New 'Garam Dharam' on the block

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><script language="javascript">doweshowbellyad=0; </script><br />Akshay Kumar reminds me of a geyser. Not the boilers that give us warm baths in our bathrooms. But the natural warm springs at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.<br /></div> <div align="left" style="position:relative; left: -2"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" align="left" border="1" width="58.1%"> <colgroup> <col width="100.0%" /> </colgroup> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><a href="javascript:popUp(&quot1;/photopop/msid-98894,type-0.cms&quot1;)"> <img border="0" align="left" src="/thumb.cms?msid=98894&height=311&width=311" hspace="12" /></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="100.0%" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="" valign:="" top="" background-color:="" f3f3f3=""> <div class="Normal"><span style="" font-size:="">Click to enlarge</span></div> </td> </tr> </table></div> <div class="Normal">The natural geyser that unfailingly erupts every 45-120 minutes with a spurt of boiling water rising up to 180 breathtaking feet, giving us five minutes of sheer natural beauty.No wonder it''s called ''Old Faithful''!<br /><br />Just like <a href="http://jeetwin-gaming.com/articleshow/358794.cms">Akshay Kumar</a>! After the initial bout of ''slam bang, thank you ma''am'' kind of flicks (I''m referring to his gunmaster-cum-grandmaster kind of characters), Akshay has settled beautifully into a stable kind of actor.<br /> <br /><a href="http://jeetwin-gaming.com/articleshow/368802.cms">Reliable and dependable</a>. Not the ''rat'' (as Anil Kapoor calls all stars in the running, self included) in the rat race; but the contented cat in the starry game of ''Say cheese, it''s Friday''.<br /><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Dhadkan</span> launched the process that his friend Keshu had already set in motion with the <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Khiladi</span> series. Of a dependable actor, willing to wait in the wings, nibbling on cheese ''n'' crackers until the ''meaty, potatoes ''n'' gravy train came by periodically. <br /><br /><formid=367815><br /></formid=367815></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />Then Akki was always there to go along for the fulfilling ride. It really reminds me a lot of one of the most strongly dependable stars of all time - Dharmendra.<br /><br />Dharmendra was tough, probably the best-looking actor in Indian cinema (he was rated amongst the 10 best-looking actors in the world by an international magazine) and he was almost everyone''s favourite. Yet there was never any talk of No. 1 or No. 2 around ''Garam Dharam''. <br /><br />He was there when Rajesh Khanna was there. He was there when Vinod Khanna was present. And he was there when Amitabh Bachchan ruled the roost (and still does). <br /><br />Garam Dharam was always the hottest of them all. And he never had the ego-hassles of wanting the better role, billing or positioning - irrespective of which other actor he was pitted against - because he knew that he was going to hold his own.<br /><br />Or, probably outshine the ''other guy''. And the result was there for all to see. Versus AB in <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Chupke Chupke, Ram Balram, Sholay</span>. Versus Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, Jeetendra, Feroz Khan, any hero, Dharam walked away with the accolades most of the time.<br /><br />In fact, even when son Sunny was breaking hearts with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Betaab</span>, dad Dharam was simultaneously packing them in with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Naukar Biwi</span> Ka; and he was set to repeat the act with beta Bobby''s launch. No wonder everyone wanted to be a Dharam; and still does.<br /><br />But after the Govinda run on trying to be in the enviable ''garam'' seat, it is Akshay Kumar who is on course to becoming a likely ''Dharam''.<br /><br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Dhadkan, Dil To Pagal Hai, Ek Rishta - The Bond of Love, Ajnabee, Hera Pheri, Aawara Paagal Deewana, Talaash, Aankhen</span> - most of them hits. (Except for <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Talaash</span>, but I mention it because it was different).<br /><br />All spread over the past four years. Without making excuses for a <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Haan Maine Bhi Pyar Kiya</span> and a <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Jaani Dushman</span>, it is still a remarkable run. One that has been overlooked by the media going gaga over the established top three of Shah Rukh, Aamir and Hrithik, <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">au naturelle</span>.<br /> <br />But it didn''t stop the workmanlike and good-looking Akshay from going about the business of doing different work and delivering hits, even if it didn''t make the press gush like our ''Old Faithful'' in Wyoming.<br /><br />And now, with <span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Khakee</span> promising to be yet another feather in the <a href="http://jeetwin-gaming.com/articleshow/370716.cms">Akki</a> hat of goodies, he sure is on the way to becoming another Dharmendra, the original, irrepressible geyser.<br /><br />Talking about Old Faithfuls, why visit Wyoming, when we have two of the best ''geysers'' back home in India.<br />Garam geyser showers anyone?<br /><br /><formid=367815></formid=367815></div> </div>