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Home , Abhishek Bachchan, Farah (actress), Farah Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Lakshmi Mittal, Mohabbatein

cover story SUPER DUO: Bachchan (left); in a still from BACHCHAN VS KHAN IT’S A BATTLE OF IRON WILLS AND VELVET GLOVES. BOLLYWOOD’S BIGGEST STARS ARE LOCKED IN A WAR THAT HAS DIVIDED POLITICIANS, INDUSTRIALISTS AND ADVERTISERS.

■ By Kaveree Bamzai OR almost a year, it has made tabloid headlines, kept glossies in business, generated speculative news channel specials, and divided Bollywood. Call it the clash of titans or the confrontation of generations, but it is a stealth war that is being fought with iron wills, velvet gloves, and steel-edged smiles. In the Jalsa corner is the once and forever Shahenshah. In the Mannat corner Fis the Badshah. In the audience, split down the middle, are some of the most influ- ential people in the country, from the Gandhis to the Ambanis. At stake is not only the movie industry with its expanding global reach, but also the celebrity en- dorsement pie and now, television’s biggest game show. If Bachchan at 64 is ex- perimenting with his career, playing a 60-year-old in love with an 18-year-old in the soon-to-be-released Nishabd, Khan at 41 is also in change mode, playing a downhill coach of an all-girls’ hockey team in the forthcoming Chak De . If Bachchan is endorsing 10 brands, Khan is endorsing the same number, including two which used Bachchan earlier, prompting media planning giant MindShare to commission a 110-celebrity study of brand value across six cities recently and de- voting a specific section to Bachchan versus Khan. And if Bachchan, in a bid to renegotiate his Rs 40-lakh-per-episode fee, wrote to Star Plus in July that he would not be able to honour his commitment to (KBC), it is Khan who has stepped in to save the day for a channel under siege from a resurgent Zee TV, with a heftier pay cheque, Rs 70 lakh per episode. It’s a rivalry that is coercing people to choose sides or if not, at least walk the tightrope very carefully. Its genesis may well be in an awards show in Dubai in 2004, when Khan tried to resolve an ugly spat between Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh and the event organisers over Bachchan’s seating. It doesn’t stop Khan from speaking to Singh even now but he says, shaking his head, “I still ’t know the truth of what happened but I would like to give the benefit of doubt to everyone involved. I accepted that situation Rs 3.15 crore Average monthly spend on Khan’s TV ads in 2006 Rs 3.49 crore Average monthly spend on Bachchan’s TV ads in 2006 Source: adEx India, a division of TAM Media Research. Figures till April 2006 JANUARY 1, 2007 ◆ INDIA TODAY 51 cover story BOLLYWOOD

