The Next Bollywood Superstar – Do we have a succession plan?

In Indian cricket, the question that was asked for years was ‘who would replace the Big 3 (Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman). In a few years from now, Bollywood too could find themselves in a situation, where there could be a lack of ‘bankable stars’. Well known trade analyst and film critic Joginder Tuteja questions if Bollywood has a ‘succession plan’ in place.

Rahul Dravid just made a gracious exit from Indian cricket. VVS Laxman didn’t take much time to hang up his boots either. And suddenly there seems to be this huge question in Indian cricket – ‘Do we have a succession plan?’

Bollywood seems to be facing a similar question as well, what with each of the superstars in the Top 6 (apart from Hrithik) being 40 plus in age and no real star (with an exception of one or two) being really ready to start delivering like the veterans. (continued below the image)

Well, as of yet at the least.

Let’s look at the scenario. We have the three Khans sitting pretty at the top. Then there are men like Hrithik Roshan, Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgn filling up the remaining three slots and there we have; the Top 6 which is pretty much sealed and secure.

What happens to those who wish to break in? Of course they would, say in 4-5 years from now when each of the men at the top would be on the other side of the 50s. Some of them may stay on, a few would graciously move on. What would we be left with? Hrithik Roshan of course who is closest to occupy a top slot. Beyond that there is of course Ranbir Kapoor who is the best star-actor of the current generation. (continued below the image)

However one does miss that smash entry into Bollywood which made Hrithik Roshan a phenomenon after ‘Kaho Naa… Pyaar Hai’. Now he is someone who got a superstar arrival in Bollywood, something that young ones like Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan or to a lesser extent Shahid Kapoor and Emraan Hashmi didn’t quite enjoy. Yes, they were noticed. Some of them even had huge successes to begin with (or soon after). Still, the X factor that differentiates a superstar from a star to an emerging talent was definitely being missed.

We have had promising stars in the form of Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor. However it’s a long way to go for them as well. Amongst the seniors Saif Ali Khan failed when he tried to do something different (Agent Vinod) but delivered when it came to something conventional (Cocktail). He too knows that making ‘Cocktail 2’ or ‘Cocktail 3’ isn’t something that he wishes to do for life.

This leaves industry with John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan who have been around for a decade now. Would these be the men fighting it out with other ‘seniors’ like Ranbir, Imran, Shahid and Emraan to be a part of the ‘succession plan?

Should be interesting to observe! Do vote below and tell us who you think will be the next big superstar!