January 22nd, 2009
MUMBAI — The movie buff has a vast spread being served up in the twelve-month period to come — big-budget bonanzas, star-heavy blockbusters, niche films and all the in-betweens. So expect the films that define new trends by defying old ones, push the envelope, conform to the mainstream and make millions and prove yet again that for the film lover, variety is indeed the spice that provides all the nutrition.
AAMIR KHAN:
Fresh from the thunderous reception to “Ghajini” and the success of his production “Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na,” Aamir Khan will now release Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots” which finally co-stars him with Kareena Kapoor after a couple of jinxed films. Vidhu Vinod Chopra produces this tweaked cinematic version of Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller on the flawed education system, “Five Point Someone.”
That apart, Aamir does a cameo in his wife Kiran Rao’s directorial debut “Dhobi Ghat,” actually filmed at the Mumbai landmark where washermen clean clothes, which stars Prateik Babbar, and produces the English film “Delhi Belly” directed by Abhinav Deo and starring Imran Khan.
AKSHAY KUMAR:
Akshay Kumar has over Rs. 300 crore riding on his films, and he kickstarts 2009 with Nikhil Advani’s “Chandni Chowk to China,” which is about a cook from Delhi landing up in China where he is mistaken for a martial arts expert. As in “Om Shanti Om” there are “two’” Deepika Padukones around.
This will be followed by Nagesh Kukunoor’s “Eight By Ten” wherein he plays a psychic, “Blue” with its underwater sequences that needed Lara Dutta, Zayed Khan and Sanjay Dutt and him to learn deep-sea diving and with a cost of Rs. 100 crore making it the costliest Hindi film ever, besides Priyadarshan’s mirthquake “De Dhana Dhan” and Sajid Nadiadwala’s “Kambakkth Ishq” in which he is Hollywood double to their stars and co-stars with Kareena Kapoor. Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh, Denise Richards, Carmen Electra (in a song with Kareena!) with newbie Saabir Khan as director.
HRITHIK ROSHAN:
Hrithik Roshan will star in the home production “Kites,” shot in Mexico, with Anurag Bose helming dad Rakesh’s production. He plays a dance director, has a dance choreographed by an international name, and the love story features Kangana Ranaut and Mexican babe Barbara Mori.
SHAH RUKH KHAN:
Fresh from the actually unexpected success of “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” (the joke goes that the real “Jodi” made for each other is SRK with Aditya Chopra, for they have never flopped in four films over 13 years!), SRK will be seen first in his home-production, “Billo Barber,” in an extended cameo that includes a solo rock song and three songs with Kareena Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Deepika Padukone in cameos. Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta co-star in his first union with Priyadarshan as well as the director’s fave music maker Pritam.
Even as “Don 2” and his film with Yash Chopra as director take off only at the end of the year (besides his animation film “Ra One” directed by Anubhav Sinha and Farah Khan’s “Happy New Year”), he will end the year playing a Muslim man with Asperger’s Syndrome, reuniting with flop-free co-star Kajol in the real-life and 9/11-based Karan Johar film “My Name Is Khan.”
SALMAN KHAN:
Currently ranked lowest among the superstars, Salman Khan still has Rs. 150 crore riding on him. Two home productions, “Veer,” the period film co-starring Zarine Khan (reportedly a Katrina Kaif lookalike) and Miss UK Lisa Lazarus, and directed by Anil “Gadar” Sharma; and Prem Soni’s comedy “Main Aur Mrs. Khanna,” with Kareena Kapoor, are coming. The former is written by Salman himself, and the latter poised to break the jinx on Kareena after their flop pairing in “Kyon Ki…” and an aborted film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
“Wanted – Dead Or Alive” is stuck for the while, but “London Dreams” with Ajay Devgan and Asin is sure to rock. There’s also a cameo in “Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai.”
