4 min readSep 13, 2013 05:56 AM IST
Given the insatiable curiosity that surrounds film stars’ personal lives and equations,whether it is films,television or ad commercials,casting members of a star family in the same film makes for a good promotional pitch — and immediately gets you the eyeballs. But the real trick is in the ‘how’ of it.
It is quite the double edged sword. One has seen many husband-wife or off-screen filmy jodis cast opposite each other,and a few other permutations to bolster the buzz around a film. But numbers don’t always add up well. Sure,there is the advantage of audience curiosity but the flip side is living upto the sky-high expectations.
Carrying over their real life relations into the film is just too obvious and predictable so writing in the roles cleverly is key to making things work. A recent example of this is in the upcoming film Besharam. The film’s promos have been generating a stir with Ranbir Kapoor’s rustic and tapori avatar in the film. The first visual is of Kapoor peeing in the sarson ka khet while merrily whistling Tujhe dekha to yeh jaana sanam.
If that hasn’t got you interested already,there’s more to come. In an interesting twist — to borrow from filmy lexicon — Ranbir is joined by parents Rishi and Neetu Kapoor playing cops Chulbul and Bulbul Chautala. This is the first time that the trio will be seen together in a film and the audience’s curiosity has gone up manifold ever since the first look was aired. That each is an equally consummate actor,with their own charm,only helps. Just a few years ago it was the Rishi-Neetu Kapoor pairing in Habib Faisal’s Do Dooni Char that impressed everyone. A film about an honest school teacher who despite the hardships of managing a family on a shoestring salary,refuses to render private tutions. The Kapoors as Duggals were a delight to watch and one would never have guessed that Neetu Kapoor was making a comeback after a sabbatical. That the film and characters were well written only helped.
So it is hardly surprising that their Chautala act,complete with Ranbir delivering some cheesy one-liners,kambal mein lapet ke — Chulbul naam rakh lene se koi dabang thode hi ho jaata hai? to Rishi Kapoor,is getting the laughs.
Considering this is Abhinav Kashyap’s first venture after Dabangg,the expectations are naturally high. But,by adding not just Rishi Kapoor but also Neetu Kapoor to the mix,the film has already garnered an increased amount of media attention.
An excellent example of the usage of the family formula in the past was when Yash Chopra pulled off the unthinkable in Silsila. He cast Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan along with Rekha. And the rest is history.
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Much later Yashraj Films roped in Big B and Abhishek Bachchan for Bunty Aur Babli as did Karan Johar for Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna as father and son. There is also that unique instance of R Balki’s Paa with Abhishek Bachchan playing father to Big B.
Television commercials are not too far behind—Aishwarya and Abhishek Bachchan in the Lux ad or Ranbir Kapoor with Rishi Kapoor in the Pepsi ad or Saif Ali Khan with sister Soha or his late father,cricketer Mansoor Ali
Khan Pataudi – are among the memorable instances.
But these heartwarming family moments do not come cheap. Besides giving the viewer his 30 second voyeuristic thrill,they also fetch the stars big bucks. Reportedly corporate companies,event organisers or film-makers,everybody,is willing to shell out a premium for the combo deal,which if it works,is money well spent.
With so many advantages to the family drama,it clearly pays to love your family.
