One day he's a cop, the next he's a street-smart rogue. The inconsistency of professions is perhaps a huge fun factor about being an actor. Though there's nothing more amusing than seeing an actor play an actor in a film within film.
Be it is Govinda's phenomenal rise from man servant to reigning superstar in David Dhawan's Swarg or Saif Ali Khan going all out to research for a police officer's role in Main Khiladi Tu Anari or Jackie Shroff's melancholic action hero pining for Urmila's affections in Ram Gopal Varma's Rangeela.
Lately, with a spate of releases like Om Shanti Om, Khoya Khoya Chand, Halla Bol and Showbiz, Bollywood has witnessed a rise in this trend, wherein actors portray their vocation on celluloid as well.
rediff.com takes a look at some prominent instances of actors-playing-actors in recent times.
Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om
We find all specimens of actors in Farah Khan's celebration of the bouncy seventies and batty Bollywood.
There's pre-reincarnation SRK, a hamming albeit hopeful junior artist -- Om Prakash Makhija -- nursing starry-eyed dreams of stardom. And then there's post-reincarnation SRK, a cocky super star-son Om Kapoor aka OK bullying his point across though frazzled filmmakers and baffled scriptwriters.
Finally, there's Deepika playing the unattainable dream girl of millions with luminous poise and alluring grace.
Text: Sukanya Verma
Also see: All you want to know about Om Shanti Om
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