Bollywood has always been about make-believe characters and fantasies where actors daub greasepaint to portray roles inversely proportional to their actual age. But if one notices, stars have started acting their age, in advertisements at least. For example, SRK carries out the duties of a father in a wall emulsion and toothpaste ad,
Shilpa Shetty, Soha Ali Khan, Kajol are lending their face to age-delaying creams, Juhi Chawla has been playing a middle-aged mom and wife whereas Kajol dons a mother’s hat to endorse a popular food brand.
“It is the flamboyance of their characters that makes them want to play characters much younger to what they actually are. But it is the audience that is left annoyed by such buffoonery when they see a 40-year-old actor playing a college-going dude. But now, there has been a slight shift in this trend and actors acting their age certainly comes as a refreshing change. I believe actors playing their age on the small screen would soon pass over to the silver screen, and movies too would look real,” says Ankush Ahuja, content developer.
It feels good to see them ageing too, says Vaishali Bhargav, a mother of two. “I adored SRK when I was 18. But so many years have passed and I have changed a lot. But here he is, as charming as ever. And it is always a welcome change that they are actually seen wearing their real skin.”
When it comes to films, Bollywood is seeing a shift from star centric to role centric. That reflects in the ad world too. “As long as they act professional and do sensible roles, I don’t see anything wrong with portraying a younger role. And it is amazing that a 30-year-old can beautifully play a 20-year-old. Isn’t it? It’s better than having someone who is really young, but has no experience to play that role” adds designer Rajiv Sabharwal.
Seconds art student Meera Seth, “It looks funny when a 40-year-old pretends to be 16 or something and it gets annoying when they talk in a baby voice. But it really depends on the actor, their skills in acting, and the power of make-up.”