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Remembering AK Hangal

He is remembered in many avatars across the fickle screen on Indian cinema. From loving father to concerned uncle to dogooder neighbour, AK Hangal played each role with aplomb. His was a face that automatically lent itself to these roles, with kindliness and a belief in humanity etched on his features since he faced the cameras at the comparatively young age of 50.

Born in Sialkot now in Pakistan, Hangal spent most of his childhood in Peshawar. He grew up to be a tailor but quenched his thirst for acting through theatre. Postpartition, he is said to have moved to Mumbai in 1949, and got his first breaks in Bollywood around 1966-67. Hangal’s initial films included Teesri Kasam and Shagird

Being 50, he had few options in terms of the variety in his roles but he gladly and responsibly played uncle, father and grandfather to heroes and heroines starting from the 1970s.

This talented character artist is best remembered for playing Rahim Chacha in Sholay, but some of his other memorable movies include Namak Haraam, Bawarchi, Chupa Rustam, Abhimaan, Shaukeen, Guddi, Lagaan and Paheli

It’s Aamir Khan’s Time!

There’s something special about Aamir Khan. And it’s not just his versatility as a hugely successful actor, director and producer, it’s possibly because he comes across as being an honest, sincere and down-to-earth individual. Add this to his repertoire of movies with a message and you have the man in his element. But Aamir is now becoming much more than this. He’s now becoming the face of Brand India. The actor’s hugely successful TV show Satyamev Jayate focusing on burning issues facing India and ways of tackling them, has landed him on the cover of the prestigious Time magazine as India’s “first superstar-activist.”

‘he’s breaking the Bollywood mould by tackling India’s social evils. Can one actor change a nation?’ asks the blurb on the cover of the Asia edition of the September 10 issue of the US magazine, which features a close-up of the actor looking intensely into the camera.

Tracing the rise of Aamir Khan with the 1988 blockbuster hit Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, Time’s Bobby Ghosh noted over the past decade the 47-year-old actor has acted in, directed and produced a string of “movies that artfully straddle the demands of popular cinema and that desire for grace.”

“Now, with his groundbreaking TV show Satyamev Jayate (Truth Alone Prevails), he has dispensed with commercial considerations to indulge his conscience,” writes Ghosh. “With it, Khan has taken on the mantle of the country’s first superstar-activist.”

There’s no doubt that the show brings some of India’s worst social problems to the fore, but Aamir had the nerve to carry it through.

“It’s a ballsy move, and potentially jeopardizes his status as the beloved idol of millions,” writes Ghosh, since the subjects his show tackles “are precisely the sorts of harsh realities from which many of Khan’s fans seek escape in his movies.”

As Khan assesses the impact of his first series, Time suggests, “Whatever Khan chooses to do next in his quest for grace, there’s a good chance it will lift India a little closer to what he - and fellow Indians - would wish their country and society to be.”

Aamir Khan is the third Indian actor to be featured on the cover of Time magazine. Aishwarya Rai made it to the cover in 2003 and Parveen Babi was featured in 1976. And when the issue hits the stands, it’s likely that Aamir’s fan base would have swelled across Asia, and perhaps other populists will seek answers to the endemic problems in their own countries. Kudos Aamir, you’ve made us proud!

Most of his films were with Rajesh Khanna, India’s first ‘superstar’ who passed away on July 18. They shared screen space in Aap Ki Kasam, Amar Deep, Phir Wohi Raat and Sautela Bhai

But life wasn’t easy for the actor as he grew older. After featuring in over 200 films in a career that easily spanned over four decades, Hangal was living a life of penury - a fact which came to light in 2011.

GUESS WHO ?

He had no income and his only son Vijay, who is 70-plus and with whom the veteran actor lived, had to give up his job due to a severe back ailment. The result was their inability to afford mounting medical bills. But even then Hangal didn’t give up or seek financial aid. Such was his spirit - and pride. Hangal and Vijay were said to have had medical expenses of Rs. 15,000 per month, and had to choose between spending on food and medication. But once the news broke, the film fraternity immediately came to his aid.

Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan funded a chunk of his medical expenditure, with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra contributing too. His seniority and respectability in the industry also moved the Maharashtra government and the Cine and TV Artistes Association to lend a helping hand. The humble hangal was overwhelmed.

At 96, he was already recharged enough to ‘walk’ the ramp in a wheelchair for designer Riyaz Ganji. At 97, he lent his voice-over for an animated film and did a TV show. Age was clearly never a bar for AK Hangal. He lived with an undying passion for his craft almost till his last breath, epitomising the phrase, once an actor, always an actor.

A man with a never-say-no attitude, Hangal maintained his enthusiasm to wear greasepaint when he entered the sets of TV serial Madhubala in May 2012.

“I believe there is no age limit to work,” Hangal said, on agreeing to the cameo role. He was ill by then, but he wasn’t willing to give up.

He reached the sets, looked around, and just as he must have done in his prime, he called out: “Make up man!”

RIP, AK hangal!

Confident Kareena doesn’t go over the top

Kareena Kapoor may be one of Bollywood’s best known and loved belles, but she’s still grounded when it comes to her work. The actress recently admitted that she was “confident, but not over-confident” of her soon to be released movie, Heroine.

“I am not over-confident, but quite confident and excited about the film,” said Kareena recently of Heroine, which revolves around the ups and downs in a journey of an actress. However, she was quick to point out that although her role was the lead one, in real life she is nothing like the actress in the film.

She loves the limelight, this one…

(Find the answer under Caption Contest)

“People think there are similarities, but I am not like that in real life. She is bold, manipulative, dark and edgy. I am not at all like that,” she said.

Her favourite looks are in the title song of the film, which is yet to release.

Answering general questions, Kareena came up with general, and sometimes predictable answers. Asked of whom she is jealous in life, she said, “I am jealous of people who get to go on holidays, even though I go on many on my own. I love travelling. I am also jealous of people who get to eat whatever they want.”

But the actress still maintains that the film closest to her heart will be Refugee - her first film, despite acting in blockbusters like Ra.One, Bodyguard 3 Idiots. “The first film is always special. That innocence never comes back,” she said.

But back to Heroine

Arjun Rampal and Randeep Hooda, and has been directed by Madhur Bhandarakar.

So it’s up, up, up for Kareena. Another reel life portrayal, even if it isn’t quite like her real life!

What fazes Big B?

Now he may be India’s megastar and reasonably comfortable in front of the camera, but Amitabh Bachchan finds it hard to perform when his wife Jaya is on the sets with him. The actor, who will be seen with Jaya in Bhojpuri film Ganga Devi says there is lot of restriction when his wife is on the sets and he gets conscious in her presence.

“When your wife is on the sets with you, then your behaviour also changes, there are lots of restrictions, there is always a discipline on the sets or else when you go back home, the situation goes out of control,” a laughing Amitabh told reporters recently, during the music launch of the film.

“I hope the audience likes the film,” he added.

Amitabh played a key role in his makeup man-turnedproducer Deepak Sawant’s film, which is about reservation for women in elected bodies. He acted earlier in Bhojpuri movie Gangotri, which did well at the box office.

Amitabh says Sawant is like a family member.

“I am glad to be part of this film. Deepak is like family and when he approached me for this film, I did it without any hesitation. I know him now for 30 to 35 years,” stated the actor.

“He is my makeup man, he takes care of my face and it was my duty to give him something in return. The best part of working with (the Bhojpuri crew) is that they finish shooting for 30 to 35 scenes in a day, so that I don’t have any problem,” added the megastar.

Produced by Sawant and directed by Abhishek Chaddha, Ganga Devi also features Dineshlal yadav ‘Nirahua’, Pakhi Hegde, Girish Sharma, Awadhesh Mishra and Vinay Bihari. The music director is Madhukar Anand.