Shah Rukh Khan.
A name synonymous with Romance in Hindi Cinema.
This is an analysis about why the SRK brand of cinema is not
working
in today's times.
SRK started his movie career in the 90s with a small but
integral role
in Deewana (1992). Though he played second fiddle to
other actors in movies like Dil Aashna hai(1993),
Chamatkaar(1993)
and King Uncle (1993); his big break came with
Baazigar(1993)- in which
he was noticed by the industry.
After that he tried his luck with similar movies displaying
his negative shades
like Darr(1993) and Anjaam(1994).
When Yashraj finally approached him for the role of
Raj in Dilwale dulhania Lejayenge(1995), SRK struck gold.
Not only did he get the role of a lifetime, but he
established an immensely good rapport with the production
house.
He became the King of romance by doing movies like
Dil toh pagal hai(1997),Kuch kuch hota hai(1998) and Kabhi
khushi kabhi gham.(2001)
Even though these movies came after DDLJ; if we look closely
in all of them, he was still "Raj". Movies like
"Kal ho na Ho" (2003)
and "Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna"(2006) still had that
"Raj" factor.
Mohabatein(2000) had an older "Raj" teaching others
to be like him.
Swades(2004) and Chak de India(2007) gave SRK a chance to
break out
of the "Raj" mold but it was short-lived.
Rab Ne Bana Dee Jodi (2008) bought "Raj" back.
In between SRK did try the "other" kind of cinema
like
"Koyla" (1997), Devdaas (2002) and Paheli (2005)
but other than these most of his roles are just
abridged versions of Raj.
So what is the problem in all this you say?
Well "Raj" belonged to the 90s and the 90s kids
are now
in their 30s. As Geet says in the movie (Jab we Met)
"Phir main badi hogayi, par mere
ghar wale bade huye hi nahi".
So, we all have grown up, but "Raj" is still the
same age.
The millennial generation has no time for SRK’s romance and
would rather
prefer street smart Ranvir Singh, chocolate boy Ranbir Kapur,
guy next door Ayushman or the versatile Rajkumar Rao.
The two other Khans, Aamir and Salman, re- invented themselves.
Aamir started picking scripts and directors instead of
banners.
This mostly struck gold (Lagaan, Dil chahta hai,Taare Zameen
Par, 3 idiots)
and so, he has his own audience within the classes.
While Salman went on to master the Shammi Kapoor style of
no -brainer- entertainment cinema (Dabang, Ready, Kick)
where he has his loyal audience
of masses (along with his super fans- kids).
Which leaves SRK with the only thing he was good at “Romance”.
But to capitalize on it, he went overboard by casting himself with much younger
heroines. Also, in such movies he still tries to play “Raj” but a 40+ “Raj”
seems boring and irresponsible.
After audience response to movies like “Dilwale”(2015), “When
Harry Met Sejal” (2017) and “Zero” (2018), SRK is in dire need to re-invent
himself.
Maybe he should realize that in today’s times people need
him to be more like the “Jehangir Khan” of “Dear Zindagi” (2016) and “Raj”
should just be put aside to rest; brought up only occasionally to reminisce about
the “good old days”, instead of trying to re-live them.
