Chandrima Pal

It is strange how some of the more mature actresses are seemingly desperate to work with the young turks of filmdom. During the Buzz18 Vidya Balan chat, the actress clearly stated her preference: Imran and Ranbir are the two actors she'd like to work with. This is in spite of the fact that Vidya received umpteen requests and wishes from her fans to do a film with Aamir and Madhavan. I know it because I happened to be with her, going through the hundreds of responses and questions Vidya was dealing with so patiently and sweetly. (Let me tell you guys, she is quite a charmer and her French accent is quite sexy!)

Bipasha has stopped short of clawing her way through all the bitchy questions about working with Ranbir in Bachna. "Why not!" she has been telling people. "If Ash can marry someone three years her junior, why can I not romance a younger guy on screen?" she asked. (Did I hear her going 'meow?')

Not to be left behind, Katrina Kaif is breathing a huge sigh of relief. "I am acting with someone my age," she has been gleefully stating in that strange accent of hers, about working with Ranbir Kapoor. (My ears are pricked for a straight line in Hindi darling, from you on camera, live!). She has been happy about "being able to dress younger, look younger...". Wonder if it has anything to do with Akshay Kumar's obsession with his salt and pepper beard!

The way B'town actresses have been raving about the two boys especially, you'd think they are their ticket to immortality (read longer shelf-life than the 40-plus actors). But wouldn't blame them really. Imran, for all his rough edges, did impress in his debut performance. And that guy is a stickler for perfection. I have spent a good few hours with him on work, and he did come across as Aamir Khan version 2.0.

Imran is meticulous, likes to be in control (yes, he likes to take care of the last comma and full-stop even while typing furiously), methodical, and a huge bundle of nervous energy (he's a kid for heavens' sake). And here's a little secret, he likes dogs and dogs seem to like him too :) Personally, I think these traits will carry him some distance, if not far.

Back to this 'young' wave in Bollywood, 40 and hot is suddenly so last year! Exception may be Akshay Kumar, but this Friday we will find out how hot is the Khiladi, grey streak and all. (Ooh! By the way, did you catch this episode of Khatron Ke Khiladi, where Akshay blindfolds a very flustered Pooja Bedi and guides her hand to various parts of his body? "Guess which part of my body this is", he challenges Bedi who 'boasts' of being a "touch-feely person". Gosh! You should have seen this kinky sequence with the aging Bedi trying hard to stop giggling and Akshay, poker-faced, guiding her hand from his ears to lower and lower....! Prime time television may just have done a somersault.)

Forty-something Salman, making a fool of himself, scaring his hot girlfriend away is so not cool. That guy loves to mess things up for himself, royally. Shah Rukh Khan's dismal TV ratings may just be an indication of his weakening grip on the box-office as well. Once again, Billoo Barber may prove us otherwise. And Saif these days seems to be more interested in policing his hot girlfriend than wooing female fans.

More on the desperation to get young.

A TV channel recently was considering Abhishek Bachchan for endorsing a 'youthful' brand, but initial viewership surveys revealed he no longer has what it takes to be a youth icon. Ouch! Meanwhile Nakshatra dumping Ash for a 'younger' Kat has been the talk of the town. Literally. Feel sorry for Abhishek, who looks best these days in TV ads. Will Drona's special effects turn things in his favour? Maybe...

This season has been about young blood. About fresh new faces, sounds and ideas. And Farhan Akhtar's Rock On with 40-something rockers but with a youthful, vibrant soundtrack would an interesting film to watch. Maybe the 'men' will again rule the 'boys!'

Amen!