Amitabh Bachchan faces: Ten Bollywood films in which Amitabh changed appearance include Aakhree Raasta, Mahaan, Paa, Khuda Gawah, Boom, Piku, Khakhee
By Subhash K Jha
BOLLYWOOD: Normally his fans loved him the way he is. And he has made his
aversion to beards and get-ups very clear. Nonetheless, the Big B has
transformed his look many times. A look at the films where he changed
himself physically.
1. Khuda Gawah: Playing Sridevi’s Pathan Significant Other the
Big B sported a turbaned and bearded look every inch the
fit-and-furious Pathan. He made the ladies in the Gulf countries
sigh and swoon under their veils.
2. Paa: Absolutely and unquestionably unrecognizable as a bald
bespectacled Progeria stricken kid. Just this once the the trademark
beard went.
3. Aakhree Raasta: In a dual role, the Big B chose an elaborate
old man’s get-up to play the father. Hated the false beard and wig but
nonetheless wore them with stoic splendor.
4. Amar Akbar Anthony: Audiences did not allow the Big B to
experiment with his look much. Here he took that one song break in ‘My
Name Is Anthony Gonzalves’ where as a Catholic priest he drove us all
into the confessional mode.
5. Mahaan: Trying to look as old as Waheeda Rehman to play her
husband, the Big B simply submerged himself in the part while his two
sons(2 more Bachchans in a home delivery scheme) remained true to the
mega-star trademark looks.
6. Khakee: Since 2000 the beard has never gone.When the Big B was
asked to play the cop in Raj Kumar Santoshi’s film the actor trimmed
the facial hair down to size. The minor change made a major impact on
his look for the film.
7. Do Anjaane: In his first film co-starring Rekha, the Big B had
to return from the dead…almost. He had to look unrecognizable to his
leading lady who presumes him dead. The beard(which in 1976 was not a
part of the Big B’s appearance) and the glasses did the trick.
8. Shahenshah: Playing the vigilante pseudo-Superman the Big B’s
bearded leather-outfitted chain-in-hand hair on forehead look was a
smash hit.
9. Boom: Hair entirely white , snazzy designer-glasses the Big B
played the super-cool crime-lord ‘Bade Mia’ with the ritzy elan and
uncharacteristic ribaldry.
10. Piku: Playing Bhaskor Bannerjee the Big B dons a clumsy wig,
thick horn-rimmed chashma and super-sized paunch…a far cry from the
lanky gauche Dr Bhaskar Bannerjee that the Big B played in Hrishikesh
Mukherjee’s Anand 44 years ago.
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