Bollywood Without King Khan ?

While these rumours may be baseless, it’s hard for fans to imagine Bollywood without the Khans, the Bachchans, the Kapoors or the Roshans.

And that’s because the stars never retire. Be it the Big B in Bollywood or Rajnikanth in Kollywood, they have proved time and again that old is indeed gold.

Kannada actor Upendra feels superstars never retire because the audience never forgets them. The allure of the film world is hard to shake off, he adds.

“An actor can learn so many things by portraying different roles and can convey messages that will make people sit up and take notice. Like a film like Taare Zameen Par did,” he says. He, however, doesn’t plan to be in the industry forever. “I have different plans for later. But right now, I’m too involved in films as I have so many things I wish to accomplish,” he says.

Director Nagathihalli Chandrashekhar has no problem with superstars being around forever as long as they do roles that suit their age. “Actors should grow with age, like Amitabh has done with his movies,” he says. But why does this only seem to work for male stars? “We have a male-dominated society and hero worship is a huge thing here. For us, heroes are never too old to run around the trees. The audience loves and accepts them regardless of what they do,” he explains.

Payal S, an investment banker and a Rajnikanth fan, says that Rajni movies have always been a must-watch for her. “No one can carry off such impossible stunts with such style. He might split a bullet with a knife or light a cigarette in the air, but it all looks real when he does it. Rajnikanth’s movies are for full family entertainment and you know you’ll never be disappointed. It’s worth every penny you spend on the ticket,” she says, and adds that a stuttering Shah Rukh or a topless Salman will always be acceptable. “That’s their unique style and never gets outdated,” she says.

And the viewer’s love for superstars is what makes them go on forever, says actor-director Ramesh Aravind. “It’s not about age at all. Retirement really depends on the viewers as they buy the tickets. Once they say, ‘We’ve had enough of you’, the actor has no option but to quit. Retirement is not in our control,” he points out. He believes it also helps if the actor believes in diversifying. “Shah Rukh and Amitabh have hosted quiz shows. They are very talented and dabble in different mediums, and produce or direct films, so it’s easy to remember them,” he says.

Times Of India