helps translate into reality his dreams making it big in the corporate world, Abhishek's performance undoubtedly serves as a source of inspiration for the millions of 'have nots' in various parts of India, making them believe that they too, like Gurukant Desai have it in them to ''turn their dreams into reality''.

In this sense, the film draws parallels with the larger-than-life portrayals of Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan in the 70s which gave hope to millions of underprivileged people in India in their power to achieve their dreams in the face of all odds.

Says the director of the film Mani Rathnam,''I personally believe that 'Guru' is about a dream, a dream I would like to believe that a majority of the country has,,,. In this sense, the story of Gurukant Desai is the special story of that one character who makes his dreams into a reality.'' Trade observers say that the sheer ease with which Abhishek effectively portrays a wide range of emotions in the film-from the effervescence and enthusiasm of a young Guru seeking to gain a foorthold in the then cloistered business world in Mumbai, a cute and endearing husband deeply in love with his wife Sujata whom he considers as a source of strength, and the agony and heartbreak of being hailed as a corrupt person by those around him catapults him into the league of one of the best actors in the industry including his iconic father Amitabh Bachchan.

Infact, Amitabh himself was all praise for Abhishek's performance in 'Guru'.

''In 'Guru', Abhishek had to portray a wide range of emotions that the character of Gurukant Desai experiences during his journey from the age of 15 to 70. It was a complex character and watching the brilliance with which Abhishek has played it makes me feel extremely proud of his performance. Infact, ever since the release of the film yesterday, we have been flooded with SMSes congratulating Abhishek on his performance in 'Guru',''Amitabh told a TV channel last night.

In what could be a further acknowledgement of Abhishek's acting prowess by the iconic actor, Amitabh admitted that in his place, he would not have been able to play the role as effectively as his son had done.

Undoubtedly, 'Guru' is the coming-of-age film for Abhishek, one which, trade analysts feel, is sure to take his popularity several notches higher besides winning him a host of awards.

Infact, they feel with his brilliant and versatile performance in the film, Abhishek has given a fitting answer to many in the industry and film critics circles who till now termed him as an actor with a limited range.

Even Shahrukh Khan, in his long career, has not played a role which required him to essay such a wide range of emotions as characterise Abhishek portrayal of Gurukant Desai.

The year 2007 could well see Abhishek further consolidate his position in the industry with a host of films featuring the actor lined up for release including Apoorva Lakhia's realistic adventure 'Shootout at Lokhandwala', Goldie Behl's 'Drona', Pradeep Sarkar's 'Chooriyan' and Shaad Ali's 'Jhoom Barabar Jhoom'.

UNI