Diary 2000
Sizing Up (And Down) The Year That Was

Born-again Celebrity Of The Year

If there's any actor who has rewritten the rules of superstardom, it's Amitabh Bachchan. As the host of Kaun Banega Crorepati, he recaptured the imagination of the public, wooed back his fans and once again became a darling of the nation. As an actor, he gave a power-packed performance in Mohabbatein and proved that some superstars don't die, they just reinvent themselves. As born-again celebrities. No wonder, he enjoys today the special privelege of being honoured not only as the star of the millennium but as the only Indian actor whose wax statue is placed in London's wax museum, Madame Tussaud's. Born-again celebrites usually blaze a trail for others to follow.

Vamp Of The Year

Famed artist M.F. Hussain's fascination and obsession for Madhuri Dixit after watching her n number of times in Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Aapke Hain Koun is now a part of the filmi folklore. When he immortalised her in his paintings, Madhuri was flattered out of her mind. Then, when he decided to make Gaja-Gamini with her, took her to Paris and painted her as his Monalisa, she lapped it all deliriously. But, once she opted for marriage with Nene, Madhuri suddenly cooled off. She did not really need all the adulation and obsessive attention. So she put M.F. and his film on the back-burner. Not only did Madhuri not lift a finger to help him find a distributor, so that the film languished in the cans for months, but when MF finally succeeded in bringing his labour of love to the big screen, his heroine stayed away from the premiere as well. Reason? M.F. had failed to invite her personally!

Superstar of the year

After phenomenon Rajesh Khanna, if there is any actor who has stolen millions of hearts and created mass hysteria, that too with his very first film, it's Hrithik Roshan. His unusual but striking looks, rippling muscles, elastic body and his dancing feet have got his rivals tearing their hair in envy. But the most amazing thing about this superstar is that he has his head firmly screwed on his shoulders. None of the Khan cockiness nor the Khanna arrogance. He is the original Mr. Nice Guy.

Let-down of the year

Much-much was made of the Bachchan bachcha. After all, he was Big B's flesh and blood - tall, dark and enigmatic like his father. Adding to the curiosity was his unconventional debut film, filmmaker J.P. Dutta's Refugee, which everyone expected to be a sure-fire hit. But the film and its hero were a big let-down. As for Tera Jadoo Chal Gaya, it failed to work any magic for little B. Instead of proving his acting credentials, Abhishek preferred to come out a poor imitation of his father in the '80s. The audience and the critics were far from impressed. The empty theatres that greeted his third release Dhai Akshar Prem Ke pronounced the public verdict - chhote miya was no patch on bade miya.

Bore of the year

Either Govinda has forgotten how to act or he's simply taking his job for granted. Every film of his that was released in 2000 clearly showed that this Virar ka chokra is running out of steam. Even his desperate attempt to move from the masses to the classes in films like Hadh Kardi Apne, Shikari, Kunwara back-fired on him. And when he stuck to doing what he was once best at - comedy - in Jis Desh Mein Ganga Rahta Hai, he still couldn't please his audience. Result? From entertainer no.1, he became a bore no.1.

Firebrand of the year

When it comes to speaking her mind, there's nobody quite like Kareena Kapoor. Like her outspoken father, Randhir (aka Dabboo) Kapoor, she doesn't believe in mincing words. She says it just like it is. So what if she declared boldly,'I want to create the fear in every director that before he approaches me,he's got to have some meaty substance for me in his film.'So what if David Dhawan takes umbrage to the fact that she is not interested in his brand of inane humour. She is what she is - a firebrand - the industry can take her or leave her. It has taken her with arms wide open.

Spoilsport of the year

ShahRukh Khan is like a child who brings the roof down when his favourite toy is snatched from his hands. Shah's favourite toy was his superstardom. When Hrithik Roshan arrived on the screen and stole a march over the Khan with his phenomenal success in his debut film Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, while Shah's very own debut home production, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani, simultaneously bit dust at the b-o, Shah behaved like a true spoilsport. At the first given opportunity, he acted in a cola commercial which poked nasty fun at a Hrithik look-alike. Not-so-clever an attempt to cut the original Hrithik down to size, when the ad stirred up a hornet's nest, the spoilsport stayed mum, and let the ad-director take the rap!

Crusader of the year

Manisha Koirala may not have made history on screen last year, but she went all out to use her celebrityhood for noble purposes. She crusaded against the abuse of the girl child, became the goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO to promote the awareness of the dangers of overpopulation, met with Nelson Mandela and did things for social causes that she feels strongly about. Goes to show that she's one actress who believes in putting her money where her mouth (and heart) is.

