Lights, Ignition, Action – Bollywood’s Most Suited Automobiles

A screaming Basanti storms through the hinterland on her ‘dhanno’ led horse carriage. Jai & Veeru sing in gay abandon as they travel in their old faithful, the Scooter + One chariot. These were the vehicles of choice for an iconic generation of Films & film stars in Bollywood. Today, films have witnessed a sea-change in automobiles. With the most exotic Ferraris & Lamborghinis to the overtly macho Hummers; Bollywood has its hands and feet, firmly wrapped around the best vehicles money can buy! Such has been the impact of the automotive revolution, cars/bikes have gained no lesser status than being characters in themselves – remember the Bikes in Dhoom!

So if automobiles have assumed pride of place on screen, they aren’t far behind in real life either. For numerous reasons, our Bollywood celebrities indulge in the choicest of transport options, even in their personal lives. After all, a big SUV sure provides a huge Ego boost (befitting a star’s larger than life stature). A lean, mean sports car completes a celebrity’s stylish persona (and perhaps compensates for certain missing ingredients)! While an expensive, bespoke luxury car announces the ‘arrival’ (even if the movie premiers are swiftly waning in number)!

In all of this excitement, one fact remains. No one ever accused Bollywood of too much ‘originality’. And the industry’s captains are not much different. There is a set lot of cars and car types that Bollywood patronizes. Large SUVs are the norm today. So we take it upon ourselves to come to the aid of our somewhat imagination-challenged celebrities, and draw up a list of vehicles that best suit Bollywood’s creme-de-la-creme. Without further ado, here is Lights, Ignition, Action…

Legendary. Iconic. Superstar. Shehenshah. The epithets run short because nothing quite encapsulates the phenomenon that is Amitabh Bachan. A self-confessed automobile aficionado, Mr. Bachan senior has always owned a plethora of exotics, likes to travel in style, and loves to drive. Perhaps the only debacle in his relationship with automobiles was an association with a largely forgettable ‘van’, from one of the country’s most otherwise successful car stables. Aside from that, be it the Maybach or the Phantom, the Land Cruiser or the X5, he’s been there, done that. Few are aware, that Mr.Bachan has even been the proud owner of the once Lamborghini produced ‘military jeep’ LM 002! For this undisputed veteran king of the film industry, today presents a juncture in his life where few things, be it film roles or cars, would get him really excited. But we’ve dug deep and hard. And just as there will always be a role that will get the most seasoned and accomplished actor excited like an adolescent, there is, we believe, one car that will get even the Big B to snap his heels and run in gleeful cheer.

Arguably the ultimate 4 door luxury sedan on earth – the Bugatti Galibier. Based on the outrageously powerful and exclusive Voyeron, the Galibier, albeit in concept stage, is imminent for production. Possessing an unseen combination of luxury and power, aggression and sophistication, exclusivity and dynamism; it is one car that marries all of the qualities most synonymous with the Big B himself. So the question now remains – does Bugatti see Bachan as the correct vehicle to make its India debut in?

From the undeniable big daddy of Bollywood, to the disarming darling of today’s film industry. Such has been the impact of Ranbir Kapoor’s young innings in Bollywood, that it wouldn’t be a stretch to call it game-changing! This suave and svelte harbinger of change has come as a much needed breadth of fresh air, reigning in with him, a completely new generation of Bollywood devotees – a people on whom Bollywood’s cause had been lost to foreign films. Now, girls, guys, the elderly and middle aged swear by the Ranbir Charm. Bollywood is in love, as is the nation, with its latest heart-throb, Ranbir aka Sid Kapoor! Espousing this new wave of modern Hindi cinema, Ranbir has been catapulted to the highest echelons of Bollywood power. Some would argue, perhaps correctly, that he has already outshone his dynasty, and is a certified superstar despite being just 2 years into his career. Ranbir Kapoor is that rarest of young actor who represents a fine blend of attributes that make him endearing to a wide cross-section of cinema-going India. He is young, cheeky and naughty, yet with an innocence that is very real. He possesses the impatience, ambition and excitement of youth, yet comes across as a dependable and loyal person. In many ways then, Ranbir is all of the good of young India, and the positives of old India, rolled into one wholesome package. On similar lines therefore, is the car we feel best suits Ranbir. One that represents all the intrinsic qualities of this legendary car brand, mixed seamlessly with the DNA of the future.

