When the biggest icon of Bollywood turns a young 82 ( and is still charming people in his latest ‘KBC’ 2024 avatar ) it is a national event – though the suave, sagacious, senior-most superstar, Big B, would play it down with his customary humility and continue his normal routine, as just another day !
For innumerable fans, including we two senior citizens, the mood is always celebratory as we watch KBC shows and also listen to his popular songs being rendered by talented singers on a TV Channel. The discussion with friends turns to what’s new about him that’s not known. Much has been and will continue to be spoken, researched, analysed of an amazing and timeless persona and elegantly attired appearance and the astonishing body of work, and of exemplary work ethics, punctuality, professionalism and resilience.
Going back to the 70s, we decided to list out some of his greatest films but this was not easy. Debate ensued on every choice that I made, since like all besotted women, my wife is still stuck with the strong, stoic ‘Jai’ of ‘Sholay’ that brought much accolades to the legend ! To make things simpler, we
broke it into two parts, pre and post 2000 (there was a break in-between) :
Pre-2000 : Anand, Zanjeer, Namak Haram, Deewar, Chupke Chupke, Abhimaan, Mili and Amar Akbar Anthony, Don & Satte Pe Satta – chosen for wide range of roles, histrionics, image changeover from the ‘angry’ to ‘funny’ young man. We add ‘Do Anjaane’,‘Bemisal’,‘Jurmana., lesser known but our personal favourites and last two again from his preferred Hrishi Da. There’s ‘Kabhie Kabhie’ with ‘shayari’ and dialogues in his famous baritone.
In ‘Do Anjaane’ he plays a simpleton betrayed by a close friend and from whom he extracts revenge, much in classic genre of ‘Count of Monte Cristo’.
Hrishikesh Mukherji’s ‘Bemisal’ is a remake of Uttam Kumar’s Bengali classic Ami Se O Shakha . The protagonist of this film is a noble individual, an ideal hero, who knows that everything he has in life, is owed to a family and when he finds himself in a situation where he has to give up his love and profession, he doesn’t look back.
Post-2000 : Multitude of senior roles, of which some with gravitas and deep meaning have come to Big B in various shades and hues as in Baghbaan, Sarkaar (1,2 & 3), Black, Paa, Piku and Pink. A few more recent delightful films (including those on OTT) are worth mentioning like ‘102 Not Out’, ‘Unchai’ and ‘Goodbye’. Also, there was a beautiful Bengali film ‘The Last Lear’ of the late Rituparno Ghosh of Kolkata.
His best role – don’t be surprised at the choice of a senior citizen. For us, it’s the clueless father of three thankless sons in ‘Baghban’ and his fightback to redeem dignity for himself and his wife and restore his place in society !
Working on Living 