Surprise packet of the year

His career was in the doldrums, the public no longer fancied him as a hero and producers stopped signing him for their films. Then Refugee, Hera Pheri, Dhadkan and Jungle happened to Sunil Shetty, and in roles that had the actor reveal various shades to his talent ranging from sensitive, emotional, dramatic to comic and action, Sunil came out with flying colours. Now he is back in the reckoning as the filmmaker's number one choice for strong character lead roles.

Comeback kid of the year

Everybody in and out of the industry was quick to write- off Fardeen Khan when his lavish launch vehicle Prem Aggan flopped miserably at the b-o years ago. But the young lad found an unlikely saviour in Ram Gopal Varma who stripped him of the suave, chikna, cool cat image his father Feroz Khan had given him and replaced it with a stubbled, dishevelled, yet appealing appearance in Jungle which packed a more powerful punch on the audiences'sensibilities. Today, Fardeen is on a roll and commands his own fan-following amongst the fair sex. Clearly, the coolest comeback kid of the year.

Non-starter of the year

She had six flops behind her in '99. Naturally then, 2000 was going to be the acid test for Urmila. She had films with Sanjay Dutt (Khubsoorat), Govinda (Kunwara ), Ajay Devgan (Deewane) and then with Fardeen Khan (Jungle). None of the films worked for Urmila. While Jungle did the trick for Fardeen, the Rangeela girl didn't benefit at all. And the rest of the films? Flops! Urmila must thank her lucky stars that her friend, guide and philosopher, Ram Gopal Varma, religiously makes movies with (or is it for? ) her. Without him she would be kaput by now.

Charismatic star of the year

That's Karisma Kapoor. On screen she's brilliant as the sexy, young thing in commercial fare (Dulhan Hum Le Jayenge, Haseena Maan Jayegi, etc.) and terribly heart-warming and effective in the not-so-commercial film (Fiza). Off it, she's the most wanted for stage shows in India and abroad, and has a world-wide fan-following. For Karisma, all of this but naturally translates into charisma on screen!

Two-timer of the year

Undoubtedly Akshay Kumar, who proved just how good at Hera-pheri he was not only in reel life, but in real life as well. Though committed to Shilpa Shetty, he had a ball with a ready and willing Twinkle on the outdoors of International Khiladi in Toronto, Canada. Then, to cover up his tracks, the smooth operator called Shilpa, up warning her to ignore any rumours she may hear about his link-up with Twinkle. He passed them off as a publicity stunt engineered by producer-buddy Keshu Ramsay to whip up some curiosity for his film. Later, when the lies blew up in his face, both Twinkle and Shilpa dropped him. Not one to give up, Akshay then begged Shilpa to take him back. She refused point blank. So he scuttled right back to Twinkle, went down on bended knees, swore undying fidelity to her and beseeched her to give their love another chance. Twinkle did just that. Akshay's mission was accomplished. No big deal really. He's had enough practice in the past with Pooja Batra, Raveena, Nipunika...

Braveheart of the year>

It's got to be Twinkle. Not only did she make up with her lover boy, but she also went and did the unimaginable - got officially engaged to him on December 13th. Does she expect to reform the rake? Now, for that you really, really need to have a braveheart.

Actress par excellence of the year

She may not be sexy in the literal sense of the term. But when Tabu is on screen, her acting histrionics are enough to set the screen ablaze. Her class act in Kandukondain Kandukondain, her superlative performance in Astitva, her convincing performance in Ghaath and her role of a self-absorbed in Dil Pe Mat Le Yaar prove about Tabu that what aunt Shabana could do, she can do better.

Superbrat of the year

Who else but Salman Khan! Brats love to have their way. And superbrats insist on getting their way by hook or by crook. Salman wants his way each time he sets his sights on a pretty woman. He's got a fool-proof strategy, actually. First, he gets drunk. You see, alcohol gives him the nerve and the stamina to perform the most ridiculous antics. Once he's high, he lands up at the doorstep of his objects of obsession in the wee hours of the morning and knocks away (till kingdom come)demanding to be allowed in. This goes on for four to six hours. Finally, the pretty thing, defeated and exasperated, opens the door and lets him in. He tried this first with starlet Suman Ranganathan at an outdoor. Having met with success there, he tried it recently with his lady-love Aishwarya Rai. She too caved in finally and let him into her parlour. Need we elaborate any further?

Wimp of the year

Aishwarya Rai makes all the right choices when it comes to her career; which films to give her nod to, which filmmakers to work with, etc. But when it comes to the matters of the heart, Aishwarya is at a total loss. Much against the wishes of her concerned parents, much against her common sense and, more important, much against her own misgivings considering she has first-hand experience of his violent behaviour with her in the past, Aishwarya just can't seem to put an end to her besotted love for Salman Khan. She doesn't have the courage of conviction to shut her doors on him. The last time he made a spectacle of himself and brought her to disrepute, she should have dropped him for good. She didn't. Now, if this is not being a wimp, what is?