Hindustan Times (Patna) - Hindustan Times (Patna) - Live
Bollywood redefines #couplegoals with entrepreneur stories
For the longest time, couple relationships have been at the heart of Bollywood film plots. So, we’ve seen rich boypoor girl combos and vice versa, and many other angles to this man-woman story. At present, the #couplegoals in many Hindi movies is about turning entrepreneurs.
Films such as Sui Dhaaga Made in India (starring Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma) and Made in China (starring Rajkummar Rao and Mouni Roy), soon to hit the theatres, are taking forward the baton of Band Baaja Baaraat (2010; starring Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma), which was about a wedding planner couple. The new films will see the couples run their clothing businesses.
Is this a reflection of the present times, when a love for entrepreneurship is growing among young Indians?
“Yes,” replies Varun. “Sui Dhaaga is a film about selfreliance and self-respect. A lot of entrepreneurs have been coming out of India and doing extremely well. A lot of these innovative thinkers are coming from our heartland. This film will inspire the youth [and] hopefully, it can help them push for their dreams.”
Mikhil Musale, director of Made in China, will tell the story of a Gujarati man, who, along with his wife, tries to make it big in business. “I think audiences are much more mature now. They want to see real stories [told] in an entertaining way. I come from Gujarat and I’ve witnessed multiple entrepreneur stories around me,” he says.
Even in the Akshay Kumar starrer Pad Man, his character convinces his wife (played by Radhika Apte) to support him in spreading awareness on menstrual hygiene.
Band Baaja Baaraat director Maneesh Sharma says, “The popularity of this genre has something to do with the zeitgeist of today’s India.”
Trade analyst Atul Mohan, says, “Youngsters want to feel reassured that their life is understood by the world. They feel this security when they see a similar story on the screen.”
I believe today’s audience sees a reflection in these films of their own aspirations, and hence are able to connect with these stories. MANEESH SHARMA FILMMAKER