One of the few cricketers who made an impact to some extent in Bollywood is a cricketer but not from our land. The cricketer-turned-actor is none other than former Pakistani cricketer Mohsin Khan. The ex-cricketer married the Bollywood actress Reena Roy and came to Mumbai to try out his luck in the filmdom. His career started off well with Mahesh Bhatt’s Saathi were he acted along side Bollywood’s aspiring actor, Aditya Pancholi. Though the film didn’t do well, Mohsin was recognized and later he got several films including Fateh, Pratikaar, Laat Saab, Ghunghat, Mahaanta. Mohsin failed to get better roles and couldn’t deliver any hits for his producers and soon left Bollywood and his wife Reena Roy.
Even after repeated failures, there are some bravehearts left among the cricketers who still have a zest to make a mark in the Bollywood. Vinod Kambli will be shortly seen in yet another Bollywood flick ‘Pal pal dil ke paas’ which is currently under post productiond stage. The latest to join the bandwagon is Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who will play a cameo in 2007’s forthcoming release ‘Meerabai Not Out’. Give me a break!
So, after failing miserably in the Bollywood, what really draws the cricketers towards films. Why not hockey players or tennis stars star in a Hindi film? Is it because Bollywood and cricket go hand in hand when it comes to entertainment or is it the pulse of the nation touched better through films and not by cricket. Well, the answer lies in two words ‘money’ and ‘fame’. The hunger to earn more and the desire to be recognized is human and common. The cricketers are no different and they don’t mind cashing in on their popularity quotient. With few exceptions like Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev, who do it out of good will gesture, there are cricketers who find Bollywood as a second career option. Cricketers like Salil Ankola nad then Ajay Jadeja used Bollywood to make up for their bad run in the cricketing world. The actors are now comfortable before camera than playing their good old sport. From ad commercials to the cinema theatres is not an easy transformation to digest. Earlier, it was done by cricketers to use their star power in Bollywood flicks based on cricket but now, wholesome masala flicks are welcomed by these cricketers, no wonder India’s chances at the world cup looks weak.
Tanushree Chatterjee