The mard factor

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When Ajay Devgn stood high on the two beautiful horses that were galloping against the wind in the movie Son of Sardaar, the hero’s antic seemed to have redefined Indian machismo.

Similarly, the uniform-clad Shahrukh Khan revived his image from being a lover-boy-next-door to a man of substance who loves with a passion in Jab Tak Hai Jaan. These new-age personifications of the macho man seem to have struck a chord with the ladies. But men across ages and from different walks of life have a different say!
Television actor Aditya Redij says, “The macho man always existed. It’s just a matter-of-fact that the topic is getting highlighted because of the combination of looks, action and on-screen persona. But you cannot ignore that these reel life heroes do impact real life men.” Interestingly, in recent times, the chocolate boy seems to have vanished.
The chivalrous, dashing and flamboyant ‘Rhett Butler’ sort of a man, who has his own style is charming women. “Heroes are heroes and that’s what we want them to be as audiences. Our man has to ooze masculinity but needs to underplay it. It’s not just the silver screen, even on television such characters are popular. Dr Ashutosh is macho in his own way. His maturity and charm makes a young girl fall in love with him,” says Rajan Shahi, producer, Kuuch Toh Log Kahenge. But not everyone seems to agree that the onscreen persona of these men can be replicated in real life. “The reel life heroes are better on screen and very few have the charisma off screen or set examples for youngsters to follow,” says designer Riyaz Gangji.
Yet there are men whose perceptions of machismo differ from the fancy Bollywood personas. They say, the filmy perceptions are best left to the big screen. “I don’t know anyone who rides two horses standing up or detonates bombs and moonlights as a caterer in London,” says comedian and writer Anubav Pal. Whether it is the oomph! factor in advertisements or the extra dose of masculinity, the fashion fraternity admits it is just a passing phase. “Fashion and films are all about changing trends. But when you take a closer look, all the filmi characters are inspired by real life men. You don’t get to see the heroism in real life because there are no cameras around,” says model Freddy Daru-wala.