Khav v Khan!

Aamir may have started out as the chochweet cute, chocolate-faced lover boy in Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, but after a series of bombs — and later hits — decided to forget the Bollywood script and follow his heart. Sure he did pot-boilers like Dil, Dil Hai Ki Maanta Nahin, Ghulam, even great commercial zingers like Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar, the timeless Andaz Apna Apna and Sarfarosh. But he really got his act together with Lagaan and Dil Chahta Hai.This was Aamir cutting loose, wooing risk to break new ground. Mangal Pandey and Rang De Basanti only re-affirmed this brave new journey and with Taare Zameen Par, Gajini and 3 Idiots, he’s carved his very own signature and seal on every project he connects with. His heart’s “Go” always appears to veto his heads “No!” Guts, courage, instinct, self-belief powered by passionate and full-on follow-up is AK’s lethal work-ethic — and god knows, he’s scored a perfect 10 (both critically and commercially) each time!

SRK is a different kettle of fish. A mesmerizing star presence, flamboyant, electric energy, over-the-top moves, in thought, word and deed (don’t we know it?) and charismatic, he is all style, drama and color! With no filmy background, a couple of successful TV serials (Fauji, Circus) and a host of arty projects as starters, SRK zoomed into popular psyche with Deewana and Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman. However, it took guts for this young, unknown actor from Delhi to accept a hugely rejected negative role (an echo of Amitabh Bachchan and Zanjeer?) in Darr. He had already gone this route, successfully, earlier in Baazigar, but the Yash Chopra film was the big turnaround that he was looking for.

Not since Shatrughan Sinha and Amjad Khan was a villain’s role so wildly cheered and celebrated. The new star however was in no mood to rest on his laurels. Doing an astonishing volte-face, he played the ultimate, romantic charmer in a film that was to create box-office history (Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge) and slot his pairing with Kajol as the romantic pair of the day. He went along playing Mr. Romantic, with all cylinders firing, blowing everyone’s — read women — mind to smitherns. Dil To Pagal Hai, Pardes, Devdas, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam, Kal Ho Naa Ho, Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna — SRK was on fire and the glow flared big time to every part of the globe where a SRK starrer was screened.

However, like Aamir Khan, SRK too wanted to explore the “actor” within and two films demonstrated clearly that there is much more to him than the predictable, mushy, melodramatic, hi-pitched stylized romances. Swadesh and Chak De India may have faired lamely at the box-office, but any SRK-watcher would agree that these were landmark, path-breaking efforts from a super-star renowned more for style than substance. And now with My Name Is Khan, SRK appears truly serious to turn a new leaf. Is SRK the actor sending across a strong message to SRK the star, “Watchout buddy, I could just overtake you?”

So what gives? What’s the score? Who’s winning? It really depends on whom you’re asking! Globally, SRK is clearly the hotter ticket. Spontaneous, rebellious, enterprising, charming, audacious, rocking and hugely entertaining in a mesmerizing, matchless audience-friendly way, King Khan is dynamite, eliciting rock-star like hysteria. Aamir is diametrically opposite. Studied, focused, methodical, with an obsessive eye for detail and perfection, maddeningly selective and completely private when not promoting his film or a cause, he lets his films do the talking… and man, do they talk!

Despite the lack of frontal and full-on public glare that SKR enjoys, Aamir seems have the last laugh. His 3 Idiots, has pipped My Name Is Khan in the box office stakes and his astonishing $7 million endorsement deal — over SRK’s $3 million — signed with a UAE-based telecommunications service provider last month, jolted even the jaded in Bollywood.

However, at the end of the day, for devotees of the two Khans, it’s an embarrassment of riches! Both love cinema passionately, take their work very seriously and over time have entered the production business as well. Dedicated to their calling and completely focused on endeavouring to “be the change you want” in their very own, special and unique ways, the conclusion is simple: Don’t compare them. Just love them. B-town — and their zillion fans — need them both!