By:
Reshma
Kelkar,
IndiaFM
Monday,
August
21,
2006
'To
achieve
great
things
we
must
live
as
though
we
were
never
going
to
die.'
The
idea
behind
this
thought
is
that
if
you
want
to
be
successful
in
your
life
then
go
ahead
without
losing
hope.
This
thought
perfectly
suits
our
Bollywood
associates,
who
began
their
career
as
the
main
protagonist
but
ended
up
playing
second
fiddle
to
someone
else.
A
lot
of
actors
in
Bollywood
tried
their
luck
in
solo
lead
films
but
when
they
failed
to
make
it,
they
discovered
a
new
image
for
themselves.
They
joined
the
second
lead
league.
In
fact
this
image
was
quite
safe
in
Bollywood
from
the
beginning
itself.
Second
lead
characters
serve
at
a
subordinate
capacity
to
the
leading
man
of
the
film.
He
is
the
one,
who
helps
to
progress
the
film
by
playing
equally
important
character.
Nevertheless,
the
second
lead
was
never
considered
as
an
impractical
decision
for
an
actor.
Rather
most
of
the
actors
of
the
70's
have
played
second
fiddle
in
movies.
Let
us
begin
with
Shashi
Kapoor,
who
appeared
mostly
in
multi
starrer
films.
Playing
the
second
lead
was
never
an
issue
for
him.
In
fact
most
of
his
hit
films
(esp.
with
Amitabh
Bachchan)
saw
him
in
the
second
lead.
Films
like
Deewar,
Trishul,
Suhaag,
Do
Aur
Do
Paanch
and
Silsila
helped
him
to
survive
in
the
industry.
Similarly
other
actors
like
Vinod
Khanna,
Shatrughan
Sinha,
Mithun
Chakravarty
and
many
more
moved
on
to
become
stars
themselves.
Who
could
be
a
better
example
than
Amitabh
Bachchan
himself,
who
did
not
start
out
too
well
and
played
second
fiddle
at
the
initial
stage
of
his
career.
Babumoshai
from
Anand
was
one
of
his
most
memorable
characters.
Reshma
Aur
Shera
and
Namak
Haram
followed
and
even
in
the
comedy
caper
Bombay
To
Goa
though
he
could
be
technically
tagged
as
the
hero,
he
still
was
a
second
fiddle
to
the
legendary
comedian
Mehmood.
After
that
he
moved
on
to
become
a
super
star
in
Bollywood.
However,
the
definition
of
second
fiddle
actors
varies
from
actor
to
actor
and
their
films.
This
status
has
been
popular
in
the
industry
as
most
of
the
actors
opted
for
the
same.
Feroz
Khan
started
his
career
as
a
second
lead
in
his
first
film
Didi.
Similarly
Manoj
Bajpai's
role
in
Satya
was
a
second
lead
but
interestingly
the
impact
of
his
character
was
such
that
Bhiku
Mhatre
literally
outshined
the
title
character
of
Satya
and
automatically
it
turned
out
to
be
a
lead
character.
This
trend
became
popular
only
when
the
second
fiddle
was
considered
equally
important
to
the
leading
man.
And
Amitabh
Bachchan
was
benefited
by
the
same.
He
played
second
fiddle
to
Dharmendra
in
Sholay.
Jai
happens
to
be
one
of
the
most
memorable
performances
by
Amitabh
Bachchan
that
he
played
at
a
time
when
he
was
ruling
at
the
number
one
position.
But
it
only
added
to
his
repertoire.
Correspondingly
there
are
many
Jais
in
Bollywood,
who
became
popular
because
of
their
role.
Saif
Ali
Khan
was
one
of
them.
Initially
when
he
was
not
doing
well,
he
moved
on
to
play
second
fiddle
to
Akshay
Kumar
in
movies
like
Main
Khiladi
Tu
Anari
and
Yeh
Dillagi.
When
their
chemistry
clicked
he
never
looked
back.
Even
today
if
he
plays
a
supporting
actor
in
the
form
of
Langda
Tyagi,
he
is
as
good
as
the
main
lead
Omakara.
Anil
Kapoor
appeared
in
second
fiddle
in
movies
like
Biwi
No.
1,
Mann
and
Taal.
