Star power

Khan is back to the top rank this year. The findings are in keeping with Aamir Khan Production’s enviable track record ever since its inception in 2001 with Lagaan which went on to win an Academy nomination in the Best Foreign Language Film category. The journey of success has continued ever since. In 2011,the company celebrated its decade in the business by claiming both box-office rewards and critical acclaim for Delhi Belly starring Imran Khan,Kunal Roy Kapoor and Vir Das among others.

A little earlier,in the month of January,the production house surprised everyone with its art-house offering Dhobi Ghat directed by Kiran Rao which had earlier won rave reviews at Toronto International Film Festival among others. Last year was no different with Peepli [Live helmed by Anusha Rizvi. The interesting aspect about AKP is that it has constantly steered away from the formula starting with Lagaan,and following it up with Taare Zameen Par,Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na,Peepli [Live,Dhobi Ghat and Delhi Belly. It has also been an undisputed platform for new talent—in fact all directors,including Aamir,(with the exception of Ashutosh Gowariker) directed their first film for the banner.

As per the survey,Aamir Khan Productions has bagged 23 per cent votes,the highest,in the creativity category.

In an earlier interview this year,Khan had said,“We don’t function as a business house but as a creative space. We make a film only when we come across material that we feel should be turned into a movie. I am fortunate that the films have been successful. For my part,I am just making films that I like.”

In the category of the most powerful actor-producers,topped by Aamir Khan,the figures are intriguing. Shah Rukh Khan comes in second with a 15 per cent tally while Abhishek and Amitabh Bachchan with their combined might — because AB Corp was founded by Big B and carries his name though Abhishek has been the decision maker since the last couple of years— notched up a 12 per cent. Akshay Kumar and Farhan Akhtar voted five per cent each while Ajay Devgn pencilled in a two per cent. Saif Ali Khan and Salman Khan on account of their recent foray into production got in just one per cent votes. Hrithik Roshan does not feature in this because the perception of him is more as an actor who lends his support to father Rakesh Roshan as opposed to being the main decision maker.

While those surveyed had the option of putting in a choice that varied from the list,they did not suggest any other names. The results were drawn on the basis of different criteria such as star power,strategy,creativity and profitability. The findings reiterate Aamir Khan’s enviable success ratio with different kinds of movies,Shah Rukh’s star power and AB Corp’s heartening revival. For a further change in starry fortunes,watch this space.