I’ve thought about this issue in the past but have refrained from commenting on it in print. Until last evening that is. Well last evening, the entire family were together in my living room and as demanded by the kids, we had the television on. On television was a very guy-next-door chap hosting a show that used to be special to me years ago. A show that revolutionized Indian television in many ways, but more importantly it had ‘the one and only’ Amithab Bachchan as it’s anchor. Yes the very man, who I am in awe of. I remember watching KBC with Feroz and both of us being completely astonished as to how this Icon carried a certain elegance, class and style while anchoring the show. He was and is the man guys. He is.

However last night, on the same show was another man, anchoring this nail biting show. My entire family, old and young sat there glued to the television. They smiles, they blushed, basically they gave in to the charm of this anchor. The man – Mr. Shahrukh Khan. I sat there, shaking my head in disbelief, admitting to every thought that came to my mind. Yeap, there are only two big boys who can truly represent Bollywood cinema on their individual shoulders – Mr. Amithab Bachcha and Mr. Shahrukh Khan. The two ‘biggies’, and then there is ‘us’ – you and me. Who instead of looking at these two in the way we should, we either fuel hatred towards them separately or desperately look for more news on how they are at war with each other.

THEY ARE NOT AT WAR!!!! How do I know this? Do I know them personally? Did they tell me this personally? Well the answer is a honest NO, but then again how do you know that they are at war? Do you know them personally? Did they tell you this personally? That’s my point.

What I do know is that these two great men, have worked very hard to get where they are. Mind you there is just them two in a very special position. They have not had god-fathers within the industry, they were not born in this industry and yet today they rule this same industry. Everyone else is a distant second. Mr. Bachchan came in to the industry and worked like crazy to get to where he is, at a time when a certain Mr. Rajesh Khanna was supposedly the ‘top’ man. Then again that wasn’t much of a challenge, and Mr. Bachchan was easily mentioned in the same breath as Mr, Rajesh Khanna. But then Mr. Bachchan reached a level where no other star had reached. He was up there. I remember people used to say that he was in spot 1 to 10, and the next person was in position 11. Where ever you went everyone talked about Mr. Bachchan. He got up there for many reasons like his hard work, focus, luck, prayers, etc. He ruled and still rules. Talk to anyone in the industry and they will talk about their colleagues referring to them by their first name, however the man himself is referred to as Mr. Bachchan. That’s the towering influence this man has amongst his colleagues.

Then, decades later came a man, again with no god-father, not born within the film industry. He too wasn’t considered to be good looking, couldn’t dance to save his life, didn’t have a a great body. Sounds familiar? Like a certain Mr. Bachchan decades ago? Yeah, I thought so too. So there comes along this man, struggles, works hard, just like Mr. Bachchan did decades ago. This new chap, perhaps wanted to be like Mr, Bachchan (like all of us wanted to be like). Guess what? Amongst all of us in the entire universe, this new chap got his dream fulfilled, because today when we speak, we do refer to Mr. Bachchan and Mr. Shahrukh Khan in the same breath. Except it wasn’t easy for Mr. Shahrukh Khan, his target was not a Mr. Rajesh Khanna (all due respect sir), but his was the Mr. Amithab Bachchan who had achieved a lot more stardom and respect world-wide. Truth of the matter is, that Mr. Shahrukh Khan did come to par with Mr. Bachchan in terms of recognition and power within this industry. Take a bow Mr. Shahrukh Khan.

They got along too, like a house on fire at some stage, and then perhaps they drifted apart, and so what? Haven’t colleagues been closer and then moved on their different ways? That does not mean it is war? On what ground were the public expecting them to be family? I mean K3G, was merely a film you know that yeah? There is also a huge generation gap between these two men, they mindset is different. One might be more elegant than the other, but the other is a lot more trendier than the older. Take into consideration that their fan following too belong to different generations, different exposures and different expectations out of life, let alone cinema.

Now, can I humbly request you to remember this and not make ridiculous comparisons between these two great achievers? Trust me, when you do such comparisons it does not get to them, because they know who they are, they know what they have achieved and they know the levels of respect they have for each other, and we do not know those things. Instead of comparisons now, instead of hating one and loving the other (which is the most stupid thing you can do), I suggest that even though, you have your favourite, do not hate the other one. Instead, be proud of the achievements of both these biggies and look up to them, and dream of becoming like they did – should you require. I hope and pray that when you achieve your own dreams and get to the top, your fans and the media will not ruin your success by fuelling unnecessary stories about you and one of your colleagues. Instead I hope that your fans and the media, praise and respect your efforts and of course your success.

What do you reckon? Makes sense huh? I used to compare Mr. Shahrukh Khan to my dearest Mr. Amithab Bachchan, but that was unfair. Both of these men, deserve the respect for what they are, for what they have achieved and for being an example of success. So remember, let’s not make fools of our ownselves by either looking to or aggravating stories about a war between these two, and lets not look for stories that state such stories too. Yeah that would be nice.

In respect and admiration to you sirs – Mr. Amithab Bachchan and Mr. Shahrukh Khan.

My name is Tagore Almeida, and I am a technologist by profession and a part-time film writer and peace seeker. Read more about me at http://www.tagorealmeida.com