The BMW X6. A sports car, an SUV, a Grand Tourer, and a Luxury car, all rolled into the same vehicle. Where there is unsurpassed dynamic ability, there is cosseting comfort. Where there is sharp aggressive styling, there is familiar BMW aesthetic. Where there is ludicrous speed capability, there is responsible safety equipment. The next generation of Bollywood meets the next generation of BMW, perfectly. Cut, check, print

If Ranbir exemplifies the coming of age for Bollywood’s leading man, Aamir Khan is the mega-star whose own plunge into the industry began in much the same way, only 3 decades earlier! Since then, Aamir ‘perfectionist’ Kahn has acquired quite a reputation, most of it for the right reasons. He has moulded himself into an enigmatic, alluring method actor who is as diverse as he is identifiable. In more recent times, Aamir has walked the tight-rope of Commercial & Meaningful cinema with careful premeditation and greater success than anyone else. While newbies like Ranbir combine seemingly contrasting character traits with dexterity, Aamir is the living, breathing and tangible manifestation of Bollywood’s innate contradictions. After all, only Aamir Khan can serve up an issue based film, and make it a runaway commercial success. In doing so, he juggles Risk & Certainty, Chance & Surety, in a way only an astute yet sensitive person like he can. Where there is the extreme danger of ‘non commercial’ film plots & subjects, there is the obvious guarantee of a smashing box office opening. Where there is approachability and accessibility in and via the media, there remains a strong mystery about him. Where there is controversy surrounding his personal life, there are heartfelt and candid blogs dispelling myths & perceptions. To wow the audience, the box office and the critics all at the same time, is that rarest of ability, that is the sole reserve of Aamir Khan. Satisfying one and all is indeed a tough task, and we went hunting high and low, to find a car that checks as many boxes as possible. A car that is multifaceted, a bit risque, yet solicits solid, safe, unflinching confidence. A vehicle that is norm-shattering, yet embodying the traditional attributes of a well thought out means of transport.

Novel but mature, segment defining but also segment shattering. In a nutshell, the Range Rover! The SUV that has often been described as the ‘luxury car with go anywhere, do anything’ ability. The car that is backed by legendary tradition and off roading chops, traveling its patrons across uncharted lands (much the same way as Aamir exploring untold stories), yet reaching the destination in supreme comfort and with dead sure results (like most of Aamir’s record-breaking film collections). The perfect car for the perfect man. Because together, both Aamir and Range Rover, continue to Go Beyond!

From mass appeal to the God of the Masses. Aamir’s good friend Salman Khan is next up. If ever one were to cross Sallu’s sea-facing Bandra apartment building, leave alone cars, any thoughts of vehicular transport would quickly escape one’s mind. Such is the frenzy and the crowd generated therefrom, that there is a perennial jam outside Salam Khan’s apartment building. Why, because he is the ‘janta’s idol’, their mascot, their hero. Because scores of worshippers flock to catch a glimpse of their beloved deity, much the same way followers undertake pilgrimage. Because when Salman is in the vicinity, lives come to a stand-still, traffic stalls, stampedes occur, and the nation bows in near holy allegiance. Salman Khan is that self-confessed man of the masses, a star who wears his stardom as much on his sleeves, as he does in his famous blue-stone bracelet. The masses love him, and he in turn, is most comfortable among them. No stiffness here, no high society pretensions. Its just swashbuckling Salman, his large heartedness & generosity for the public, and among it all – a completely home-grown ‘desi American accent’! While he owns a slew of vehicles including SUVs, bikes and even bicycles (yes, Bandra regulars could get a passing glimpse of Salman cycling to Meheboob Studios); this common man’s hero is not personally taken by items of wealth and status. What he does have by the bucket loads is an attitude that finds favor with millions of his fans – his unassuming, infectious charm that makes reality tv shows hits, and earns him the public’s sympathies and instant forgiveness, no matter how serious the offense (and offenses there have been, more than a few). Carefree, cool, and a style all his own. Salman is the embodiment of the desi movie-goers’ aspirations and fantasies. If we may take the liberty of parodying an old favorite – Everyone wants to Talk Salman, Walk Salman, Read Salman, Write Salman. So what vehicle would best fit a man of Salman’s characteristics? We thought, why not give him an Auto Rickshaw. But while that would meet the ‘home-grown’ tag, he is after all a mega-star. We then wondered if a Tata Minivan might not be the best suited to Salman. He could carry a mobile gym and have space to sign autographs. But then, he already has a rather fancy personal vanity van.

