Superstars of Classic Hindi Cinema- Old Bollywood Stars

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Amitabh and Dharmendra in 'Sholay'

Superstars is an adjective which is rarely attached to the new stars of 21st century Bollywood. There are stars and actors and there are prodigies and immensely talented youngsters, but can you name a single actor who can be termed a superstar? [intlink id="779" type="post"]Shahrukh Khan and Aamir Khan[/intlink] come close to this category, but there is a slight hesitation in terming them as superstars.

Rewind the film era by about 40 years. And fond memories of classic action heroes will come in your mind. The names of  Vinod Khanna, Rajesh Khanna, Dev Anand, Dharmendra and of course, the legendary Amitabh Bachchan will sound familiar. Popular actresses of the golden era – Parveen Babi, Hema Malini and Rekha donning film posters all over India would have been a common sight. Today, these very names are  often remembered with the term ‘super star’ and there is no reluctance in saying so.

When we look back many decades and think of the stars which ruled the Bollywood skies, we find that many of them have just faded away or have opted to retire to a life of memories and peace and quiet. There are very few who still remain and who have managed to remain a part of the filmy scene and have also not become a mockery of their old persona.

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Amitabh Bachchan

Amitabh Bachchan is of course the first and most prominent example among the enduring superstars of yesteryear. This phrase is not quite apt for him, since he is a superstar of present times also, but when we recollect the fact that his first film was released over four decades earlier, we realize that he is definitely the most enduring star of all times. Even today he can command his own price and roles which seem to have been written specifically for him.

Hema Malini

Hema Malini can also be counted as one of the most enduring superstars of many decades. She still looks graceful and beautiful, and her acting is flawless as always. Baghban brought her back on the box office stage with a bang and we look forward to many more years of fine performances.
Waheeda Rehman and Sharmila Tagore do not come on the silver screen as often as we would like them to, but that may be due to their own choices in life. But whenever they do star in a film, they shine with an incandescent glow.

Rishi Kapoor

Rishi Kapoor is another actor who despite having become nice and round, does a great job as the avuncular uncle or father in the newer films. He carries years of experience and tradition on his shoulders, and his joy in his craft is evident in every role.

Mithun Chakravarty

Mithun Chakravarty, the ultimate Disco Dancer, has become popular as a reality show host. He may no longer be very nimble on his feet, but he still has the grace and the expertise to guide the newer aspirants who would like to step into his dancing shoes.

And some others…

There are many more superstars who we would like to see once again, even though it may be for short scenes or roles. Dev Anand does keep coming back with new flop shows, but he only seems to remind us of the fact that he is no longer a superstar, just a mockery of his old self. Naseeruddin Shah was never a superstar, but he along with Amol Palekar has managed to retain his own niche as a phenomenal character actor. We miss Shammi Kapoor, Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, Zeenat Aman, Mumtaz and many others – they were the true superstars and in their heyday they could give any of the new “stars” a run for their money.