| Profile of Star Aftaab
Shivdasani A savvy performer at 14 months, Aftab, the Farex baby
became a part of modern consumerist lore. His parents had named him after Guru Dutt's song
"Chaudhvin Ka Chand Ho, Ya Aftab Ho...". If there was ever a chance that kids'
names reflected their adult personalities, Aftab couldn't have been anything but a Star.
Aftab featured in a lot of adverts in his growing years and supported Anil Kapoor with an
able performance as Jugal in Mr. India.As a child he didn't have a thriving acting
career which left him with enough time to pursue academic interests. Just as he was all
set to leave for an MBA in London he was spotted by Ramgopal Verma. The rest is History.
At 21 he was comfortably ensconced into stardom with Ramgopal Verma's Mast. The
initial promos teased the audiences with flashes of his cute dimpled smile. Even before
the film was released, he had a busy schedule and a large fan following, mainly female.
Mast did not do well at the box office. A few months of lean period followed. Then
offers started coming in and suddenly Aftab was everywhere- killing, kidnapping, wooing;
in thrillers, comedies and romantic multistarrers. Recently, Vikram Bhatt's Kasoor
and E.Niwas' Love Kay Liye Kuch Bhi Karega have brought him back into the reckoning
and this time he seems to have grabbed a firm foothold.
In Mast, his debut film as an adult actor, he plays Kittu, a starstruck fan
of Urmila, a filmstar. Fantasy blurs with reality as he rescues the woman of her dreams
from exploitative filmi guardians. In Kasoor he is accused of murdering his wife.
His lawyer and eventually lover Lisa Ray, defends him with utmost belief till she
discovers that the charge is true. Pyar Ishq aurMohabbat has him playing one of the
three lovers wooing Kirti Reddy. Friend and confidant Aftab wins. Love Kay Liye Kuch
Bhi Karega, a breezy comedy directed by Ramgopal Verma's protegee E.Niwas again had
Aftab playing one of the three main roles, while Saif and Fardeen played the other two.
Although his latest films have only been mild hits, Aftab has been playing in all the
theatres in varied roles. There are as many films in his diary as there are films playing
in the halls currently. In his forthcoming films he stars with Ameesha Patel in Suno
Sasurjee and with Yukta Mookhey in Pyaasa (not a remake of the Guru Dutt
classic),with Preity Zinta in Jo Chaho Ho Jaye, Vikram Bhatt's Awara Pagal
Deewana, Eesha Deol in Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche and Rajkumar Kohli's Jaani
Dushman.
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