Making of Superstars

 

The era of the making of superstars in Indian cinema can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s. This was a period when the Indian film industry, popularly known as Bollywood, was going through a major transformation. Several factors contributed to the rise of superstars during this time.

Firstly, the advent of technicolor and the introduction of song and dance sequences in films made them more entertaining and appealing to a wider audience. This led to the emergence of actors who were not only good at acting but also had a strong screen presence and could dance and sing.

Secondly, the rise of playback singing and the playback singers like Lata Mangeshkar and Kishore Kumar added a new dimension to the films. The songs became an integral part of the films, and actors who could lip-sync well to these songs became popular.

Thirdly, the film industry started to promote its stars aggressively. Film studios would sign actors under long-term contracts and invest heavily in their grooming and promotion. Actors were given stage names and personas that were carefully crafted to appeal to the masses.

One of the first superstars of Indian cinema was Rajesh Khanna, who gained immense popularity in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was known as the "first superstar of Indian cinema" and had a massive fan following. His success paved the way for other actors like Amitabh Bachchan, Dharmendra, and Raj Kapoor to become superstars in their own right.

The concept of superstars in Indian cinema continued to evolve over the years, with actors like Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, and Salman Khan achieving superstar status in the 1990s and 2000s. These actors not only had acting talent but also charisma and a massive fan base.

In conclusion, the era of the making of superstars in Indian cinema can be traced back to the 1950s and 1960s when the industry was undergoing a major transformation. Factors like the introduction of technicolor, playback singing, and aggressive promotion of actors contributed to the rise of superstars like Rajesh Khanna, Amitabh Bachchan, and others. The concept of superstars has continued to evolve over the years, with new actors achieving superstar status in each generation.