Why actresses are drawn to khaki more than ever

There is something about khaki that has always been a big draw to actors. Superstars like Amitabh Bachchan (Zanjeer) Aamir Khan (Sarfarosh, Talaash), Ajay Devgn (Gangaajal, Singham, Singham Returns) have admitted that the cop’s uniform has held a certain sway over their acting careers.

Especially because of the power of writing that has supported such roles.And let it be known that actresses have been equally fascinated by the colour khaki. A cub reporter back in the early ’80s recollects how Hema Malini, who was absolutely on top of her game at that point, was still particularly kicked about getting into a cop’s uniform in T Rama Rao’s Andhaa Kaanoon. That she had to take on the invincible Rajinikanth (her brother who played a criminal) in the film, was also part of the joy. But wearing the colour khaki on screen did give her an immense sense of achievement.

Years later, Rekha added stars to her career when she became a Lady Singham in K C Bokadia’s Phool Bane Angaray, where she brought the bad guys to book. The film gave her career a fillip and Rekha shone like the stars on her shirt lapel. In the years gone by, several top actresses have been drawn to the cop’s gear. However, the one who is currently attracting the maximum eyeballs in her uniform is Tabu, who plays IG Meera Deshmukh, a top-cop taking on Ajay Devgn in Nishikant Kamat’s Drishyam. The actress confessed that she was drawn to the role when she saw portions of the original Malayalam film. Choosy as she is about the work she does, this National Award winner had no compunctions at all about green lighting this role in a thriller. In fact, Asha Sarath, who did the same role in the Malayalam original, bagged awards for best supporting actress. Ironical it is, that another National Award-winning actress Konkana Sen Sharma chose to step into Tabu’s cop shoes in the action caper Akira directed by A R Murugadoss. In fact, Tabu was the original choice for the cop role even in this case.
READ: Tabu as IG Meera Deshmukh in 'Drishyam'

Years ago, another South Indian actress, Vijayashanti, whose films were also dubbed in Hindi, found favour with a pan-India audience in her title role as Vijayashanti IPS (Tamil dubbed version of the Telugu film Kartavyam, which was remade in Hindi as Tejasvini). In fact, so powerful was Vijayashanti in her policewallah role that she actually earned the sobriquet of ‘Lady Amitabh Bachchan.’ As said earlier, every generation has had its ladies who have won accolades for their roles in their khakis. Last year, Rani Mukerji, who kicks butt expertly, gave a noteworthy performance in Pradeep Sarkar’s Mardaani. Diminutive in size, Rani walked six feet tall because of the gait and the gravitas of her role as a Mumbai top-cop.

While Sushmita Sen (Samay) and several other heroines have also done their share of copgiri, it is going to be particularly interesting to see Priyanka Chopra in her cop’s uniform in one of her next films. Dimple Kapadia’s role as a police officer in Zakhmi Aurat gave her career the much-needed boost back in the day. She portrayed a tough-as-nails cop, who turns into a lady vigilante and aided by her friends, castrates rapists acquitted by the law. Madhuri Dixit-Nene is best remembered for heaving her breasts in the evergreen item song Choli Ke Peeche Kya Hai in Khalnayak, but the fact of the matter is that she was a cop (talk of cinematic licence!) in the film, who goes undercover to ensnare the protagonist (Sanjay Dutt).
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WATCH: Tabu to play cop in Nishikant Kamat's remake of Drishyam - BT