THE PROVEN MASTERS:
Priyadarshan, Anees Bazmee and David Dhawan form the troika of comedy — while Priyan helms “Billo Barber” and “De Dhana Dhan,” he also does the serious “Bum Bum Bole” which is an adaptation of the Majid Majidi's Iranian film, “The Children of Heaven.”
Anees, reportedly today’s highest-paid director, comes up with “No Problem” for Anil Kapoor and a film with Harman Baweja. David Dhawan will release “Do Knot Disturb” with Govinda and “Hook Ya Crook” for UTV with John Abraham.
Karan Johar, besides his own “My Name Is Khan,” produces the coming-of-age “Wake Up Sid” with Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, and Kajol’s cousin Ayaan Mukerji as director, and the serious Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor film directed by Rensil D’Silva who wrote “Rang De Basanti.”
Speaking of “RDB,” Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Delhi 6” starring Amitabh Bachchan (in a cameo) and revolving around an NRI grandson (Abhishek Bachchan) and his ailing grandmother (Waheeda Rehman) is ready for release. This will be Sonam Kapoor’s first release after his debut flop “Saawariya” in 2007. Rishi Kapoor is also in the cast of the film.
Ashutosh Gowariker takes a break from intense socials (and also A.R. Rahman) in the Harman Baweja-Priyanka Chopra romantic comedy “What’s Your Rashee?” in which Priyanka plays 12 characters corresponding to each zodiac sign! A similar break is taken by Rajkumar Santoshi for Tips’ romcom “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.”
Madhur Bhandarkar’s hard-hitting saga “Jail” will also see the light of day with Neil Nitin Mukesh. Vishal Bhardwaj is co-producing two intense rural dramas, “Kaminay”(which he directs with Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra) and “Ishqiya” (directed by his assistant Abhishek Chaube with Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan).
BR Films’ comedy with Govinda, Lara Dutta and Juhi Chawla, “Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai” is directed by Ravi Chopra, while Yash Raj Films are all set to follow up on their “Rab Ne…” success with “New York,” a 9/11-based thriller directed by Kabir Khan starring Neil Nitin Mukesh in his first appearance after “Johnny Gaddaar,” John Abraham and Katrina Kaif, and a Shahid Kapoor-Rani Mukerji film on cricket directed by Anurag Singh. Neil also stars in “Aa Dekhe Zaraa,” a thriller, with Bipasha Basu.
Cricket also occupies center-stage in “Victory” starring Harman Baweja (in his second release) and Amrita Rao with real cricketers from India, Australia and other countries. The film marks the directorial debut of veteran TV actor Ajit Pal.
The Bhatts’ Mohit Suri-directed “Raaz – The Mystery Continues” is assured of an opening with the “Raaz” sequel hype and flavor and the great response to the music. They are also producing the Emraan Hashmi-Soha Ali Khan film directed by Kunal “Jannat” Deshmukh. Vikram Bhatt’s home productions “Shaapit” which he directs himself with Aditya Narayan making his acting debut, and two more films “Phhir” and “Purple Lake” are also coming up.
THE OTHER VARIED ATTRACTIONS:
. “Aashayein” from Nagesh Kukunoor about a terminally-ill John Abraham.
. “Dev D” starring Abhay Deol and based on his own concept – a film directed by Anurag Kashyap
. “Yeh Honsla” from Kukunoor again with Sameera Reddy as a Dalit woman fighting for her rights.
. “Kal Kisne Dekha” marking Jacky Bhagnani’s debut as actor and directed by Vivek “Bhoothnath” Sharma. Also introducing Vaishali Desai, Manmohan Desai’s granddaughter.
. “Rang Rasiya,” Ketan Mehta’s biopic on painter Ravi Varma.
. “Karma – Confessions And Holi” with Sushmita Sen producing with Saregama Films and an international and Indian cast.
. Neeraj Vora’s comedies “Run Bhola Run” and “Shortkut,” the latter produced by Anil Kapoor.
. Middle-aged romance between Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia in “Tum Milo Toh Sahi.”
