STUDYING STARS

Actors and academics. A highly unlikely combination, isn’t it? But wait. There may be big surprises in store, says Nutan Sehgal, as a new breed of Bollywood stars has its own role of honour

What’s common between an agriculture scientist, pilot, economist, Harvard graduate, civil engineer and an MBA?

Believe it or not, they are all big stars in Bollywood.

Ever since it came to light that Tara Sharma, the star of films like Page 3 and Khosla Ka Ghosla, is a graduate from the London School of Economics, Bollywood has been preparing its complete roll of honour.

Another star with a hotshot degree is Fardeen Khan, who is a graduate from the prestigious University of Massachusetts. However, despite his degree from the leading American university, he got lured to the arclights by none other than Ram Gopal Varma who cast him in Jungle, Love Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega and Bhoot. It is little wonder that the highly educated star considers Varma his mentor.

But the mentor is no less educated. Ram Gopal Varma is a civil engineer by profession and is now counted among the most talented directors of Bollywood. "I came into films because all my friends were becoming doctors and engineers. I wanted to be someone different," says Varma.

Another newcomer who walked the alternate path is Diwakar Pundir, who left the lucrative career of a commercial pilot for the world of glamour. The 1998 Mr India and second runner-up at the Mr International pageant, Diwakar recently received kudos for his role of Priyanka Chopra’s brother, who is killed by Shah Rukh Khan in Don.

Tushar Kapoor too changed track midstream. The star had the necessary background to be an executive but chose to show his acumen as a star. Son of Jeetendra and brother of Ekta Kapoor, Tushar is a Bachelor of Business Administration from Michigan University, USA.

"When I went abroad I didn't get into business management right away. I did liberal arts first and after two years got into the business school. Yes, at that time I thought I would pursue a corporate career. But, over the years I changed my mind and decided to go for films. Nonetheless, I completed my degree," says Tushar.

Once back in Mumbai, he became an assistant to David Dhawan but soon Vashu Bhagnani offered him the lead role in Mujhe Kuch Kehna Hai. However, Tushar has not recorded a hit and critics say it would have been better if he had stuck to management.

Interestingly, Amisha Patel’s story is similar. A gold medallist in economics from the State University of Boston, Amisha created a sensation with her first movie Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. But after that with the sole exception of Gadar, it has been a downhill drive.

Aditi Govitrikar, too, is no dumb star. She’s a top-of-the-line model, an actress, a supermom and the first Indian woman to win the Mrs World title. And, hold your breath, she’s a qualified gynaecologist. There may not be any more doctors in acting but look around and you will definitely find the top Tamil star whose luck deserted him in Bollywood with both his films. Rehna Hai Terre Dil Mein and Dil Vil Pyar Vyar.

ShankerMahadevan, one of the most creative music directors of the trio Shankar, Ehsaan & Loy, must be the only person in the world to combine the degree of an engineer with the talent of a professional playback singer. He was the music director for Mission Kashmir, Kal Ho Na Ho, Bunty Aur Bubbly and Dil Chahata Hai.

In fact Dil Chahata Hai had another highly educated actress. Suhasini Mulay, who played Akshay Khanna's mother in the film, is an agriculture technology graduate from Montreal's McGill University and has made over 60 documentaries.

It’s been a long journey from Mrinal Sen's Bhuvan Shome to playing Bhuvan's (Aamir Khan's) mai in Lagaan, yet Suhasini Mulay says she's just begun. Besides seeking meaningful roles, she is heavily into filmmaking and is planning a newage film.

Mention newage films and the first name that strikes you is that of Mira Nair, the brilliant director of Salaam Bombay, Mississippi Masala, Monsoon Wedding and the recent blockbuster The Namesake.

"Filmmaking is a technique and one has to have both education and experience to make good films," says Nair, a postgraduate from Harvard University and married to a professor of African Politics at Columbia University, where she herself teaches filmmaking.

Of course the list of National School of Drama graduates in Bollywood is long and ever growing. The trend that started with Neena Gupta and Naseeruddin Shah has now spilled to many others from the institute who prefer to abandon the stage and opt for Bollywood — NF