BANDEEP SINGH AP PHOTO INTERVIEW Clad in a YSL white vest and brown cor- Rukh Khan, or You can’t last so long otherwise. If duroys, , with a two-day- destroying X,Y,Z, and there are two you ask me, it’s all right. I wish Amitji old salt and pepper stubble (the only constants left. There’s Mr Bachchan, works till he’s 120 years old and I indication he colours his hair), is reclining on 100 per cent the longest lasting su- wish I work till I’m 65, and I’m KHAN a sofa. The 41-year-old’s at his home office, perstar and will always be. I don’t continually compared to him, which a minimalist second floor enclosure at the think I’ll ever touch that. If I do, won- means both of us are doing rather back of his landmark home, lit up derful. And then there’s me, who’s well. I pray for him not to ever give up by Jitish Kallat’s twin paintings, and now Rs been there for 17 years, which is not work. “THERE ARE ONLY TWO 1.5 crore worth of computer systems from a short time. Q. Do these comparisons with the KBC set—complete with fastest finger, Q. But then why do Don? Why other actors irk you? audience poll and even phone a friend. He’s add to the rivalry? A. I say this sadly, but I’ve not had just finished a five-hour session with A. I’m not adding to anything. a year when somebody’s not suppos- CONSTANTS LEFT, MR Synergy CEO Siddhartha Basu. His son’s People are making millions of re- edly replacing me. It’s so strange. You friends are lounging about and his own makes. I’ve made Devdas already. get called King Khan, Badshah, King PERFECT SHOT: Khan with ‘Jaya friends have just left—Trivial Pursuit fiend There are certain films which I would of Bollywood, Shahenshah—sorry Aunty’ and ‘Mr Bachchan’ BACHCHAN AND ME” took two shots on the hot seat love to do. Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron, for Shahenshah is Amitji—and yet... . while director , his stylist for the instance, why not? I saw Chashme The first five-six years I felt I had because I know I’m not that powerful.” show, breezed in, announcing a triumphant Buddoor yesterday. Raju Ban Gaya made it when they compared me to Within days, Khan went to the shopping expedition in . Khan talks Gentleman was Shri 420. Baazigar Salman and Aamir. We were the Bachchan home for Holi amidst much to Executive Editor KAVEREE BAMZAI about was Trishul gone a little meaner. Why ASS—Aamir, Salman, Shah Rukh. popping of flashbulbs, and all was sup- what is at stake as he returns to his original is it that in the West we never hear of Our destinies were attached some- posed to be well. But stories from the and successful TV moorings. comparisons between two actors? how and now we’re friends. I feel ho- war front continue to keep groupies and Have you ever heard noured being gob-smacked hacks engaged. Q. So you’ve been preparing for KBC? anyone comparing compared to Mr Bac- Bachchan, an old buddy of Yash Johar A. Yes, just getting the technique right. Brad Pitt and Tom hchan also. Maybe, I and (the former had pro- There’s a way the game has to be played. For Cruise? Or Sean “I WISH I WORK should not do a duced some of his films and the latter di- instance, I am not supposed to know the an- Connery or Anthony Devdas or a Don. I rected him in several legendary roles), swers. If I know it, I know it. But when some- Hopkins. TILL I’M 65, AND should just say f*** it. managed to convince Generation Next one loses, you feel bad. If they don’t win, they Q. So are you Q. What about of son Abhishek’s potential. should at least feel nice about themselves. saying we in the I’M COMPARED your association It’s quite nerve-wracking. And so far, I’ve not media are obsessed with the Gandhis hile , the man even done a trial with actual money. with this rivalry? TO AMITJI, WHICH and Mukesh who invented the romantic Raj Q. This is not the first time you’ve A. No. I am saying MEANS BOTH OF Ambani? in Dilwale Dulhaniya Le contemplated television. we as a culture like A. See, I’ve WJayenge and now the most pro- A. No. I’ve had discussions before with comparisons. known Priyanka lific filmmaker in Bollywood, took on Sameer (Nair) for an adventure show called Q. Have you ever US ARE DOING Gandhi’s husband Bachchan Junior in and Bunty Josh, with Pradeep Guha for Zee for Kam Ya talked about it to Mr for a long time. I had Aur Babli, Karan Johar also quickly Zyada. Even, a long time ago, with Pritish Bachchan? RATHER WELL.” known her hus- signed him on in Kabhi Alvida Naa Nandy and then with Mukul Anand on a se- A. No. We’ve band’s brother eight Kehna. Khan laboured manfully as Veer ries call . even always ignored years before I left in Yash Chopra’s Veer-Zaara but then made the first episode for us. But everything it—by him being gracious and me . We used to ride on the same had to suffer a two-year drought—de- fell into place only for KBC. I’m shooting a being respectful. But I’m with the scooter. Does that mean I want to join spite showing an interest in Bunty Aur film for the next six months in Mumbai. It’s family. I go there out of turn. I go politics? When I meet Mukesh Am- Babli as well as in the villain’s role in my own production. Farah (Khan) is direct- there on birthdays, Abhishek comes bani, does that mean I want to make —before Aditya Chopra gave ing. The set is ready. It’s in Film City, bang home. We spent some time in steel, or iron or whatever? I like him Chak De India, a role first offered to opposite Star’s KBC set. The KBC format is Malaysia recently and Abhishek very Lakshmi Mittal. When he was in Goa, . During this time, Khan already there—a clear-cut, successful, sweetly gave me tips on KBC. And I he left his boat for a day for my kids also had to tolerate the return of Aamir classy, wonderful formula, whether it’s be- find it strange that I have to clarify my to jet ski. Why not talk about that? I’m Khan to YashRaj Films, a place he still cause of Siddhartha (Basu), Star or mostly position and say that I know these too capitalistic, too materialistic, and considers home, and Abhishek Mr Bachchan. What’s more, I like question people really well. It’s so stupid. love myself in the mirror too much to Bachchan doing Dhoom 2, as well as the and answers, and I like people. They’re giving it a political twang, go out there in the heat and dust and forthcoming and Q. Is there something to the rivalry be- which is even sillier by virtue of Mr sit on top of a bus and tell people per- Pradeep ’s as-yet-untitled movie. tween the Shahenshah and the Badshah? Bachchan having been in politics at haps what I don’t believe in. Just be- What attracts filmmakers is the pack- A. See, there’s something to it now be- some point. He was a politician at a cause I dance—that too badly—does age deal of Bachchan and Bachchan, cause for one and a half years, there’s no certain time at around the age I am not mean I can be a politician. I don’t sometimes with Aishwarya Rai thrown other level of competitive talk left. You’ve now and people assume that I want know how to be in touch with my au- in—a combination which will now be talked about the three Khans, you’ve talked to be a politician. Do I need to be any dience; how can I know the problems milked for all its worth in a three-month about Hrithik destroying Shah closer to people? I live in their hearts. of the country? ■ world tour organised by Wizcraft in August 2007. What’s more, Abhishek