. Soham’s action film “Luck” introducing Kamal Haasan’s reportedly sensational daughter Shruti Haasan with Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Mithun Chakraborty.
. Eros’ Sujoy Ghosh-directed “Aladdin,” VFX-heavy with Amitabh Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh and Jacqueline Fernandez, the hot model.
. Zoya Akhtar’s directorial debut “Luck By Chance” starring Farhan Akhtar, Juhi Chawla, Konkana Sen, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia and Hrithik Roshan in a cameo on film industry strugglers releases this month.
. Marathi ace directors’ outings – Tips’ “Toh Baat Pakki” with Kedar Shinde, Milind Ukey’s purposeful “Paathshala” with Nana Patekar, Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia and Chandrakant Kulkarni’s next.
. “Teen Patti” with Amitabh Bachchan directed by Leena Yadav.
. “Yahoo” directed by Ken Ghosh with Shahid Kapoor and Jiah Khan.
. Imtiaz Ali’s next for producer Saif Ali Khan with Deepika Padukone as co-star.
. T-Series’ Himesh-athons “Kajraare” and “A New Love Isshstory.”
. Animation films UTV’s “Arjun” (on the warrior), Nikhil Advani’s “Ab Dilli Door Nahi” and Dharma Productions’ “Koochie Koochie Hota Hai” inspired by “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.”
The part-animation “Toonpur Ka Superhero” with Ajay Devgan and Kajol.
BOX:
Newcomers to watch for:
SHRUTI HAASAN
ADITYA NARAYAN
JACQUELINE D’SOUZA
ZARINE KHAN
LISA LAZARUS
JACKY BHAGNANI
VAISHALI DESAI
“City-centric” titles:
AB DILLI DOOR NAHI
DELHI BELLY
DELHI 6
NEW YORK
CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA
LONDON DREAMS
MUMBAI — The movie buff has a vast spread being served up in the twelve-month period to come — big-budget bonanzas, star-heavy blockbusters, niche films and all the in-betweens. So expect the films that define new trends by defying old ones, push the envelope, conform to the mainstream and make millions and prove yet again that for the film lover, variety is indeed the spice that provides all the nutrition.
AAMIR KHAN:
Fresh from the thunderous reception to “Ghajini” and the success of his production “Jaane Tu…Ya Jaane Na,” Aamir Khan will now release Rajkumar Hirani’s “3 Idiots” which finally co-stars him with Kareena Kapoor after a couple of jinxed films. Vidhu Vinod Chopra produces this tweaked cinematic version of Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller on the flawed education system, “Five Point Someone.”
That apart, Aamir does a cameo in his wife Kiran Rao’s directorial debut “Dhobi Ghat,” actually filmed at the Mumbai landmark where washermen clean clothes, which stars Prateik Babbar, and produces the English film “Delhi Belly” directed by Abhinav Deo and starring Imran Khan.
AKSHAY KUMAR:
Akshay Kumar has over Rs. 300 crore riding on his films, and he kickstarts 2009 with Nikhil Advani’s “Chandni Chowk to China,” which is about a cook from Delhi landing up in China where he is mistaken for a martial arts expert. As in “Om Shanti Om” there are “two’” Deepika Padukones around.
This will be followed by Nagesh Kukunoor’s “Eight By Ten” wherein he plays a psychic, “Blue” with its underwater sequences that needed Lara Dutta, Zayed Khan and Sanjay Dutt and him to learn deep-sea diving and with a cost of Rs. 100 crore making it the costliest Hindi film ever, besides Priyadarshan’s mirthquake “De Dhana Dhan” and Sajid Nadiadwala’s “Kambakkth Ishq” in which he is Hollywood double to their stars and co-stars with Kareena Kapoor. Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh, Denise Richards, Carmen Electra (in a song with Kareena!) with newbie Saabir Khan as director.
