Why ‘rich-looking’ Hrithik Roshan is a very good choice for the role of Anand Kumar in Super 30

By Fenil Seta -

February 19, 2018 - 10:36 AM IST

What was intended to be a move to increase the hype for the upcoming film Super 30 misfired badly last week. The makers of the film released the image of lead Hrithik Roshan’s look from the flick and it got more brickbats than praises. This Vikas Bahl directed flick is inspired from the life of Anand Kumar, who rose to fame as he coached economically backward students for IIT-JEE examination successfully. Now there’s no doubt that Hrithik has a very elite look and is not the ideal choice to play the role of a man who looks very rooted in real life. As a result, the netizens came down heavily on the makers opting for Hrithik as the lead. A few remarked that Anand Kumar has a striking resemblance to acclaimed and much loved actor Pankaj Tripathi and that he should have been given the coveted part. Meanwhile, the star system of Bollywood was also blamed for this ‘casting fiasco’.

Why ‘rich-looking’ Hrithik Roshan is a very good choice for the role of Anand Kumar in Super 30

In all this madness, none of these critics ever wondered if their criticism actually holds any sense. There’s no doubt that Pankaj Tripathi is a much better actor than Hrithik Roshan and he would have indeed done a great job. But then how many people would have then turned up to see Super 30? Pankaj sadly doesn’t have the same pull like Hrithik. Indian market is complex and a combination of factors is required for success. Script and execution is of paramount importance. But having a star automatically adds to the film’s commercial viability. Making a film is an expensive proposition. With Pankaj Tripathi as the lead actor, Super 30 would have struggled to reach even the Rs. 10 crore mark and the recovery would have been zero or hardly anything. More importantly, the reach of the film would have got limited. Hrithik Roshan’s presence would ensure that more number of people will watch this inspiring film across the length and breadth of the country.

A similar instance occurred some 4-5 years ago when Priyanka Chopra was chosen to play the role of sportswoman Mary Kom. This film was a decent success at the box office and was a rare women-centric non-sensual film that opened well. Casting lesser known or unknown actress from the North East would have been a disastrous decision, with the film sinking without a trace. That’s how things are here. Unconventional flicks like Dear Zindagi and Secret Superstar got a slightly more push and reach as Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan backed them respectively. Can you imagine Secret Superstar earning Rs. 63.40 crore at the box office without the involvement of Aamir Khan as a producer or actor?

With regards to the argument that Hrithik Roshan doesn’t look like Anand Kumar at all, I ask – so what? Michael Fassbender doesn’t look like Steve Jobs but his portrayal was much better than that of Ashton Kutcher, who also played co-founder of Apple Inc. in another film. Farhan Akhtar and Milkha Singh look poles apart. The idea is to live the character and make it look convincing. And even the strongest critics of Hrithik would agree that he has it in him to rock the show. He is known to work very hard and get into the skin of his character. There’s no doubt that Hrithik Roshan is going to deliver one of the best performances of the year with Super 30. Moreover, Anand Kumar himself has given the nod for Hrithik bagging the coveted part and has even said that he’s the best choice for the role. When he himself has said it, then why this needless criticism over Hrithik’s casting?

And lastly, let’s wait and watch before jumping the gun. Just the first look and few on location still have been out. Let’s wait for the teaser, trailer and ultimately, the film to release to decide whether Hrithik Roshan has done justice. The criticism sadly will continue and it’s high time these skeptics understand that before blaming Bollywood and it’s star system, one should pause and realize why it exists in the first place and that it’s all about demand and supply. First get the viewers across the country excited for actors rather than stars before needlessly and fashionably blaming the big bad world of the film industry!

Also Read: FIRST LOOK: Hrithik Roshan looks rugged as Anand Kumar in Super 30