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special effects, most recently for Don, now for Chak De and Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. He has also done much to pro- BRAND mote Bollywood concerts abroad. Khan’s fees for films varies—while it may be the cost of the overseas terri- SUCCESS tory for Don (Rs 12 crore); for , it is variable. How will his here’s nothing like employee MANPREET ROMANA charisma translate into KBC? For satisfaction, grins Shah Rukh Premjeet Sodhi, senior vice-presi- Khan. As someone who cur- dent, Initiative, Lintas Media Group: Trently endorses 10 brands “After Bachchan, Khan will certainly (Airtel, Pepsi, Videocon, Sunfeast, Tag bring in a lot of novelty. While Bach- Heuer, Compaq, HLL, ICICI, Hyundai chan had his aura and presence that and Emami), spending about 30 days held the people in awe, Khan bonds and collecting upwards of Rs 35 with the audience affectionately. He should bring in a fresh atmosphere and a whole young fan following.”

Bachchan is a trusted and in-demand celebrity model, making about Rs 35 crore annually from the 10 brands he endorses, much like Khan

crore, he is a big draw for advertisers. brands across 19 categories, while NEHA NATH But Bachchan, despite a two-decade Khan has endorsed 38 in 15 cate- advantage of age, considered a dis- gories. Khan may be ahead of Salman advantage in a youth-obsessed na- and , whose average tion, is at about the same rate monthly spend is Rs 64 lakh and Rs endorsing Pepsi, Cadbury’s, 1.04 crore, respectively, but he is less D’damas, Parker Pens, Eveready, than the new endorsement star Saif Dabur, HLL, S.Kumar’s Reid & Taylor Ali Khan, on whom the average and Goodlass Nerolac. Bachchan is monthly spend this year has been Rs certainly more profitable with the av- 3.41 crore, and Aishwarya Rai, on erage monthly spend by advertisers whom the monthly spend is Rs 4.74 on him this year being Rs 3.49 crore crore. Khan is hands-on in running Khan takes his endorsements and Khan’s being Rs 3.15 crore. This his company, Red Chillies, which is seriously, even serving Pepsi at year, according to adEX India, he has producing his next film Om Shanti home and routing all his endorsements through ICICI Bank already pushed 38 brands and sub- Om, and its VFX division, which does

