Did he deserve it this time ?

Before you read the rest, let me tell you that I am a die hard Shahrukh Khan fan. But ill try to be as unbiased as i can.

This post is purposely titled , " Did he deserve it this time ? " because this is the question all SRK-bashers try to raise every time ( 7 for popular and 2 for critics , total 9 till now) that SRK wins the Filmfare best actor trophy.

Lets quickly run down the list his previous Filmfare Best Actor awards starting from 1994 till date:

1993 : Baazigar
1994 : Kabhi haan kabhi naa ( Critics)
1995 : Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge
1997 : Dil to Paagal Hai
1998 : Kuch Kuch Hota hai
2000: Mohabattein ( Critics)
2002 : Devdas
2004 : Swades
2007 : Chak de India

This means , he has won either the popular or the critics award 9 times in the last 14 years, and also the Best Actor in a Villainous role in 1994 for Anjaam and the Best Actor in a comic role in 1999 for Baadshah.

11 Filmfare Best Actor awards for different categories in 14 years, and strong nominations every year.

Mindboggling.

Now that we are done with the statistics, lets see if he deserved the award on all these occasions. I will be gracious enough to admit that on two occasions, viz. , 1995 when Aamir Khan was nominated for Rangeela and in 1998 when Aamir Khan again was nominated for Sarfarosh; the Award could have gone to him.

But on all other occasions, SRK completely deserved to win. And if indeed as SRK bashers claim that the Filmfare awards are rigged, why did Aamir Khan win for Lagaan? Or Hrithik for Koi Mil Gaya ? or Amitabh Bacchan for Black ? Or Sanjay Dutt for Vastaav ? Because in each of these years, these performances were indeed better than the rest!!
If SRK were to rig the awards, he could have won in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006 as well! He had strong nominations in all these years!

Another accusation is that SRK is the same in all his movies. Look at his last three awards. Devdas, Swades and Chak de India. He was Devdas Narayan Mukherjee, Mohan Bhargava and Kabir Khan in these movies, not Shahrukh Khan.

Now talking only about 2007, where Darsheel Safary, the brilliant child artist of Taare Zameen Par was nominated with him.

Darsheel Safary was chosen from 20,000 kids to play a dyslexic Ishaan Awasthi. Do you really think he was going to be unconvincing ? Those helpless expressions, angry outbursts and tears were all carefully planned and orchestrated. Dont forget, you are talking about giving the award to Darsheel Safary, an actor. Not poor little dyslexic Ishaan Awasthi.

Naseruddin Shah once said in an interview, " Its more difficult to act like a normal person and win the audience's heart , than to portray a role of a disabled, abnormal person ".

I completely agree.

Lets not belittle the achievements of this hardworking superstar, who in 1991 with Rs.400 in his pocket once stood at Marine Drive with his friends and said " One day I'll rule this city."

To quote the great man himself, " The Filmfare Best Actor trophy looks the best in my hands." Indeed it does.