Shahrukh Khan. Or. Amitabh Bachchan. It’s difficult to choose who makes for a better Don. Bachchan was at the height of his career delivering one hit after another in the late seventies when Chandra Barot’s maiden venture ‘Don’ added to his list of super-hits. The ‘Khaike Paan Banaraswala’ and ‘Main Hoon Don’ became a rage. Mr Bachchan made a cool-dude-boss of a syndicate of gangsters. As he feasted on the glorious appeal of Helen in the spellbinding ‘Yeh Mera Dil Pyaar Ka Deewana’, the sinister magnetism of Big B left a lasting impact. His villainous act carried a unique sophistication that didn’t dilute the immense negative energy one associates with someone you are expected to consider as a hate figure.

Shahrukh on the other hand is an able foil to play the modern day Don. Why? I think the only time when a different-kinda Shahrukh really fascinated in the past was his fierce portrayals of the anti-hero in ‘Baazigar’ and ‘Darr’. Taking that into account I am sure his baddy act in the first half of Don will be something-to-book-in-advance. Shahrukh is thunderous when he is in that crazy mood of his.

He may have had big hits like ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’, ‘Dil To Pagal Hai’, ‘Mohabbatein’ and ‘Veer Zara’, but the ‘Darr’ continues to be the film that SRK fans the world over imitate in terms of dialogue delivery. His maniacal lover act is more captivating as compared to the sugar-syrupy lover-boy roles.

The verdict is fifty fifty. Amitabh Bachchan. Shahrukh Khan. It is difficult to choose who is better. We’ve already seen Mr Bachchan’s act 25 years ago. And there’s no doubting Shahrukh’s strong energy reservoir either. Even though the film is yet to be released, SRK will rock. Oh gosh, I am becoming the scribe of wishful thinking. How I wish ‘Don’ is released tomorrow and not in Diwali.