has even hired a UK agent to look after has not only kept up appearances but with Bachchan on the sets of Lakshya his publicity in the West. It’s a signifi- also struck new alliances. One with and suggested to Khan that he do Don, cant move for the Bachchans, because , a Bachchan loyal- a 1978 Bachchan classic. And with the overseas territory is seen as Khan’s ist, got nixed at the last minute and Star TV CEO Sameer Nair, who had turf, which he has assiduously culti- their project, Time Machine, was managed to persuade Khan to do KBC vated over the years with concerts or- called off. But Khan has established as early as October. Neither decision, ganised by his friends, the Moranis. other equations. With Sunil Doshi, says Khan, is in any way intended to Instead of nursing grudges, Bachchan’s brand manager, who undercut Bachchan. “I asked Farhan though, Khan, the outsider who came brought Bachchan brands Emami and whether I could say one of my all-time to Mumbai with nothing and built his ICICI Bank to Khan’s door. With five favourite lines (yes that one, Don career with courage and conviction, , who had a dust-up ko pakadna mushkil hi nahin na-

54 INDIA TODAY ◆ JANUARY 1, 2007 cover story BOLLYWOOD ROLE TWO HOSTS, ONE SHOW KBC KBC KBC REVERSAL 1 2 3 Bachchan is usually the rigid (July 2000-Jan 2002) (Aug 2005-Jan 2006) (Begins January 2007) patriarch and Khan, usually the EPISODES: 270 EPISODES: 61 EPISODES: 104 challenger. Real turned reel rivals. AVERAGE RATING: 9.73 AVERAGE RATING: 9.41 AVERAGE RATING: Yet to ANCHOR FEE: Rs 40 lakh ANCHOR FEE: Rs 40 lakh come per episode per episode ANCHOR FEE: Rs 70 lakh REVENUE FROM AD SALES: REVENUE FROM AD SALES: per episode Rs 135 crore Rs 85 crore BREAK-EVEN COST OF 10 AVG COST OF 10 SEC OF AVG COST OF 10 SEC OF SEC OF AD TIME: Should AD TIME: Rs 1.25 lakh AD TIME: Rs 2.25 lakh sell at Rs 2.5 lakh, diffi- NO. OF TV HOMES: NO. OF TV HOMES: 60 mn cult given the rate for 30 mn Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is Rs 2.2 lakh MOHABBATEIN, 2000: Khan was NO. OF TV HOMES*: on crutches in the movie and Bach- 70 million chan was unhappy with his lines.

KABHI KHUSHI KABHI GHAM, BHASKAR PAUL ’01: Bachchan was the unbending father with Khan being the elder son. SUMEET INDER SINGH Sources: TAM Peoplemeter System & media planner estimates. * Expected

mumkin hai). He said I could say it their roots in Delhi, but they could not thrice. I told him I’m in,” he says. On be more different personalities. KBC, he says, “I told my son I would be Synergy CEO Siddhartha Basu, who is doing KBC. He said only if Amitabh working closely with Khan, practising Uncle was not doing it. I like the idea on the Rs 1.5-crore KBC equipment that he loves me but he respects a good they’ve installed in his home office, thing.” He dismisses talk of rivalry with says, “If was the Bachchans (see interview), even as Bhishma Pitamah, then Shah Rukh VEER ZAARA, ’04: Yash Chopra’s the latter maintains a stoic silence—a will be the playful Krishna.” sarson da saga, where Bachchan quality Khan admires. “I like the fact played Khan’s garrulous grandfather. that Mr Bachchan speaks so little. It’s hey are not in the same boat as a sign of an intelligent man,” he dim- far as the history of Indian cin- ples, adding, “Which automatically ex- ema is concerned—Bachchan’s cludes me.” So why was he so unhappy Tlegacy is that of an angry young on the sets of man embodying the violent 1970s and (KANK), where he had to share screen Khan’s is likely to be the urbane lover space not only with Bachchan Senior symbolising the consumerist but also with Junior? “My character in 1990s—yet they have managed to al- KANK is unhappy. That’s his state of most monopolise mind space, despite mind. I may not be a method actor, but Aamir Khan and daz- KABHI ALVIDA NA KEHNA, ’06: I do make some preparations to get zling movie audiences this year. It was Khan’s turn to be unhappy into character,” he says. Ironically, neither employs a publicist. on the sets of the divorce drama. Bachchan and Khan may have pro- While Bachchan deals with media re- fessionalism in common as well as quests through his secretary (whom he