HRITHIK ROSHAN:
Hrithik Roshan will star in the home production “Kites,” shot in Mexico, with Anurag Bose helming dad Rakesh’s production. He plays a dance director, has a dance choreographed by an international name, and the love story features Kangana Ranaut and Mexican babe Barbara Mori.
SHAH RUKH KHAN:
Fresh from the actually unexpected success of “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” (the joke goes that the real “Jodi” made for each other is SRK with Aditya Chopra, for they have never flopped in four films over 13 years!), SRK will be seen first in his home-production, “Billo Barber,” in an extended cameo that includes a solo rock song and three songs with Kareena Kapoor, Bipasha Basu and Deepika Padukone in cameos. Irrfan Khan and Lara Dutta co-star in his first union with Priyadarshan as well as the director’s fave music maker Pritam.
Even as “Don 2” and his film with Yash Chopra as director take off only at the end of the year (besides his animation film “Ra One” directed by Anubhav Sinha and Farah Khan’s “Happy New Year”), he will end the year playing a Muslim man with Asperger’s Syndrome, reuniting with flop-free co-star Kajol in the real-life and 9/11-based Karan Johar film “My Name Is Khan.”
SALMAN KHAN:
Currently ranked lowest among the superstars, Salman Khan still has Rs. 150 crore riding on him. Two home productions, “Veer,” the period film co-starring Zarine Khan (reportedly a Katrina Kaif lookalike) and Miss UK Lisa Lazarus, and directed by Anil “Gadar” Sharma; and Prem Soni’s comedy “Main Aur Mrs. Khanna,” with Kareena Kapoor, are coming. The former is written by Salman himself, and the latter poised to break the jinx on Kareena after their flop pairing in “Kyon Ki…” and an aborted film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
“Wanted – Dead Or Alive” is stuck for the while, but “London Dreams” with Ajay Devgan and Asin is sure to rock. There’s also a cameo in “Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai.”
THE PROVEN MASTERS:
Priyadarshan, Anees Bazmee and David Dhawan form the troika of comedy — while Priyan helms “Billo Barber” and “De Dhana Dhan,” he also does the serious “Bum Bum Bole” which is an adaptation of the Majid Majidi's Iranian film, “The Children of Heaven.”
Anees, reportedly today’s highest-paid director, comes up with “No Problem” for Anil Kapoor and a film with Harman Baweja. David Dhawan will release “Do Knot Disturb” with Govinda and “Hook Ya Crook” for UTV with John Abraham.
Karan Johar, besides his own “My Name Is Khan,” produces the coming-of-age “Wake Up Sid” with Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, and Kajol’s cousin Ayaan Mukerji as director, and the serious Saif Ali Khan-Kareena Kapoor film directed by Rensil D’Silva who wrote “Rang De Basanti.”
Speaking of “RDB,” Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Delhi 6” starring Amitabh Bachchan (in a cameo) and revolving around an NRI grandson (Abhishek Bachchan) and his ailing grandmother (Waheeda Rehman) is ready for release. This will be Sonam Kapoor’s first release after his debut flop “Saawariya” in 2007. Rishi Kapoor is also in the cast of the film.
Ashutosh Gowariker takes a break from intense socials (and also A.R. Rahman) in the Harman Baweja-Priyanka Chopra romantic comedy “What’s Your Rashee?” in which Priyanka plays 12 characters corresponding to each zodiac sign! A similar break is taken by Rajkumar Santoshi for Tips’ romcom “Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani.”
Madhur Bhandarkar’s hard-hitting saga “Jail” will also see the light of day with Neil Nitin Mukesh. Vishal Bhardwaj is co-producing two intense rural dramas, “Kaminay”(which he directs with Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra) and “Ishqiya” (directed by his assistant Abhishek Chaube with Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan).
