How would Bollywood look like if there was no SRK?
What's the story
The biggest star of this country makes no qualms about dancing in weddings. He cartwheels when he is happy, and he smokes when he is tensed. He cracks cruel jokes on himself, and he doesn't hide his opinion even about President Donald Trump. He has four facial expressions, and can't fathom the reason behind his success. As he turns 54 today, let's think how Bollywood would look like sans SRK.
Nepotism ka ulta
There would only be Kapoors, Khans and Chopras
Nepotism in Bollywood is, perhaps, as old as casting couch. Though it was never discussed in open, until Kangana decided to make it a talking point before every release of hers. But, the original "flag bearer of anti-nepotism" (for lack of a better phrase) is SRK. And, now after spending a lifetime in Bollywood, only he has the honesty to say that his son Aryan can't act.
Hardwork pays
No one would think beyond good looks
"Whatchamacallit-his hair has worked his way into the hearts of Indian audiences by sliding on an ice slab, down the stairs, somersaulting, cartwheeling, eyes trembling, lips trembling." Confused? This is how SRK was described, early on in his career. If there was no SRK in Bollyverse, no one would have thought that hardwork, intelligence, charm, self-deprecating humor could sell too.
Intelligence
They would all be dimwit caricatures of each other
You can hate SRK's acting, question his choice of movies (who doesn't?), dislike how he brings his religion in every interview, his flamboyance, his fights, even his friendship with Salman Khan. But, find me a more intelligent actor! The dimpled man has read everything, knows it all, and always has the right words to say. Without him, the collective IQ of Bollywood babas would reduce to the room temperature.
Breath of fresh air
And, they would all be hypocrites
In the make-believe hypocritical world of Bollywood, SRK is a breath of fresh air. Ask him anything, and he always speaks from his heart (and for some of us, from his eyes). He calls SRK his mythological employer and is unabashed about his success. He is the personification of rags-to-riches story, and he knows how to sell it. The life of this "commercial poet" is a lesson in both capitalism and philosophy.
But, not this man
They would have to give a hit to stay relevant!
SRK has spent 27 years in Bollywood, and in the last 7 years, he has not given a single decent hit movie. That makes it 25% of his career. Is there any other actor like that? For anyone to stay relevant (ask Ranbir Kapoor), the audience has to love their movies. But, SRK makes his own rules, breaks them too. Sadly, now his interviews are more entertaining than his movies.
Conclusion
Dreams exist because SRK does. Shine on, you crazy diamond
For me, though, SRK is an emotion - both the off-screen, articulate, well-read man and the on-screen lover boy who could charm even a corpse. And, to millions of ambitious commoners (oxymoron?) like myself, he has taught us how to dream, work and love hard. SRK says he wants to be remembered as someone who tried. And, I want to imbibe that too.