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PUNITA GUPTA shares with his son), the surprisingly acces- sible Khan deals with journalists himself, through his communi- cator. There are as many symmetries in their lives right now as there are contradic- tions. Bachchan, scion of a family once closely associated with the Gandhis, finds himself rudely rejected by 10 Janpath, which lost no time in giving its blessings to Khan. In a much-publicised visit to 10 Janpath in 2004, Khan not only disbursed quotable quotes (“I am mes- merised by Sonia AT HOME WITH WORK: Khan rehearsing with Farah Khan at his home office for KBC Gandhi’s grace as a lady and mother”) but also began a Singh Yadav. For Khan, newly vulner- ise a dinner with them at home,” says public association with Priyanka able in Bollywood, the political estab- Khan, indicating the light flashing on Gandhi and Robert Vadra. Not only did lishment has lent support, while for his communicator. Anil Ambani re- they visit them on the sets of in Bachchan, edged into the anti- mains securely tied to Bachchan, with Mumbai in 2005 and subsequently had Congress camp, any questioning by the Amitabh presenting the vision of the dinner at his Mumbai home but they Government is immediately portrayed new ADAG and Abhishek being the also drop into his in-laws’ home for as a witch-hunt. brand ambassador of Adlabs radio, dinner when he is in Delhi—forgotten Big 92.7 FM. That the brothers are in this is the closeness he had once he split is mirrored in industry as perceived to be on opposite sides of the established with ’s well. Mukesh Ambani sits firmly political spectrum adds piquancy to family. Bachchan, meanwhile, has in Khan’s corner, with the latter the situation. Ironically though, only deepened his association with Teven ringing in his birthday at his Synergy, which is producing KBC, has Amar Singh, even recording a home. Mukesh’s wife Nita happens to just recently become part of Adlabs’ tribute to Uttar Pradesh which is run the school Khan’s children, nine- entertainment empire, and Adlabs has currently being aired as an year-old Aryan and six-year-old signed a Rs 32-crore three-year deal advertisement. His son recently won Suhana, study in. The common link is with Roshan, considered Abhishek’s the state’s Yash Bharti award, prompt- Khan’s friend Juhi Chawla, who is greatest competitor. A sideshow in this ing some protests but an avowal of married to industrialist Jai Mehta. spat is the wooing of peripheral faith from Chief Minister Mulayam “Even now Juhi was calling to organ- players—so while Roshan (or Duggu, BHASKAR PAUL YASHBANT NEGI MANPREET ROMANA as Khan calls him) is a regular at Mannat, he is also Abhishek’s child- hood buddy, and will be part of the Bachchans’ world tour. For now, the mahayudh is being fought on the KBC hot seat. When Khan takes on KBC, is he just living out his fantasy like every other man of his generation who grew up on Bachchan, as Nair thinks? Or does he feel going into people’s living rooms is vital to renewing his big screen career? There are questions: an analysis of KBC 1 and KBC 2 shows that the latter had a skew towards SEC D and E, which is not such good news for Khan, considered an es- LEFT OUT IN THE COLD: Aamir Khan, Hrithik Roshan and Salman Khan sentially upmarket, star (or as Khan

58 INDIA TODAY ◆ JANUARY 1, 2007 cover story BOLLYWOOD CAMP FIRES There are no permanent enemies and friends in Bollywood. But some matter more than others. ADITYA CHOPRA: Producer/director, ANIL AMBANI: PRIYANKA AND ROBERT friend of both, probably the most Industrialist, friend of VADRA: Members of politics’s first intelligent man in the industry, certainly Bachchans, but ironically family. Were close to the Bachchans. the most clear-headed, says Khan. his company Synergy Are now Khan’s friends. produces KBC.

