Bollywood set to revive double role formula

In last week’s release Rowdy Rathore, apart from the desi action or unabashed entertainment, one thing that stood out was the double role of the leading hero. In the past decade, not many filmmakers have attempted to exploit the dual character, but now the double role formula, which was considered to be a favourite among many filmmakers at some point of time, looks set to return.
Hit formula?
Be it the identical twins caught in extreme dramatic situations of lost and found, or a lookalike becoming the cause of confusion, the comedy of clones is often a sure shot formula to success.Trace the history of Bollywood and you will find that almost every top actor has played a double role in at least one film in his or her career, and these films have been huge grossers at the box office – Dilip Kumar (Ram Aur Shyam), Dev Anand (Hum Dono), Sanjeev Kumar (Angoor), Rajesh Khanna (Aradhana), Amitabh Bachchan (Don, Satte Pe Satta), Shatrughan Sinha (Kalicharan), Hema Malini (Seeta Aur Geeta), Sridevi (Chaalbaaz), Salman Khan (Judwaa), Shah Rukh Khan (Duplicate, Om Shanti Om), Govinda (Aankhen), Sunil Shetty (Gopi Kishan), Anil Kapoor (Kishen Kanhaiya).
Revisiting double role
In the recent past, we have seen Shahid Kapoor playing a double role in Kaminey and Saif Ali Khan in Love Aaj Kal. According to film director David Dhawan, who has given a string of hits with male leads in a double role – Aankhen, Bol Radha Bol, Judwaa, Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, “It is entertaining and interesting for the audience. They get confused as to who is right and who is wrong. One character is flamboyant and the other suppressed, one timid and the other strong; it is a tagda formula. These are easy stories and we have the advantage of technique today, but one needs emotional situations for the film to work.”
Badle ki aag
Further analysing the reason for the success of double role films, trade analyst and film critic Komal Nahata says, “It is exhilarating for the audience when the hero comes back and takes revenge. People believe in rebirth, and double role is just a variation.”
Favourite hero: Twice!
Usually the idea is to give audiences a double dose of their favourite hero. Hrithik Roshan is probably the only exception who began his career with a film that had him in a double role (Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai) which also was a blockbuster. “After a very long time, a double role film has become a huge hit (referring to Rowdy Rathore). Having a super star to play the double role is a must,” says David. Double role films give the ardent fans enough opportunity to lap up the antics of their favourite star who definitely occupies most of the screen time. “Double role is nothing but an excuse to create a vehicle which is entirely dependent on the fuelling power of the male lead star,” says story-screenplay writer Danish Raza, who gives the example of Anil Kapoor-starrer Kishen Kanhaiya that released immediately after Tezaab. “There was no revenge drama, there was no rebirth and yet it was a hit perhaps because Anil Kapoor was at his peak then,” says the writer. Well, it is a win-win situation for all. The actors get more screen time while the audience gets a double dose of their favourite star. And, of course, the producer mints money. Looks like the saga of double role is here to stay.
Future double roles
Abhishek Bachchan will be seen in a dual avatar in Bol Bachchan.
Katrina Kaif will slip into the shoes of Hema Malini to play twin sisters in the remake of the frothy entertainer Seeta Aur Geeta.
Arjun Kapoor will be seen trying this winning formula in his next titled Aurangzeb.
Saif Ali Khan is likely to be roped in for the sequel of the laugh-riot Judwaa.
Sanjay Dutt will play a double role in the remake of Amitabh Bachchan’s endearing comedy Satte Pe Satta.