Shah Rukh – The Lover Boy who never grew up.
Dear Shah Rukh,
We grew up watching you. You made us all fall in love even though you were playing different variations of the same role – Raj. The songs, the way you made the ladies go gaga over your lover boy image made us watch you in awe. And then Mohan Bhargava and Kabir Khan happened. Our excitement knew no bounds. You were trying to steer clear of an established image. For those who were waiting to see different dimensions of the actor in you those two roles were an absolute treat.
We thought you would eventually move away from the lover boy image completely to transform into a fine actor. But you cheated us. Those two movies which gave us hope were merely false notes as you went back to playing type. Even at that point, Surinder was absolutely adorable. But everything beyond that point became a mess you have created for yourself.
You are no longer an irresistible box office force that you were back then. Bhai’s taken over that mantle with ease. The perfectionist is very choosy and has gone global with a remarkable sports film and a certain Mr Kumar seems to have studied the tricks of the trade very well to balance commercial entertainers with that one remarkable film every year. He has turned himself into a producer’s darling.
None of them were this relevant when you struck box office gold with one film after another. But you have made them relevant with your fall. You are no longer the charmer we used to adore. You have turned yourself into a star who is so full of himself, a star who doesn’t give a damn about the changing preferences of his fans. You seem to be playing Aryan to perfection while the Gaurav in us is dying a slow death. You seem to be stuck in a hole of self – obsession you have dug for yourself. Let me remind you that your fans have all grown up. It’s time you do too. We no longer want to see an overgrown man play the lover boy again.
With Pain,
An ardent fan.
