This tear-jerker from B.R. Chopra’s stable had a mammoth star cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Mahima Chaudhary, Paresh Rawal etc. Big B played the patriarch of a huge family who is later disowned by his own sons. How he and his wife spend a good part of their old age in each other’s company is what the film is all about. In between all this Big B also bonds with his grandson played by the adorable Yash Pathak (of Rahul fame). In fact, one of the most emotional scenes in the film is when Big B’s spectacles break and the child helps him get a new pair with his pocket money. Awwwww so cute…. While there weren’t too many scenes between Big B and the small wonder in this flick, their camaraderie did make you moist-eyed at times.
This Samir Karnik directed film was in the news as its lead pair Vivek Oberoi and Aishwarya Rai were a couple during its making. However, that alone couldn’t save the film from being a washout at the box-office. To add to the star power there was none other than Amitabh Bachchan in an extended cameo. Big B played Raj Chauhan who runs an orphanage in some picturesque town down south. The orphanage is full of tiny brats who run helter-skelter and make life miserable for Bachchan. However, unlike some of his other films, the chemistry between Bachchan and the kids didn’t really excite the viewers much, who had come to see a passionate love story. By the end of it all, exasperated viewers were left asking Kyun, (Picture) Ho Gaya Kya?
Apoorva Lakhia’s Ek Ajnabee was pretty much a scene to scene copy of the acclaimed Denzel Washington starrer Man On Fire. While the Hollywood film raked in the moolah at the box-office, its Hindi counterpart starring Amitabh Bachchan, Arjun Rampal and Perizaad Zorabian sank without a trace. However, probably some of the best moments in this otherwise forgettable film, are the ones shared between Big B and Baby Rucha Vaidya. Big B (in a new hairdo) plays an old, retired army colonel who has been now appointed as a bodyguard to protect baby Rucha Vaidya. While she initially hates the sight of him, with the passage of time the two become quite an inseparable duo. Bachchan yet again displays his ease while sharing screen space with an actor much much younger than him.
Before its release, Black was only talked about for its lead pair, Amitabh Bachchan - Rani Mukherjee, and its director par excellence, Sanjay Leela Bhansali. However, once the first day - first show ended, a small bundle of talent suddenly became the talk of the town. We are talking about none other than the incredibly talented Ayesha Kapur who played the role of young Michelle McNally. Ayesha got into the skin of the character of a deaf and blind girl which was no mean feat for a child of her age. In fact, her scenes with Big B were among the highlights of the film and made everyone sit up and take notice of this small girl who suddenly came out of nowhere. What’s more? Even off the sets she seemed to be having a ball with her co-star Amitabh Bachchan whom she coolly addressed by his first name Amit. This unusual jodi between Bachchan and this chotti bachchi surely has been etched in our memory permanently.
This sugar-free romance between a 34 year old Tabu and a 64 year young Amitabh Bachchan had some really sweet moments (pun intended). And while Big B and Tabu’s on-screen chemistry did take everyone by surprise, the film’s supporting cast also stood out with their superb acting. While veterans like Paresh Rawal and Zohra Sehgal were as usual dependable, it was 9 year old Swini Khara who played Big B’s loquacious neighbor ‘Sexy’ who got the maximum applause. Swini who has been seen in some T.V. serials before this literally stole the show each time she cracked those one- liners with Big B. This film is yet another instance of Big B sharing excellent chemistry with his child co-star.