Most importantly though, the vehicle for Salman must be home-grown, yet have some link to America. Nothing better than our very own Mahindra Scorpio. Loads of attitude, macho, common enough – and critically, given M&M’s spiritual connection with the great American Willy’s jeep of yore – the right blend of ‘Born In India but on American DNA’!! We strongly believe that for Salman, Nothing Else Will Do!

Neither are all neighbors friends, nor are all friends neighbors. But who says thats the way it has to be! Fact remains, 2 of Bollywood’s biggest Khans are indeed neighbors. Besides, now that we have discussed and awarded vehicles to both Aamir & Salman, it is high time we got down to the ultimate Khan in Bollywood, King Khan himself. That Sharhrukh Khan’s meteoric rise is the stuff of legends, we all know. That he came to Mumbai like a zillion other starry-eyed Bollywood aspirants, we all know as well. Since his arrival however, and over the years of his assault on the film world, SRK has emerged, only next to Amitabh Bachan, a one-man-industry. Drama, action, suspense, thriller, comedy – Shahrukh has done it all. Not only that, he has also successfully donned the cap of a Producer, Businessman & Entrepreneur, TV Show Host, and Brand Ambassador. Traversing a global fan-base, Shahrukh today has everything. Money, fame, fortune. Nothing seems out of his reach. Nothing seems too much. Noting remains unattainable. In fact, the way things were until recently, we couldn’t have included SRK in this list. What do you give a man who has everything and more! But SRK’s latest acquisition has provided a ray of hope. Enter Shahrukh Khan, team owner of the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders franchise. Along with business partners Juhi Chawla and Jai Mehta, SRK became the proud owner of the then promising Knight Riders. Spirits were high, as were expectations. But as luck would have it, it is the one aspect of Shahrukh’s life where his now renowned ‘Midas touch’ hasn’t worked, not yet anyway. Alas, 2 IPL installments on, the Knight Riders have more controversy to their credit, than match wins. It got us thinking then, Shahrukh not being one to give up easily, must be hard at work trying to resurrect his beleaguered cricket team.

So while personally SRK has, and can easily acquire the best vehicles that are out there, we think it is most befitting that on our list, SRK is awarded a Tour Bus. We hope that with the space and practicality a large Volvo or Mercedes Tour Bus will afford him, Shahrukh can travel his cricket team and his own entourage in supreme comfort. Not only will this enable him to travel his team to various Training Camps across the country, but also personally accompany them, all the way, meting out sound advice and strong strategy. And given Shahrukh’s business acumen, he could well turn the Tour Bus into a moving advertisement for his team, performing interactive Road Shows all the way through, at least recouping some of the losses that may have been suffered at the hands of his team’s not so flattering performance!

So here we have it… the vehicles we think fit these five top Bollywood celerities the best. But like there are many cars, there remain many celebrities too. This list was picked in no particular order. In order to cover all the noteworthy B Town Biggies, we’ll need many installments of ‘Lights Ignition Action’. So until that next list of Bollywood Celebrities and their Vehicular Contenders, its the end of today’s work, and Its A Wrap!

[Kartik Bajoria, a regular contributor, runs his own creative agency called BOLD & is also involved in Films & Music as a force of habit!]

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