Watching the trailer of Housefull 3 that hits the theatres soon, one can only revere Abhishek for the way he has evolved as an actor. They say tickling the funny bone is the toughest job as an actor and if you share screen space with two accomplished actors known for their comic timings, the wicket starts turning ferociously. Yet going by the trailer Abhishek doesn’t buckle and holds his fort despite the presence of Akshay Kumar and Riteish Deshmukh. But, one bets, even if the film scores at the box-office, AB Junior will be deprived of the credit he deserves.
Such has been the tragic story of AB Jr. Time and again he has had to live with undue comparisons with his parents (Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan). Abhishek would agree that had he not been carrying the blood of Amitabh Bachchan, he would have probably been a free man beyond the constant scrutiny of his critics. But is it his fault that he is Big B’s son? It was not his conscious choice, was it?
So then why does he have to bear the brunt for no fault of his? Why does he have to face so much of humiliation? To make matters worse, we don’t even hesitate to take jibes at him over his ‘more successful’ better half Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.
Time and again, star sons and daughters have had to face ignominy from weird sources. In this age, thanks to the social media trolling is a household word and quite often celebrities are targeted by netizens. Ask Abhishek how many times he has been trolled and the poor chap probably has lost count.
Abhishek’s case is unique. There’s a line of demarcation between the best and the good. With due respect, even star sons and daughters like Sanjay Dutt, Sunny Deol, Kumar Gaurav, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Ranbir Kapoor and others didn’t have to go through the gruelling process that Abhishek has had to. Yes, Sanjay, Sunny and Ranbir have a rich pedigree, but Abhishek is in a different league. To millions, stardom starts and ends with Big B and poor Abhishek is under severe pressure to be the second Amitabh Bachchan if not notches higher. Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun and Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aaryan if at all they decide to follow in their fathers’ footsteps should take lessons from Abhishek on handling out-of-the-blue adversities. It’s quite unfair on our part to expect Abhishek to be as good as Bachchan Senior despite having his genes.
Little do we realise that had Abhishek been born out of a different father, we wouldn’t have hesitated to call him a successful professional given his body of work. If we look at his career, films like Yuva, Sarkar, Guru, Antarmahal and Dhoom 1, 2 & 3 have catapulted him to the status of a versatile actor. Filmmakers from Rituparno Ghosh to Mani Ratnam have put their money on him. Unfortunately some cynics attributed Abhishek’s casting by Rituparno in Antarmahal to the fact that the film was the former’s home production. That had put him in a no-win situation.
Here’s an actor who has not been comfortable with remakes of his dad’s films. Yes, there were reports that he would star in the remake of Big B’s Do Aur Do Paanch, but the project reportedly has been shelved. Good for Abhishek though. The extent of comparisons with his father would have touched the sky had the project taken off.
Be it as solo hero or one among many, Abhishek has always held his own. In Zameen, Yuva and Bol Bachchan, he had an actor of the stature of Ajay Devgn in the same frame. However, in all these movies, Junior Bachchan stood apart.Guru, considered his best film till day, had Abhishek sunk deep into the character that earned him rave reviews. Even in the Dhoom series, the actor was not enamoured of Hrithik Roshan and Aamir Khan and played his part with utmost perfection. In films like Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna and Happy New Year, he had the likes of his father, Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji and Boman Irani to measure up to. Yet, he didn’t disappoint. In Sarkar and Sarkar Raaj, he didn’t get overshadowed by his father and impressed all with his stellar performances. What else does he have to do to be held in a respectable esteem as an actor?
If you ever meet this gentleman, you will return home with words of appreciation for him. He comes across as a suave, dignified and humble man who is a charmer as well. Abhishek’s friends say he has a great sense of humour. And talking about his wit, here’s what Abhishek told Hindustan Times, “How many actors get compared to Amitabh Bachchan? How many actors have the privilege of being spoken about in the same breath as him? That’s my blessing. If anyone feels I am worthy of being compared to him, then I am doing something right.”
It’s time for us to give this guy some space. AB Junior has endured enough brickbats much to his chagrin. We never cease to have fun at his expense. Tweets like, “If Abhishek Bachchan can trend anything can happen in this world. Abhishek Bachchan is so out of work these days, Amazon could deliver their orders using Drona instead of drones,” are actually an affront on an accomplished actor who still has so much to deliver.
Twiterratis should not ignore the fact that success to a megastar’s son like Abhishek Bachchan doesn’t come on a silver platter. The pressure is enormous and it takes tremendous perseverance to emerge out of the shadow of arguably the biggest icon in the world of showbiz. Please judge Abhishek as an individual and not on the basis of his genetic linkage.
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