Send In The Clones

Harman Baweja’s ‘showcase’ debut has been ruined by a natural likeness to Hrithik Roshan, and his fashioning himself after the star has made it worse, says RAJEEV MASAND

CAN HARMAN Baweja reinvent himself, or is he destined to be remembered as a Hrithik Roshan clone for the rest of his life? That, really, is the only question the 27-year-old actor should be asking himself right now. It has been just a few days since his debut film, the Rs 40-crore behemoth Love Story 2050 came crashing down like a house of cards, taking poor Harman with it. Sitting there in the darkened theatre, I had waited to see what all the fuss was about. After all, this new young actor, for weeks leading up to the day of the film’s release, was being positioned as the Next Big Thing. Media pundits estimate that more than Rs 10 crore was spent on making Harman a household name — splashing his mug over hoardings and through television promos, events and live appearances.

Obviously, I was stunned into silence when Harman then made his first appearance in Love Story 2050, playing a poor little rich kid who smashes his dad’s fancy new car just to get attention. It was, possibly, the most embarrassing entry any actor could have been saddled with, and it was compounded by the lousy dialogue delivery — the lines sounded like they’d been written by a Class V student — and a blatant attempt to look exactly like Hrithik Roshan.

It was funny, because the Harman I’d met just a week or so before the release of the film had sounded desperate to shake off the lookalike reputation. “They used to say Shah Rukh looks like Dilip Kumar, and even Shahid Kapur was compared to Shah Rukh. So I know this won’t stick. Once they see me in my debut film, those comparisons will die a natural death,” he’d said at the time. Only, he was obviously wrong. Very wrong. The truth is that Harman seemed to have carefully studied Hrithik Roshan’s every move and twitch and duplicated it immaculately.

Perhaps what also works against Harman Baweja is that, unlike Shah Rukh Khan and Shahid Kapur, he also bears more than just a passing resemblance to Hrithik. The same angular face, hair styled right down to the razor-sharp sideburns, a lean physique with those bulging biceps.

BUT THAT wasn’t all. There was worse coming as Love Story 2050 unspooled. The debutant had schooled his voice to match Hrithik’s even timbre, thrown in two spectacle dances that showed off his fluidity, and had worn snug vests and shirts in a familiar, carelessly-unbuttoned fashion.

So, what’s the problem, you say? Well, all that dies a little death the moment Harman gets into the act. Just like the robotic lookalike with which he has a duel in the climax of the film, Harman himself is strangely devoid of emotion. Is this the guy that Ashutosh Gowariker has signed on for his film, What’s Your Rashi?, right after scoring a hit with Hrithik Roshan in Jodhaa- Akbar? Is this the fellow Sanjay Leela Bhansali believes will stand shoulder to shoulder with Amitabh Bachchan in his next production Chenab Gandhi?

If audience reaction is anything to go by, Harman has made no waves yet. “Yeh toh Hrithik ka duplicate hai (he is just Hrithik’s double),” said most people as they left the cinema at the end of those three gruelling hours. To add insult to injury, Harman’s on-screen chemistry with his real-life girlfriend Priyanka Chopra was as flat as a soda that had been sitting out too long. It might actually be a good thing if the couple insists that they’re just good friends. “Too much has been made about this girlfriendboyfriend thing. When either of us is ready to talk about it, we will,” Harman said cautiously, when I interviewed him.

Ironically, much of the blame for the film’s failure lies squarely on someone else’s shoulders. In the Hindi film industry, it is tradition for famous stars and filmmakers to launch their sons in showcase productions. Dharmendra had launched Sunny Deol in Betaab, and Bobby in Barsaat. Rajendra Kumar launched Kumar Gaurav in Love Story and Sunil Dutt made Rocky for Sanjay. Vinod Khanna gave Akshaye Himalayputra, and Feroz Khan gave Fardeen Prem Aggan. And who can forget Hrithik’s mega-launch in Rakesh Roshan’s Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai?

Unfortunately for Harman, Harry Baweja has neither the means of Dharmendra, nor the instinct of Rakesh Roshan. Harry Baweja’s finest hour was in the mid-nineties, when he delivered surprise hits with B-grade actionromances such as Dilwale and Diljale. Why did any of us think Love Story 2050 would be any better?

If Harry and Harman Baweja hadn’t followed filmi tradition, and instead, had picked a more qualified director to do the job, I think it’s fair to say that this love story would have turned out different. Aren’t we all glad Rishi Kapoor didn’t insist on directing Ranbir’s debut film? Bhansali may have made a mess of Saawariya but nobody can accuse him of shortchanging Ranbir. Surely a better director would have tapped into Harman’s abundant confidence — the same confidence we saw in one engaging scene where he dodges bullies and slips under staircase railings while chasing after his lady love.

At the moment, it can’t be easy being Harman Baweja. He is an entirely likeable kid who studied acting at Lee Strasberg, and who assisted his dad for years before he decided to act. He has none of the attitude you’d associate with second-generation filmis. And to think that all it required was for him to just be himself.

One can only hope that Gowariker and Bhansali will take care of that in his next few films. Because it never pays to model yourself after a superstar. Not if you’re working towards being one yourself. Just ask Sneha Ullal. She’ll tell you.