January – Relying on history and politics
‘After winning big appreciation in supporting roles in Raazi’ and ‘Sanju’ last year, Vicky Kaushal will attempt a solo-hero strike at the box office with the thriller, ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’. The film is reportedly based on the Indian Army’s surgical strikes in 2016 as a retaliation for the Uri attack. It will be interesting to see if Vicky can pull off a film that rests on his broad shoulders.
Later in the month, Emraan Hashmi will get a chance to put an end to his dry spell with ‘Cheat India’, an expose on education scams. I am a recent convert to the Radhika Apte club after watching ‘Andhadhun’, ‘Lust Stories’ and ‘Sacred Games’ and may end up seeing the black comedy, ‘Bombairiya’.
But if were one to notice a January trend, it is for political sagas. ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’ has Anupam Kher reprising Manmohan Singh — a tough call — alongside Akshaye Khanna; and it will face opposition in ‘Thackeray’ (can Nawazuddin Siddiqui roar like Balasaheb Thackeray?).
But the biggest attraction of January will be Kangana Ranaut in the title role of ‘Manikarnika – The Queen Of Jhansi’, a retelling of the renowned historical figure. She had taken over the directorial reins of the film after Krishna got busy, and now Kangana has to prove herself both as an actress and a director. The actress has got embroiled in too many controversies of late and needs to post her flag of victory at the box-office — success is the biggest salve in the film industry and all seems forgotten and forgiven when one
does well.
Love for February’s Valentines
February will begin with a casting coup – Anil Kapoor locks horns with his real-life daughter Sonam Kapoor and plays her on-screen father for the first time in ‘Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga’. Two oft-paired actors who need to regain lost ground, Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra, have been given another platform by their ‘Ishaqzaade’ producer YashRaj films in the Dibakar Banerjee-directed ‘Sandeep Aur Pinky Farrar’, purportedly a black comedy.
The follow-up film after a grand success is crucial for an actor. Kartik Aryan will have to establish his ‘Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety’ credentials with Luka Chuppi co-starring Kriti Sanon. And Ranveer Singh, who is the new symbol of success with Simmba, is bound to be the cynosure of all eyes with Zoya Akhtar’s ‘Gully Boy’ in which he is cast opposite the talented Alia Bhatt for the first time. Can Ranveer keep up the giddy upward momentum fuelled by Padmaavat and Simmba?
Back in the 1990s, Indra Kumar and Madhuri Dixit delivered a hat-trick of hits with Dil, Beta and Raja. Twenty three years later, they try to recreate that euphoria in Total Dhamaal. To aid Madhuri’s reclaiming of the spotlight, she has support from her popular co-star of two decades ago, Anil Kapoor, and current draw Ajay Devgn.
Forward March
Amitabh Bachchan headlining a Shah Rukh Khan production makes for an intriguing combinationTwenty-three But can it guarantee success? Sujoy Ghosh, who seems to have become an Amitabh Bachchan-addict (Alibaba, Te3n), is helming the Big B and Taapsee Pannu in Badla, a remake of the Spanish thriller, Contratiempo. Akshay Kumar has another patriotic film in ‘Kesari’.
John Abraham will test his newfound success in action thrillers with Romeo Akbar Walter this month while Ajay Devgn gets a chance to exercise his comic chops in a non Golmaal franchise — De De Pyaar De.
I am ticking Mental Hai Kya as a must-see because it stars two actors known for their quirky, brave choices — Kangana Ranaut and Rajkummar Rao. And their last outing together, Queen, was a laugh riot. It can pay to be intrepid… sometimes.
April’s anticipations
Sanjay Dutt, Madhuri Dixit, Varun Dhawan, Alia Bhatt, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha — any filmmaker would give his right arm to have a dream star cast like this. Karan Johar has pulled the rabbit out of his hat in Kalank. Varun Dhawan returns to mainstream fare with this hotly anticipated film.
Barring a rare Lagaan, films on cricket have not been able to excite viewers as much as the game itself but The ‘Zoya Factor’, about a girl (Sonam Kapoor) who proves to be the lucky mascot for the men-in-blue, will venture into this forbidden territory. This is the latest in Sonam’s efforts to keep the women’s film flag flying high.
May-fair of youth
The month of May is going to be a wonderful one for love-struck youth. Diljit Dosanjh and Kriti Sanon feature in a youthful romantic comedy, Arjun Patiala. Tiger Shroff is going to pack a punch in the Student Of The Year franchise by dancing and flexing muscles in ‘Student Of The Year 2’, while ex-Student Of The Year, Siddharth Malhotra is going to prance with Parineeta in Balaji’s ‘Jabariya Jodi’.
Will it be a summer of romance?
June — Litmus test for Salman Khan
The Khans haven’t had a wonderful year in 2018. While Aamir and Shah Rukh will have to wait for a while to prove that their popularity has not been dented by ‘Thugs Of Hindostan’ and ‘Zero’ respectively, Salman will be ready for the litmus rest with the ambitiously scaled ‘Bharat’. The film co-stars Katrina Kaif, who has a chance to build on the positive reviews she obtained for Zero.
Happy viewing.
Happy viewing. Salman Khan
The Khans haven’t had a wonderful year in 2018. While Aamir and Shah Rukh will have to wait for a while to prove that their popularity has not been dented by ‘Thugs Of Hindostan’ and ‘Zero’ respectively, Salman will be ready for the litmus test with the ambitiously scaled Bharat. The film co-stars Katrina Kaif, who has a chance to build on the positive reviews she obtained for Zero.
Happy viewing.
