Short, fat, balding men: Bollywood's unlikely heroes

AFP, October, 2008

MUMBAI (AFP) — They may lack the brooding good looks, chiseled jaw and honed physique of the typical leading Bollywood male, but short, fat, balding men are proving that they can still be a screen success.

In an image-conscious industry, actors such as Himesh Reshammiya, Vinay Pathak and Paresh Rawal have found that how they look has not been a hindrance.

All three readily admit they are no matinee idols, and may even be past their prime, yet are still a box office draw -- suggesting that personality, a sense of humour and raw talent are just as attractive as a pretty face.

At five feet five inches (1.64 metres) tall, Reshammiya knows he is an unlikely screen presence. The 35-year-old only became an actor in 2007 after a career as a successful Bollywood...