No
other
conventional
actor
would
have
done
it.
Anil
was
one
of
the
established
stars,
who
went
for
this.
This
ploy
worked
and
Anil
walked
off
with
Filmfare's
Best
Supporting
Actor
award
for
Taal.
Same
with
Riteish
Deshmukh,
who
failed
to
make
it
big
thorough
his
solo
lead
debut,
Tujhe
Meri
Kasam.
So
he
started
doing
multi
starrer
movies.
Riteish
confesses,
"I
can't
afford
to
make
a
film,
so
I
have
to
do
roles
which
are
offered
to
me."
He
first
did
Mr
Ya
Miss
then
he
played
con
man
in
Bluffmaster.
Though
it
was
a
second
lead
but
he
played
an
important
part
in
the
development
of
the
story.
Rimmi
Sen
agrees
with
Riteish's
statement
and
feels
that
multi
starrer
films
are
safe.
It
doesn't
matters
whether
the
role
is
second
fiddle
to
any
actor
or
actress.
She
opts
for
any
interesting
role
that
comes
her
way.
She
did
Kyon
Ki
because
it
was
a
Priyadarshan
film.
However,
everyone
had
their
own
reasons
for
doing
second
fiddle
roles
in
movies.
Most
of
the
actors
accepted
these
roles
because
they
were
offered
second
leads
only.
Sometimes
these
characters
were
parallel
to
the
main
lead
or
equally
important
to
develop
the
plot
of
the
story,
which
attracted
actors
to
opt
for
second
fiddle.
Actors
like
Jackie
Shroff,
Chunky
Pandey
and
Mithun
Chakravarty
accept
such
roles
just
because
they
have
passed
the
age
where
they
can
run
around
trees
or
outsmart
a
dozen
bad
men.
Moreover,
they
are
getting
second
character
roles
that
grow
with
the
development
of
the
plot.
Arshad
Warsi
has
his
own
views.
He
says,
"The
concept
of
heroism
is
getting
out
and
we're
becoming
more
character-oriented.
I
have
done
brilliant
roles
despite
them
being
second
lead,
some
of
which
I
have
personally
chosen."
His
roles
in
Munnabhai
MBBS,
Salaam
Namaste
and
Maine
Pyaar
Kyon
Kiya
were
equally
enhancing
if
not
more
than
the
main
lead.
Arshad
feels
satisfied
to
walk
the
extra
mile.
Arshad
had
a
dream
debut
in
Tere
Mere
Sapne
and
a
string
of
flops
subsequently.
This
new
found
image
has
created
a
space
for
him.
Not
only
actors
but
actresses
too
opt
for
second
lead
and
most
of
them
have
become
establish
actresses
subsequently.
Rani
Mukherji
is
one
of
them.
Her
debut
film
Raja
Ki
Aayegi
Barat
failed
to
click
at
the
box-office.
Later
Kajol
recommended
Rani
for
a
second
lead
role
in
Kuch
Kuch
Hota
Hai
and
after
that
Rani
never
looked
back.
Karisma
Kapoor's
role
in
Dil
To
Pagal
Hai
gave
a
boost
to
her
career.
Even
actresses
like
Neha
Dhupia
and
Sushma
Reddy
feel
that
a
second
lead
character
is
like
a
challenge
and
it's
up
to
an
actor
on
how
beautifully
he
or
she
portrays
it.
Minissha
Lamba
is
a
new
entrant
in
this
league.
She
played
second
fiddle
to
Bipasha
Basu
in
Corporate.
Says
the
actress,
"I
know
I
am
a
new
comer.
I
want
to
work
with
big
actors
in
my
films.
So
it's
obvious
that
if
I
work
with
them,
then
I
am
not
going
to
have
the
biggest
role.
You
have
to
have
the
reality
check
also.
I
can't
be
floating
on
cloud
nine
and
say
no.
One's
expectations
have
to
be
realistic.
You
can't
measure
the
role
through
dialogues
or
scenes.
It's
not
a
question
of
length,
but
how
much
you
want
to
be
a
part
of
the
project."
Actors
have
their
own
reasons
to
join
this
new
league.
Needless
to
say
Hindi
films
are
changing
for
the
better
as
actors
are
set
to
make
new
convention
in
the
industry.