There was a time when multi-starrers (featuring the top stars) were common in Bollywood. Then times changed, movies started becoming bigger, the top stars started getting paid huge sums, as a result of which filmmakers found it difficult to get top stars together in a movie.
Top superstars, to get more control over their movies, started their own production houses, and even played the lead in them. But it never happened (until now) that a superstar got some other superstar to feature in his home production.
So when Salman Khan announced that Akshay Kumar will play the lead in his home production (to be co-produced by Karan Johar), the media broke into frenzy.
After all, something like this was happening for the first time. And with Karan Johar joining the two superstars, the combination is lethal.
Coming together for a film produced by friends, @BeingSalmanKhan and @karanjohar, starring me! Out in 2018. pic.twitter.com/aOyfZS4p94
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) January 2, 2017
Perhaps, the top stars are becoming more secure now. They’re also aware that its not possible for them to act in multiple movies simultaneously, but they can definitely don the producer’s hat (after all, its business).
While this may be a new thing in Bollywood, the trend exists in Hollywood and has worked quite well for them.
“George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Sylvester Stallone and many other superstars in Hollywood have time and again made films with other superstars without the lure of featuring themselves in there too as an actor. Sometimes the best results are achieved when you believe in another superstar to take the centre-stage and you primarily keep the show running from outside the ring.”
None of these Hollywood films featured the producer (despite being superstars):
- Producer Brad Pitt roped in Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg for The Departed
- Producer George Clooney roped in Ben Affleck as an actor as well as director for Argo.
- Producer Mark Wahlberg roped in Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal for Prisoners
- Producer Leonardo DiCaprio roped in Ben Affleck as an actor as well as director for soon-to-be-released Live By Night
Industry insiders are happy with the development, and see better times ahead for Bollywood.
While corporate houses are careful in green-lighting biggies in Bollywood, it is a welcome trend to see two superstars and a major producer join hands to keep the ball rolling.
