Why Dilwale’s Success Will Depend More on Kajol Than on SRK

Yes, Shah Rukh and Rohit Shetty are great commercial successes – but here’s why Dilwale badly needs Kajol to succeed.

The upcoming Rohit Shetty film Dilwale promises the reprisal of the magical chemistry between one of Bollywood’s most successful onscreen pairs – Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol. And from the leaked footage and the set pictures we’ve already seen, it seems to assure one that Dilwale will define the zenith of their onscreen romance.

While Kajol has aged gracefully, Shah Rukh, (due to over-ambitious body building stunts) has begun to look haggard in his recent films. However, one glance at the set pictures from Bulgaria and all those worries are put to rest. The two still look incredible together and manage to induce the early 90s nostalgia that only Shah Rukh-Kajol can.

Unfortunately, a few worries remain. With any Shah Rukh-Kajol film, what one looks for is chemistry – and some amount of righteous loving. That loving is often complex, often melodramatic – but eventually aww-worthy.

However, this is a Rohit Shetty film. And Rohit Shetty isn’t known for cinematic complexity in relationships. That’s Imtiaz Ali. Or a Karan Johar after two NRI flops.

Also, Shetty’s roped in Varun Dhawan for a part, so let’s face it; they weren’t really going for serious romantic-drama here.

Dependable Kajol

So, here’s my guess – a lot will depend on Kajol and her acting chops for this movie to be a success.

Don’t get me wrong – it will still set the cash registers ringing. What with the SRK blitzkreig and the Rohit Shetty marketing, Dilwale is already looking at big buck bonanzas.

But that’s just opening weekend – and maybe the one after that. For the film to sustain itself in theatres in the weeks after, Kajol will have to carry the film on her shoulders – her seasoned theatrics offering a quality to Dilwale that perhaps Rohit Shetty and Shah Rukh Khan can’t afford.

Kajol’s Wise Choices Will Light the Way

Before Shetty loyalists and the ever-growing Khan fan clan (I am one, I hastily add) tear me to pieces, however, I will try and edge in a word.

Here’s why I think Kajol’s the go-to for Dilwale.

Since the time she established herself as a seasoned actor, Kajol has chosen her roles very carefully. While she’s always been part of commerical cinema, she’s managed to play characters in them that are layered and full of purpose.

Take a look at a debacle like We Are Family (2010). Even in a lesser Kajol film like this, her performance was the only thing people took home with some amount of warmth – largely making up for burning holes in the pocket.

In fact, post child birth, she has only played lead female characters in three films – Fanaa (2006), U, Me aur Hum (2008) and My Name is Khan (2010) and her performances have been applauded in all of them.

Lackadaisical Shah Rukh

Now that we’ve got that on record, here’s looking at Shah Rukh’s rather regrettable ledger.

It kills me to say this, but King Khan hasn’t exactly been bringing his A-game to the acting table of late. In fact, since 2007’s Chak De! India, no critic has effusively praised any of his performances. Of course, there were moments of SRK magic in My Name is Khan – but that looked like the end of the road. It’s been only downhill from there.

However, if history tells us anything – and in Bollywood, it does – Shah Rukh is the bankable best in the industry. He also seems to be his best around Kajol. One could say they act off of each other’s strengths.

Pick any of the six movies where this dynamic duo have played the lead and you’ll see that Shah Rukh was at the top of his game with her.

Benefit of Doubt

I know, I know, Kajol playing leading lady in a Rohit Shetty film sounds like a complete misfit. But let’s give her the benefit of doubt – for no other reason than that she’s earned it. She’s been in perfectly mindless cinema before and shone in them because of her acting abilities.

My heart tells me that if she agreed to do this film, there’s more to it than meets the eye (Read: much more than flying motorbikes and formulaic gundas).

I’m just hoping that we get to witness SRK and Kajol re-create the magic of the 90s all over again.

(Shibaji Roychoudhury was named after someone who wanted to conquer and inspire. Unfortunately, he is far too ambitious for that.This Delhi based journalist is also an enthusiastic sportsman, a movie buff, comic book nerd, foodie and an avid traveller. He is the monk still in pursuit of a Ferrari.)