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Dhritarashtra Syndrome
Narayan Rane, who dumped the Shiv Sena and Bal Thackeray after realising that he didn't have any future in thye Sena, compared Thackeray to the legendary Dhritarashtra. In the Mahabharata, the blind king’s love for his progeny led to the great battle, which destroyed his 100 sons.
Bal Thackeray is not the only one who has caused problems for himself because of being blinded by his love for his son. Former Prime Minister of Indiam Morarji Desai, faced a lot of embarassment because of his son, Kanti Desai. And Mrs Indira Gandhi's political fall was caused because of her blind love for her son, Sanjay Gandhi.
It is the same syndrome in the film industry, too.
The first name that occurs to me is Yash Chopra. His son Uday is very obviously not hero material. He is less than average in the acting department, too. Yet, Chopra continues to make films for him. The first time was a sensible test drive of Uday, Mohbbatein. This was a safe bet with Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and five other ‘newcomers’. The second was Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai. Here too, Chopra signed one more actor. Dhoom made more business sense, what with John Abraham playing one of the three main leads. The other two roles were done by Abhishek Bachchan and Uday Chopra. In each film Uday stood out like a sore thumb. Had any other boy with those kind of looks and that limited talent approached Chopra, he would have certainly said, "Koi aur kaam kyon nahin karte? Hero banna tumhare bas ki baat nahin hai."
It is quite likely that behind the four walls of the Chopra household, Uday has been so advised and like happens with all rich brats, he has refused to listen. Why else would a practical man like Yash Chopra makes Neal and Nikki? Here, Uday Chopra plays the solo lead. Think of the risk, keeping in mind the years it took Saif Ali Khan to get a solo hit!
I call it the Dhritarashtra syndrome.
This film is a washout. Totally. But, I am sure the Chopras will announce yet another film with Uday Chopra in the lead.
The story is same in the case of Tusshar Kapoor.
Jeetendra's Dhritarashtra syndrome too has worked overtime. The only failures of Balaji Films are with Tusshar Kapoor! (Why doesn’t Ekta change his name to Kusshar Kapoor?)
I'd even include Abhishek Bachchan in the list. Everytime his film flops, they call it the first hit after 14 films / 15 films / 16 films / 17 films / 18 films. Amitabh's clout is enough to over awe the media and industry colleagues who, hoping a repeat of the Amitabh phenomenon, take chances that can be considered worse than gambling.
Some others, like Ram Gopal Verma, manipulate things in such a way that, if, for the first film they have Abhishek, in the second. they get the bonus of Amitabh Bachchan.
It was the same Dhritarashtra syndrome when Gulshan Kumar launched and re-launched his younger brother Kishan Kumar in film after film...
Well, it is their money and their resources...We are free to reject the heroes imposed on us. And we certainly do!
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