‘Games’ boys play

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Shah Rukh Khan is known for his diplomacy. Even when the tug-of-war for Son of Sardaar and Jab Tak Hai Jaan releases ensued, SRK reiterated that Ajay Devgn is a friend and not a ‘dushman’. The superstar’s comment was apparently ‘well-received’. But between the reverberations, one thing was evident — the way men handle competition and rivalries is a skill that is exclusive to them.

Unlike women who are known for muck slinging and washing dirty linen in public, men project as if everything is okay. But do men really let go off the mind games and power play? “Men are not vocal about their feelings like women, period. There is a high degree of desire to win, so rivalry among men definitely does exist. Women show their displeasure openly and men don’t — this is the only difference,” says actor Shoaib Ibrahim of Sasural Simar Ka fame. Projecting a tough image and putting up a face like ‘all is well’, is what men do. But majority do agree that it’s hard to cope up and face stiff competition.
“We may not be as emotional as women but are practical when it comes to dealing with rivalry. Even if we are affected by competition and want to cry or show it the emotional way, we can’t. Our social conditioning does not allow a man to cry or feel weak. That’s when coping up becomes tough,” explains film director Pawan Kumar. It’s not always the shades of grey that dominate a man’s thinking. There are those who find a reason to innovate despite the chaotic mind. “It’s important that rivalry exists and it does. It keeps you on your toes to give your best shot at whatever you are pursuing. That’s how one can rise over mediocrity,” says VJ Gibran from SS Music. “I remember two of my colleagues who were fiercely competitive and were more like rivals. It was a game of who is on top of the other and that’s how each one raised the bar and produced better content with each show,” he adds.
Despite all the undercurrents and the guarded secrets, men are considered team players. Working together and doing their job is what they believe in. “It’s obvious that in a competitive space with limited opportunities, rivalry does exist. But the rivalry phenomenon never existed and does not exist in my sphere of workspace. I don’t get into any sort of competition and walk away if things get difficult. In my 12 years of working. I have preferred to be a team player and that’s what I am,” says television anchor and actor Sameer Kochhar.