Do multiple roles work at box-office?

As What's Your Rashee? hit the box-office on Friday, we wonder how many multiple-role films have fared well in the past. Are people willing to see their favourite actors donning different garbs? Parmita Uniyal finds out.

Bairaag

As What's Your Rashee? hit the box-office on Friday, we wonder how many multiple-role films have fared well in the past. Are people willing to see their favourite actors donning different garbs? Let's assess.

The first film that comes to the mind is Humjoli (1970), in which Mehmood portrayed three characters. The movie that also starred Jeetendra, Leena Chandavarkar, Pran, Mumtaz and Aruna Irani was successful.

But one of the path-breaking films of the time was certainly Naya Din Nayi Raat (1974), in which Sanjeev Kumar played nine characters. Though the movie was critically acclaimed, it couldn't garner moolah.

Then came Dilip Kumar's Bairaag which had him in triple roles. Saira Banu, Leena Chandavarkar, Ruma Guha Thakurta, Prem Chopra, Helen, Sujit Kumar, Madan Puri, Paintal, Kader Khan, Asit Sen and Sachin also starred in the film. The movie couldn't rock the box-office.

Mahaan

A multiple-role film Mahaan also fell in Amitabh's lap. The film stars Bachchan in a triple role alongside Waheeda Rehman, Parveen Babi, Zeenat Aman, Ashok Kumar, Amjad Khan, Kader Khan, Aruna Irani, Sujit Kumar and Shakti Kapoor. In the movie Amitabh plays a father and his two twins. The film couldn't do well.

But Kamal Haasan was able to create waves with Dasaavathram, in which he played ten roles - Rangaraja Nambi, Govindarajan Ramaswamy, George Bush, Avtaar Singh, Christian Fletcher, Shinghen Narahasi, Krishnaveni, Vincent Poovaraagan, Kalifullah Mukhtaar and Balram Naidu.

Hope this time Ashutosh's 'Twelve Priyankas' concept does wonders at the box-office! What more? Another multiple-role film for Priyanka coming up - 7 Husbands.