Success is often referred to as a selfish beast. And that’s exactly what makes success sexy, especially in Bollywood. One day you are a small-time actor in someone else’s script. Forty-nine years and 150 films go by…..and bingo! Overnight a miracle takes place — a nondescript, far-from-hero-material Karol Bagh ka ladka (who once wanted to become an engineer, but joined FTII instead) finds mazedaar stardom!
From “no money, no fame’’, Rakesh Bedi — better identified as Jameel Mamu from the mega blockbuster Dhurandhar — has become India’s latest darling, who gets papped on and off the red carpet. Endorsements are pouring in, as Jameel Mamu goes from one high-profile event to another, gamely posing with fans, selfie-seekers, and colleagues half his age. At 71, his efforts and talent are receiving the sort of love and attention that had eluded him for five long decades.
Meanwhile, across the border, Nabil Gabol, a preening politician from Pakistan, is busy biting his tongue for bragging about his own popularity. Allegedly, Jameel Jamali’s character was inspired by Gabol, who naively started referring to himself as the “real Jameel Jamali’’ following Dhurandhar’s global craze, till someone pointed out something the politico had clearly missed — the dramatic and unexpected twist at the end of Dhurandhar: The Revenge.
The “character reveal” is so mind-boggling that it took audiences a while to absorb the denouement. Far from being an influential Pakistani minister/power broker in the movie, Jamaal Mamu turns out to be a deeply entrenched Indian agent — someone whose presence has gone completely undetected in Pakistan for decades! Once the cat was out of the bag, Gabol retreated rapidly and distanced himself as soon as memes hit social media, parodying him as an Indian stooge!
Huffed Gabol, “This is not who I am. Don’t project me as a Dabbang type of man!’’Aa hhhh well, given all the heady publicity and praise, Bedi’s confidence has clearly peaked. When Sachin Tendulkar praised his performance and said, “Mazaa aa gaya…kya chhakka mara aapne…”, Bedi responded with a jaunty, “Tumhare chhakke India mein gire hain…mera chhakka Pakistan mein gira.’’ Wah Wah!
Then comes a line from the same film that is resonating across the Hindi speaking world: “Ghar ki yaad nahi aati tujhe, Jassi?” The emotional power of an overtly simple dialogue spoken by a narco-terrorist named Pinda (based on a real life character called Rinda) has touched more hearts than hundreds of flowery, romantic, patriotic, super-charged lines across genres. It has also heralded the arrival of a 27-year-old former national-level hockey player from Patiala, Udaybir Sandhu.
From being a model on a three-month assignment in Cape Town to now, when he’s getting mobbed each time he steps out, Udaybir is on a roll! Just that one line has changed his destiny.
It is being parroted and mimicked by hundreds, most recently by high-profile sports journalist Sanjana Ganesan, who roasted her husband and cricketer Jasprit Bumrah in an Instagram post by cheekily asking that deadly question! The greatest fast bowler of his generation was caught off guard — totally stumped!
Also read: The influencer war that took rural creator Pujarini Pradhan global
A new Didi rising?
Words and how one uses them… the heedless (and headless!) controversy over the phenomenal Instagram success of Pujarini Pradhan, or ‘lifeofpujaa’, who commands an impressive following of 749k followers (leaping up and up by the minute), generated major heat on social media, triggered by influencer Niharika Jain. She questioned Puja’s authenticity, wondering whether the lovely lady was an industrial “plant’’ (whose plant, darling? What sort of plant? Money plant or a common creeper?).
It turned into a heated class debate — but sadly, minus any real class. Some of the accusations around Pujarini revolved around her fluency in angrezi, besides her knowledge of literary books and international cinema. With arched eyebrows and a deeply suspicious expression in the eyes, well-heeled sceptics argued that it was difficult to believe that a young wife/mother/daughter-in-law from a semi-rural background in East Midnapore, West Bengal, had access to obscure Japanese noir films and the temerity to discuss them as knowledgeably and confidently as say, Anupama Chopra. That too, while rolling out chapattis for the family, as her baby toddled around the modest kitchen.
Pujarini Pradhan deserves a whole documentary dedicated to her grit and fame. Her views on literature, women’s issues, and social mores have touched countless chords. She is being hailed as the brave new voice of feminism, a pioneer, a sterling, and a living example of the power of self-belief. In short, Wonderwoman. I was an early fan when Puja’s reels started popping up on my feed.
Inevitably, Pujarini has become a commercial brand and is now “managed” by a team that finds the right products for her to endorse, without taking away from her unique positioning and personality. Good for Puja! And her supportive family, particularly her husband, who frequently takes over kitchen responsibilities and cooks for everyone, giving Puja enough time to script, shoot, and edit her videos.
The potentially disruptive elections in West Bengal are round the corner. The jury is out, even as seven judicial officers enjoy their freedom after being held hostage by an angry mob for several hours in Malda district. A symbol of hope and courage is badly needed in such an overheated political environment. I think Mamata Banerjee should grab Puja before the BJP bags her as their good luck charm. Puja could well be the face of this vexatious state election with her ability to generate positive change, influence the public, and speak up fearlessly for those who have been silenced by Didi.
In Pujarini, I see a new Didi rising. Korbo. Lorbo. Jeetbo. As the Kolkata Knight Riders’ slogan goes.
Shobhaa De is an author, columnist, social commentator, and opinion-shaper. She has written 20 books. She tweets @DeShobhaa. Views are personal.
(Edited by Aamaan Alam Khan)
When somebody tries to crack a PJ about what kind of plant when the inference is amply clear makes me take the author not so seriously. Just a few weeks back the author waa sermonising about Dhurandhar and now she is trying to attach importance to its “success” by spinning it to her own limited intellect. Nice try Maam. Hilarious and ironic at best.