Khalid Mohamed

Now let’s see: Is it possible to admire at first sight? It is, going by the “wow” effect made by at least a handful of newcomers in the past. Shah Rukh Khan in his TV serial Fauji, I could sense, was star material. Kajol jumped out of the screen with her oh-so-natural act in Bekhudi (never mind the quality of the film).

Karisma was a pukka Kapoor girl in Prem Qaidi, to a camera born. And let’s see who else? Vidya Balan, of course, in Parineeta, sexy without being in-your-face. Ranbir Kapoor, despite the obtuse Saawariya, was a knockout. Cool.
So for this Sunday, with those sudden-impact examples in mind, let me gauge the first impressions left by the much more recent harvest of newcomers.

Varun Dhawan: He’s here to stay till kingdom comes. He has that Bollywood hero look — clean-cut, gym-sculpted, and laser eyes. Adept at dancing and handling the high dramatics material, he should have been busier than a bumble bee the evening after the premiere of Student of the Year. Something tells me, newcomers now prefer not to rush into projects blindly. See what happened to Vivek Oberoi!
Arjun Kapoor: Yesterday’s Billy Bunter, today’s hunk, has what it takes to glow on till eternity. But it’s been over a year since Ishaqzaade. Public memory is short: At the movies, it’s a case of out-of-sight-out-of-popularity. So who’s chessboarding his career? Dad Boney Kapoor? Not sure about that one. Gunday, under his mentor the ubiquitous Aditya Chopra, had better be good… but but but... the title’s not too exciting. Biff-pow-bang expected.
Ayushmann Khurrana: Vicky Donor is a tough act to follow. But that bashful boyish smile, confidence gained from his TV days, a talent for singing and composing, clear Hindi diction and native intelligence are bound to make him an A-lister. Fingers and eyes crossed for his second outing Nautanki Saala directed by Rohan Sippy. Am still trying to fathom the reason for his weird costume design at a promotional event.
Sushant Singh Rajput: The TV actor was gifted a role of a lifetime in Kai Po Che, plus plenty of buzz about being signed on by top production banners. For sure, he’s more than likeable, with an endearing smile and athletic body language.
Raj Kumar Yadav: In the same breath, I have to say that he was the best actor of the ensemble in Kai Po Che. Umm, I guess the NSD-trained actor doesn’t have SSR’s glamorous appeal. He’s super serious, which is okay… but alas took on the faltu role of a sidey cop in Talaash. Not done, bro!
Amit Sadh: Plenty of potential there. But sorely needs follow-up publicity. Never thought I’d say this, but media exposure has become as mandatory as a hit flick.
Alia Bhatt: Too raw. Not my kind of heroine, couldn’t detect the spark that can make her into a bonfire of an actress.
Aditi Rao Hydari: She’s done a clutch of movies, her best performance being her no-inhibitions-spared act in Yeh Saali Zindagi. In the wide-eyed ingenue mode in Murder 3, she had that frizzy hair and pale look associated with Kangna Ranaut.
Actually, need to remember what Ms A.R.H. truly looks like. The face hasn’t registered on my prone-to Ghajini-like (or Jab Tak Hai Jaan-like) memory-loss mind yet.
Huma Qureshi: Expressive, attention-grabbing face… but ulp, needs to enlist in a weight-loss programme. Right now.