DEBUT DEBACLE
2016 saw an influx of starry-eyed Bollywood debutants, but most of them failed to leave a mark
They came, they saw... but they couldn’t conquer! We’re talking about the newbies the film industry welcomed this year. Despite buzz around their projects, some backed by big banners, 13 out of 18 names, including Harshvardhan Kapoor and Saiyami Kher (Mirzya), Pooja Hegde (Mohenjo Daro), Sayyeshaa (Shivaay), Gautam Gulati (Azhar), Gizele Thakral (Kya Kool Hain Hum 3) and Waluscha De Sousa (Fan), failed to make an impactful first impression.
Harshvardhan and Saiyami debuted with a dream project, a Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s directorial. So was the case with Sayyeshaa, the grandniece of veteran actor Saira Banu. She starred alongside Bollywood star Ajay Devgn in his much-awaited film, and created a stir after Shivaay’s teaser released, but the film bombed. Sayyeshaa calls it a “learning experience”. Even Pakistani actor Mawra Hocane’s film, Sanam Teri Kasam, flopped, but her spirits weren’t deterred. She has bagged two more Bollywood films.
Trade analysts say everyone deserves a second chance. Amul Mohan says, “It’s not like actors from Mirzya or Mohenjo Daro didn’t have a good platform, they still could not make an impact. The films’ script was poor as well. But it’s too early to write them off.” Pankaj Sabnani agrees, saying that actors, especially newbies, can get sidelined if a film doesn’t have good content.
TV actor Gautam Gulati is hopeful of a better second film. “I had a good experience, and am looking forward to a better positioning in my next. I want people to see my better work.”
Also to have debuted were Reecha Singh (Dongri Ka Raja), Navneet Kaur Dhillon (Love Shhudha), Kriti Kharbanda (Raaz Reboot) and Sonarika Bhadoria (Saansein), but they too, couldn’t connect with the audience, and their films vanished from the theatres without a whimper.
However, not everyone got it wrong. Abrar Zahoor (Neerja), Andrea Tariang (Pink) and Diljit Dosanjh (Udta Punjab) were among those who won praise from critics and audiences alike.