The term ‘larger than life’ very clearly and aptly described a Bollywood hero once upon a time, the one who could do no wrong and had it all in him to make him enviable. But now it’s a different story in Bollywood as heroes are increasingly becoming more real and relatable. In between the Dabanggs and the Singhams, these confused, commitment phobic, practical, career oriented and even evil at times, on screen ‘guys next door’ have made it at par with the mythical Indian ‘Hero’. Here’s the list of the best of the lot:
Small town love-labor-lost
Dhanush | Raanjhanaa
Following her on a bicycle, getting slapped by her, slitting his wrist and living in a world woven around a girl is something any small
towner would relate to. Such stories are so very common in small town India. And Dhanush
couldn’t have looked better as a besotted street romeo than he does in the film. And he does the
role with an ease
and a body language that’s
so very natural.
Small time conman
Ranveer Singh | Lootera
He comes, he conquers (the girl’s heart) and he steals. There is nothing heroic about this thug who impersonates an archeologist and uses the landlord’s manpower to steal his property. With negative shades abound, Varun Shrivastav ( Ranveer Singh) is anything but the typical hero. He breaks the girl’s heart and her father’s trust, runs into the law and ends up getting everything wrong.
Bachelor in love
Ali Zafar | Chashme Buddoor
There are kamine dosts, there is jealousy and insecurity between lovers and there are endless efforts to win over a girl. But it’s the three roommates, Ali Zafar, Siddharth and Divyendu Sharma and their chemistry that makes the film heart-warming. Whether it’s owing money to the landlord or the nearby gallawallah or fighting over the same girl, the film would remind many of their college days.
The Amdavadi gang
Sushant Singh Rajput | Kai Po Che!
Kai Po Che had an eclectic mix of cricket, friendship and a burning desire to be an entrepreneur which so very well speaks of Ahmedabad as a city. The physical landscape of the city captured well in the film also showed the resilience of Gujaratis as a community. Ishaan (Sushant Singh Rajput) and his two friends plan to build a successful business. The turmoil, the struggle of this friendship makes up for a story that touches one at the core.
The uber-cool modern romantic
Ranbir Kapoor | Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Kabir is the ‘I want to fly’ guy, who can’t be tied down. He’s the lifeline of a party who can steal a heart with a mere smile. He is a dreamer. And in many ways, he’s an achiever too. But he comes with his own set of flaws. He has little space for relationships and his emotions are ruled by career aspirations and party-nomics. And Ranbir, though droolworthy, fits perfectly in his character.
The confused good friend
Ayushmann Khurrana | Nautanki Saala
An aspiring theater artist, a friend in need and a lover. Ram Parmar a.k.a R.P, goes through many confusions and moments of guilt as he struggles to decide what plays a more important role in his life, his relationship with his friend or his love for the girl he adores.
The seedha saadha dancemaster
Prabhudheva | ABCD – Any Body Can Dance
Unlike his other films, Prabhudheva dances only once in this film. The rest of the time he is only busy making the local rowdys into dancers who can set the dance floor on fire. With a broken Hindi and longing to go back to Chennai (his home town in the film), Prabhu looks every bit his role of a South Indian.
Of struggles and thereafter
Arshad Warsi | Jolly LLB
His aspiration? To be the biggest lawyer of the country. And what he does? Moves to a big city from his small town where he gets the time to think about the lack of opportunities. From being reprimanded by the judge for incredulous written
English in the PIL he files to getting swayed by money offered, Jolly LLB is the story of a struggle that finds resonance.