BR Films’ comedy with Govinda, Lara Dutta and Juhi Chawla, “Banda Yeh Bindaas Hai” is directed by Ravi Chopra, while Yash Raj Films are all set to follow up on their “Rab Ne…” success with “New York,” a 9/11-based thriller directed by Kabir Khan starring Neil Nitin Mukesh in his first appearance after “Johnny Gaddaar,” John Abraham and Katrina Kaif, and a Shahid Kapoor-Rani Mukerji film on cricket directed by Anurag Singh. Neil also stars in “Aa Dekhe Zaraa,” a thriller, with Bipasha Basu.
Cricket also occupies center-stage in “Victory” starring Harman Baweja (in his second release) and Amrita Rao with real cricketers from India, Australia and other countries. The film marks the directorial debut of veteran TV actor Ajit Pal.
The Bhatts’ Mohit Suri-directed “Raaz – The Mystery Continues” is assured of an opening with the “Raaz” sequel hype and flavor and the great response to the music. They are also producing the Emraan Hashmi-Soha Ali Khan film directed by Kunal “Jannat” Deshmukh. Vikram Bhatt’s home productions “Shaapit” which he directs himself with Aditya Narayan making his acting debut, and two more films “Phhir” and “Purple Lake” are also coming up.
THE OTHER VARIED ATTRACTIONS:
. “Aashayein” from Nagesh Kukunoor about a terminally-ill John Abraham.
. “Dev D” starring Abhay Deol and based on his own concept – a film directed by Anurag Kashyap
. “Yeh Honsla” from Kukunoor again with Sameera Reddy as a Dalit woman fighting for her rights.
. “Kal Kisne Dekha” marking Jacky Bhagnani’s debut as actor and directed by Vivek “Bhoothnath” Sharma. Also introducing Vaishali Desai, Manmohan Desai’s granddaughter.
. “Rang Rasiya,” Ketan Mehta’s biopic on painter Ravi Varma.
. “Karma – Confessions And Holi” with Sushmita Sen producing with Saregama Films and an international and Indian cast.
. Neeraj Vora’s comedies “Run Bhola Run” and “Shortkut,” the latter produced by Anil Kapoor.
. Middle-aged romance between Nana Patekar and Dimple Kapadia in “Tum Milo Toh Sahi.”
. Soham’s action film “Luck” introducing Kamal Haasan’s reportedly sensational daughter Shruti Haasan with Imran Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Mithun Chakraborty.
. Eros’ Sujoy Ghosh-directed “Aladdin,” VFX-heavy with Amitabh Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh and Jacqueline Fernandez, the hot model.
. Zoya Akhtar’s directorial debut “Luck By Chance” starring Farhan Akhtar, Juhi Chawla, Konkana Sen, Rishi Kapoor, Dimple Kapadia and Hrithik Roshan in a cameo on film industry strugglers releases this month.
. Marathi ace directors’ outings – Tips’ “Toh Baat Pakki” with Kedar Shinde, Milind Ukey’s purposeful “Paathshala” with Nana Patekar, Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia and Chandrakant Kulkarni’s next.
. “Teen Patti” with Amitabh Bachchan directed by Leena Yadav.
. “Yahoo” directed by Ken Ghosh with Shahid Kapoor and Jiah Khan.
. Imtiaz Ali’s next for producer Saif Ali Khan with Deepika Padukone as co-star.
. T-Series’ Himesh-athons “Kajraare” and “A New Love Isshstory.”
. Animation films UTV’s “Arjun” (on the warrior), Nikhil Advani’s “Ab Dilli Door Nahi” and Dharma Productions’ “Koochie Koochie Hota Hai” inspired by “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.”
The part-animation “Toonpur Ka Superhero” with Ajay Devgan and Kajol.
BOX:
Newcomers to watch for:
SHRUTI HAASAN
ADITYA NARAYAN
JACQUELINE D’SOUZA
ZARINE KHAN
LISA LAZARUS
JACKY BHAGNANI
VAISHALI DESAI
“City-centric” titles:
AB DILLI DOOR NAHI
DELHI BELLY
DELHI 6
NEW YORK
CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA
LONDON DREAMS
