Parent-kid pairing on screen: Jackie Shroff, Abhishek offer contrasting views
It’s very difficult for star children to live up to their superstar parents’ level. Comparisons often kill the aspirants’ selfworth even before they are fully established.
Perhaps the one career-mistake that Abhishek Bachchan made was to star in so many films with his towering father Amitabh Bachchan so early in his career.
Of course Abhishek has no regrets about working with his dad. “If I had to do it again, I’d still do all those films with Pa. I learnt so much from him during Bunty Aur Babli, Sarkar and Paa. Just standing in the same frame with him is a privilege.”
Other star parents and star kids don’t think this way. Jackie Shroff has turned down all offers with his son Tiger. “Let him establish his own image and reputation. If we work together the janta will love it. But the critics will roast him alive,” says Jackie.
Tiger agrees. “I’d rather wait before working with my father. I am too much in awe of him. Besides, who will look at me when my dad is in the frame?”
This was what Dimple Kapadia had said to Sanjay Leela Bhansali when he offered the mother-daughter roles in his debut film Khamoshi: The musical. Dimple suggested Bhansali take Twinkle and cast another actress as the mother. Bhansali preferred to cast Seema Biswas and Manisha Koirala instead.
Now one hears that Anil Kapoor was offered the role of shooter Abhinav Bindra’s father in the biopic on Abhinav, which would have given Anil a chance to work with his son Harshvardhan.
“Harshavardhan is just one film old. Anil didn’t want the boy to be compared with his father. He has, therefore, said no to the plum role in director Kannan Iyer’s Abhinav Bindra biopic. He has also said no to films with his daughter Sonam Kapoor.”
We now hear Amrita Singh was offered the role of her daughter’s wealthy elitist mother in Abhishek Kapoor’s Kedarnath, in which her daughter Sara makes her debut.
Actress Hema Malini, too, refused to work with her daughter Esha Deol to avoid comparisons.
