Role reversal

Picture Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman at the Tomatino festival in Spain. Imagine Dharmendra and Hema Malini playing the lead in 2 States. Doesn’t it sound interesting? That's why we tried and imagined few evergreen heroes and heroines in today’s cult films. Take a look…

Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara

We think we’ve got the perfect cast if Zoya Akhtar would have helmed ZNMD in the '70s. Our three leads are straight out of Amar Akbar Anthony.

Amitabh Bachchan as Hrithik Roshan
Amitabh Bachchan has played the no-nonsense guy many a times in his earlier films. And that’s what Hrithik Roshan’s role demands for in ZNMD. Mr. Bachchan as Arjun is perfect.

Rishi Kapoor as Farhan Akhtar
Farhan Akhtar did an admirable job in ZNMD. His character was nothing short of epic! If we try to picture a veteran in that role, our adorable Rishi Kapoor fits the mould perfectly. Playing a compulsive flirt characters falls right in his ally. Rishi Kapoor would do full justice to Farhan’s character.

Vinod Khanna as Abhay Deol
Vinod Khanna could be funny and matured at the same time and that’s what Kabir Dewan is all about. Also, Abhay Deol and Vinod Khanna both are thinking women’s sex symbols. Need we say more!

Zeenat Aman as Katrina Kaif
Katrina Kaif and Zeenat Aman both are foreign imports who took our nation by storm during their respective times. Laila’s character needs to be beautiful, matured and full of life and Zeenat Aman is the only actress we can think of to play it. Back then, Zeenat and Amitabh made a great pair just the way Hrithik and Katrina do now.

Queen
Jaya Bachchan as Kangana Ranaut

Back in those days, amidst the glamdolls, Jaya Bachchan stood out and shone with her innocence and simplicity. Guddi, Abhiman, Silsila… all her roles are testimony to what a great actress she is. Hence, if Queen had to be made few decades ago, we’re sure filmmakers’ first choice would be Jaya Bachchan. Rani’s character is someone who is shy and introvert and goes for a solo honeymoon after getting dumped by her fiancé. Jaya Bachchan would surely take this role down the history just the way Kangana did.

2 States
Dharmendra as Arjun Kapoor
Hema Malini as Alia Bhatt

If a Chetan Bhagat from the '70s would’ve thought of this cross-culture story we’d have a real life story on reel. Dharmendra and Hema Malini are truly the 2 States couple - the Punjabi boy and the South Indian girl falling in love. They’d do total justice to the on-screen love story for all the right reasons. We think this film would have crossed the 100 crore mark even in those times. Blockbuster guaranteed.

Saat Khoon Maaf
Rekha as Priyanka Chopra

Dark, gritty and alluring, Rekha played these kinds of roles when other actresses ran around the trees. She sought revenge in Khoon Bhari Maang and hence Saat Khoon Maaf would be a cake walk for this power-house performer.

 

Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Rajesh Khanna as Ranbir Kapoor
Sharmila Tagore as Deepika Padukone

Rajesh Khanna was known for his flamboyant roles and Ranbir Kapoor’s character Bunny just needs that kind of a personality. While Rajesh Khanna could be the playboy and a flirt, Sharmilla Tagore fits the bill of his leading lady. Deepika Padukone as Naina was someone who was introvert and a nerd. Sharmilla Tagore could play Naina to the T. Also, Rajesh Khanna and Sharmilla Tagore shared great chemistry which is required for this film.

 

Kahaani
Shabana Azmi as Vidya Balan

The powerhouse performer, Vidya Balan, gave an award winning performance in Sujoy Ghosh’s Kahaani. She plays a pregnant woman who's in search of her missing husband in Kolkata. We only see Shabana Azmi playing this role of Vidya Bagchi. She will be the right actress to play a character that gives a hair-raising performance.

Heroine
Parveen Babi as Kareena Kapoor Khan

The film might have failed but the fact that Kareena Kapoor Khan gave her heart and soul to her role in Heroine was pretty darn evident. She played an actress, Mahi Arora, who faces the good and the bad sides of showbiz. It showed the rise and fall of a film actress and we think that ‘70s sex symbol, the late Parveen Babi would be apt to play this role. Considering the problems she faced in real life, we think she would get the right gravitas for the role of Mahi Arora and the harsh realities of Bollywood even better.

Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

Rishi Kapoor as Shah Rukh Khan
Neetu Singh as Rani Mukerji
Dimple Kapadia as Kajol

Karan Johar’s college romance KKHH is a film which has gone down history. But the director would’ve found an apt cast even in the ‘80s. Dimple-Rishi-Neetu’s trio has never been casted together in any film and it would be a delight to see them on the 70 mm together. Rishi Kapoor made a great pair with Dimple Kapadia (remember Bobby and Sagar?) and his reel life chemistry with Neetu Singh transformed in real too. Neetu has the spunk that Rani’s character Tina requires and Rishi Kapoor being a Kapoor boy obviously knows how to romance his heroines. Dimple would easily sway between being a tomboy to being the girl-next-door.

Chake De! India
Dilip Kumar as Shah Rukh Khan

Everyone knows about the uncanny resemblance that SRK bears to Dilip Kumar. One of Shah Rukh Khan’s best performance till date, Chak De!, India would be the perfect role that Dilip Kumar would give a nod to. Dilip Kumar has played several revolutionary roles and playing Kabir Khan would be up his sleeves.

Bombay Velvet
Raj Kapoor as Ranbir Kapoor
Nargis as Anushka Sharma

Anurag Kashyap’s Bombay Velvet was set in the ‘60s. Hence imagining veterans in the lead roles for this film is not difficult. Raj Kapoor and Nargis are our ultimate choices for Johnny Balraj and Rosie Noronha. This classic couple were known for their pure love and we surely saw that kind of chemistry between Ranbir and Anushka.