It’s raining newcomers

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Imagine Barfi without Ranbir Kapoor, or somebody other than Kareena Kapoor doing the “chipkaale saiyan Fevicol se” move and a Dabangg without Sonakshi Sinha. Will the audience accept Bollywood without star kids, who are expected to take forward their parents’ popularity and prowess?

Abhishek Kapoor, who directed and came to the limelight with Rock On!!, thinks it’s possible. The actor turned director who is busy promoting his latest flick Kai Po Che!, starring all newcomers, made a statement that it is easier to work with fresh talent than a star kid. “If you run after stars and their sons or daughters, it doesn’t quite work. You can’t keep doing that,” Abhishek told the media recently.
Many new directors, who are here to break traditional norms, agree with Abhishek. Director Sartaj Singh Pannu, who made Soch Lo, starring an entirely fresh cast including him, says he prefers working with newcomers. “Working with a newcomer is easy as they give their 100 percent to the project. Whereas, star kids come with their own baggage that is sometimes good and sometimes bad. If you cast a star kid in your film, the project is driven by his choices. Whereas, a newcomer gives you creative liberty and cooperates with your vision of the movie. They are raw, a director can mould them the way they want. Also, they don’t have any hang-ups,” says Pannu.
Madhurita Anand, who made Mere Khwabon Mein Jo Aaye starring a star kid, says it all depends on your project. “If you are working on a romantic comedy, a known face would work better. Star kids ensure better promotion and support within the industry. But there are problems too — your budgets go up and you have to put more effort into making a film for them. Personally, I prefer to work with newcomers,” she says.
Acclaimed director Nila Madhab Panda thinks that talent should be rated first. “Directors should look at an actor’s talent rather than the background. Coming from a film family does not ensure the credibility of an actor. Newcomers should be given a chance and it is becoming the trend now,” says Panda, and talks of Ranbir Kapoor who has made a name because of his talent rather than his background.
Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan, director of the critically acclaimed Lahore, says, “Even before they enter the industry, star kids have the responsibility to keep the stature of their family name high and glorious. I prefer giving newcomers a chance because they have a lot of energy in them that needs proper channelising. If given the right platform they can outshine any other star son or daughter.”