AMAR FARAH KHAN: SINGH: Choreographer- Politician, got turned-director, into a war of is very close to words with Khan. Is Khan over Bollywood Bachchan’s insider. seating at an awards show.

FARHAN RAM GOPAL AKHTAR: VARMA: Filmmaker, an- Filmmaker, an- gered Bachc- nounced a film SHAH RUKH AMITABH han. Now part with Khan, of extended KHAN BACHCHAN then de- Khan clan. nounced him. MUKESH AMBANI: Ind- KARAN JOHAR: Producer/ ustrialist, wife Nita runs director, friend of both, balances AISHWARYA RAI: Actor, was school where Khan’s children study. both families with ease. taken in by the Sahara Parivar Have common friend in Juhi Chawla. after falling out with three Khans.

puts it: “Mr Bachchan thinks in ing flat out. Khan has given Basu the superstar in 1993, never to look back. English, and does in Hindi, I think in unfinished manuscript of autobiogra- Both Bachchan and Khan are men English and do in English”). What may phy (typed neatly in capital letters), the who are conscious of their place in work for Khan is the following: KBC 2 twin documentaries by Nasreen Munni history books, however much they had a greater skew towards his core Kabir and his own personal tapes of deny playing for posterity. constituencies, women (53 per cent stand up comics like Richard Pyror and While Bachchan would like to see compared to 49 per cent for KBC 1) and Russel Peters. Says Johar, “If they can Abhishek’s star ever on the ascendant, the 4-14 age group (21 per cent com- bottle Shah Rukh’s off-screen charm, Khan is not averse to his children join- pared with 19 per cent for KBC 1). The that’s fantastic.” Kabir agrees: “Only ing the film industry in the future. By competition is fierce: Zee TV’s perfor- NRI audiences have seen Shah Rukh’s attaching himself so obviously to mance in the 9 p.m.-10 p.m. slot has persona at concerts so far. Now Indian Bachchan, Khan is aiming for the same consistently been better than Star Plus audiences will see it for themselves.” iconhood. And though time and work this year, money has already been separates the two—Bachchan has committed by advertisers to the forth- hen KBC opens again in mid- acted in over 150 films in a 37-year ca- coming India-Sri Lanka-West Indies January with Prasenjit Sarkar, reer while Khan has done 47 films in tri-series as well as the ICC World Cup, a rollover candidate from 17 years—Khan may well be the true and February-March is exam time WKolkata, the Bachchans will be inheritor of the national treasure man- across the country, during which view- watching closely. The new first family tle. There may be finer actors in his ership typically takes a dip. Which is of Bollywood—a title once reserved for generation but no one symbolises the why, says Lakshmi Narasimhan, na- the Kapoors—is on its way to becom- aspirations of an urban, middle class tional director, Central Trading Group, ing a dynasty as much as it is a com- India better. Even now, despite the iso- Group M, Star TV’s ad sales strategy pany. If Rai, who has never forgiven lating trappings of stardom, he revels for KBC has been to sell a bulk of the Khan for dropping her unceremoni- in his middle class ethos, calling him- commercial time through sponsor- ously from Chalte Chalte, is added to it, self an employee of the people who can ships, raising an estimated Rs 40 it becomes a triple-decker brand. neither quit nor shout at his boss. Both crore. Says Narasimhan: “While this Equally, a lot is at stake for Khan, the men know better than most that the route can help secure revenues, the boy who lost his father at 16, mother at film industry is just another name for bigger challenge will be to deliver rat- 26, married a Hindu girl against her a few all-powerful families. And being ings.” But everyone involved is work- parents’ wishes, and then became a one of them is crucial for survival. ■

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