Here’s another blind item for this month and this time it’s from Rajeev Masand. It’s not that hard to guess who he’s talking about, but it’s sad that heavy competition exists even between actors who are not that popular. They are just a different type of actors with their own success. Read on below to see if you can guess who Rajeev is talking about.
Of Egos and Insecurities
They’re unquestionably the most talented actors in the business currently, and both audiences and filmmakers have come to rely on them to deliver credible and moving performances. But if the grapevine is to be believed, the gentlemen in question have little respect or affection for each other.
Neither is an A-list, marquee name, but both have emerged as poster boys of independent Hindi cinema. The older of the two has been around longer and has even earned international recognition through small but memorable parts in big Hollywood films. The younger has been working anonymously for years, but made a breakthrough last year thanks to significant parts in acclaimed hits.
Sources say the older actor isn’t thrilled with the younger one’s overnight success, and doesn’t appreciate all the talk in the industry about the new actor being his ‘successor’. The older actor has repeatedly avoided appearing at places where the younger actor is likely to be present, and has rarely praised the other actor’s recent performances.
One filmmaker who was lucky to have signed on both actors to play important roles in the same film had to reportedly deal with tantrums and monster egos. For one scene he shot with both actors on a local train set, he had to divide the compartment into two sections, one each for his leading men to retire to separately inbetween shots.
Interestingly, both actors featured in the same film last year, but at the time, the younger actor was still struggling for a foothold in the industry and had only a few scenes in the movie, which belonged to his older rival. The industry is already talking about what a nightmare it will be when the actors will be required to promote the film they’ve just completed, in time for a possible Cannes selection. And we thought it was only big stars who got into petty ego battles.
OSOP Guesses
Older of the Two: Irrfan Khan
Younger: Nawazuddin Siddiqui
Same Film: Paan Singh Tomar
