Size 0 And Other Trends That Were Bollywood’s Cultural Exports To The World

There’s no rule that says that a country has to necessarily fire a few missiles, or colonize another planet for it to be taken seriously by the world. It can do so by exerting its influence in other spheres, chief among them being the cultural one. And no one can beat India at this game. A lot of credit for this goes to Bollywood. Not only has it managed to provide a sense of belonging to the Indian diaspora all over the world, but it has also managed to win over fans from all over the world.

And it’s not a recent phenomenon. Much before Ranbir Kapoor made his entry on the Bollywood scene, his grandfather, Raj Kapoor, was holding the audience in his thrall, that too, in a foreign land. It was said that so great was his influence in Russia that he was welcomed into the country without a visa (1)! Even today, Bollywood continues to command a large following all over the world, and inspire various trends that have gone on to become iconic moments in history. Today, we have decided to give you a peek on Bollywood’s cultural currency by giving you a peek at those trends. Here they are:

1. Shahrukh’s Larger-Than-Life Lover Boy Avatar

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No one can contest that Shahrukh is the ultimate lover boy. Be it his misguided romance in Darr, or be it his self-sacrificing love in Kal Ho Na Ho, Shahrukh’s portrayal of the perennial lover boy has covered all the shades of romance. So, it’s no wonder that when decides to do his iconic arms-held-apart move, beckoning his imaginary beloved, it drives the crowd wild.

It’s said that when he performs in award functions and concerts in foreign locations, that particular city gets inundated with the thronging crowds (mostly comprising women) who are just there to catch a glimpse of their favorite romantic hero. And here you thought Hugh Grant was a big deal!

2. Amitabh Bachchan’s Angry Young Man

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The term “angry young man or men” originally came from a group of English playwrights who wrote plays chronicling their dissatisfaction with the society. But in India, this term became synonymous with Amitabh, for his portrayal of similar characters in movies like Zanjeer. No one had dared to do such roles earlier, which portrayed the discontent of the youth of that time, with raging issues such as poverty, unemployment, inequality, etc. The movies that were built on this trope catapulted Amitabh to heights of fame and made him famous in far-flung places such as Egypt. Make no mistake, Amitabh still has a God-like status there (2).

3. Karan Johar’s Epic Family Celebrations

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It wouldn’t be wrong to say that Karan Johar is the one who reinvented the modern cinema. Even though his characters might sport foreign luxury brands, or might speak in Hinglish, their hearts are very much Hindustani! This is something every Indian living abroad identified with. Very soon, the over the top, karwachauth and Diwali celebrations as shown in K.Jo’s movies had caught their imagination, and this became the norm.

Needless to say, for the rest of the world, this was the way we Indians celebrated festivals, with huge pomp and show. And yes, we all looked good while doing it too. In our color-coordinated matching outfits!

4. Raj Kapoor’s Nomadic Bonhomie

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Raj Kapoor was not only the first of Bollywood royalty, but he was also its original superstar. His portrayal of happy-go-lucky characters in movies like Awaara, Mera Naam Joker, who face the struggles of life with a lot of optimism endeared him to the public in Russia, a country which had been ravaged by the war in the fifties.

It gave the people of the erstwhile Soviet nation a reason to face their troubles with a little bit of hope in their hearts and a spring in their steps. In fact, he still holds the title of “the greatest showman of Indian cinema” (3).

5. Kareena’s Show-Stopping Size Zero

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Size 0 is a term that is usually used in terms of the size of clothing and is mostly used by the folks who work in the fashion industry. But Bebo made it the talk of the nation when she debuted her size zero look in the movie Tashan, in 2008. The movie can be credited for initiating interest into the whole fitness culture which had just been existing on the fringes prior to this. Kareena’s size zero got the women in the whole nation talking about carbs and proteins, a feat for which Kareena herself proudly took the credit. Capitalizing on this momentum, the electronics brand also launched a size-zero laptop, under its laptop brand, Vaio (4). While she certainly may have moved on from that fitness fad now, it was certainly an iconic moment in Bollywood’s history.

These were some of the most popular and famous trends of Bollywood that made an impact on the world at large. It certainly proves that art does have the power to move people.
Which of these trends did you like the best? Share your views with us in the comments section.

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