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Guns and roses In 2008 Ajay Devgan will continue his tryst with intensity in “Halla Bol Akshay Kumar will return to action genre with “Singh is Kinng” and South Indian star Asin will make her Bollywood debut with the remake of “Ghajini”.

This is going to be a year of many promises and some blockbusters. From the mainstream flicks like “Singh is Kinng”, “God Tussi Great Ho” and “Tashan” to off-beat fare like “Masquerade” and “Fruit and Nut”, good times might just keep rolling for those who love cinema.

And for those cineastes itching to see our cinema turn the corner, venture into serious, cerebral zone.

Of course formula king Akshay Kumar, peerless Amitabh Bachchan, and the usual suspects, including the Khan trio, will be seen in action.

Keeping them company will be the likes of Katrina Kaif, Priyanka Chopra, Lara Dutta and their ilk. Making a low-profile comeback will be Waheeda Rahman with “Dilli 6”.

And hoping to repeat Rahul Bose’s heroics of “Pyar ke Side-effects” will be Ranvir Sheorey, who gets to play a lead opposite Mallika Sherawat in the upcoming “Ugly and Pagli”.

Interesting to watch might just be Nagesh Kukunoor, who for the first time in his fine career is handling more than one film at a time. So, who is doing what, what’s coming up next? Read on…

Akshay Kumar

Once dubbed a non-actor, today the audiences cannot have enough of him. As if being a comedy king is not enough, he is coming back to his action days this year! With “Singh is Kinng” likely to kiss the silver screen alongside “Eight by Ten” – Nagesh Kukunoor’s film for which he has reportedly reduced his price – “Tashan” and “Chandni Chowk to China”, 2008 might just be his year. Again.

He did not have a memorable 2007 with “Jhoom Barabar Jhoom” failing to sway anybody but 2008 might just rock. What with “Drona”, directed by his buddy Goldie Behl round the corner, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s “Dilli 6” progressing well and Ramgopal Varma’s “Sarkar 2” a possibility, Big B’s baby might just grow up to be his own man, in his own right!

The ink has not dried on the bright “Taare Zameen Par” yet but there is already talk about “Gajini”, A.R. Murugadas’s Hindi remake of super-hit Tamil film where Aamir will be seen in an action thriller opposite the top star of South, Asin, who also starred in the original. Not to forget his own production “Jaane Tu Ya Jane Na”. One thing is for sure, Aamir isn’t going away yet.

Another one who did not have a great 2007 but promises to make amends with “Halla Bol”, Rajkumar Santoshi’s film, likely to be the first big budget film of the year. Then comes “U, Me aur Hum”.

In between there will be time for “Sunday”. “Ramgopal Varma’s “Aag” might just be a bad dream. And “Cash” a hard-earned lesson!

He made more news off-screen, though “Shootout” and “Dhamaal” helped put things in perspective. Now, he is back to good old days. Back to playing bhai in “EMI”, Saurav Kabra’s film on loan recovery agents. He is in familiar company in Sanjay Gupta’s “Alibaug” and turns a sensitive side again with “Kidnap”! Add “Heroes”, a multi-starrer with Sunny and Bobby Deol and Salman-Sohail Khan, and “Mohabbat Ho Gayi Tumse”! It is not safe to write off Dutt.

He does not give long interviews, does not work in half a dozen films every year. Result? Each film is an event. Promising to keep the tradition going is Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Jodhaa Akbar” where Hrithik plays the Moghul Emperor opposite Aishwarya Rai’s Rajput princess. With a sequel to “Krrish” already announced, he is unlikely to be seen in another multi-starrer anytime soon.

She stars in as many films as she gives smiles, which is plenty. For the actress limited and beauty unlimited, this is gonna be a rousing year. Beginning with Anees Bazmee’s “Singh is Kinng” and on to Abbas-Mustan’s “Race” to be followed by “Main Yuvraj” with Salman Khan and “Hindustan Hamara”, it might just be difficult to keep your eyes off her this year! And to think she was in “Apne”, “Welcome”, “Partner”…etc last year!

Another one who did not set the box office on fire with her films last year and might just provide a spark this year. There is a futuristic love tale “Love Story 2050” with Harman Baweja, there is “God Tussi Great Ho” with Salman Khan, there is “Drona” with Abhishek and Madhur Bhandarkar’s “Fashion”.

Yet another star who had a forgettable year except “Jab We Met” can look forward to the new year with a new zest. Coming up for Kareena is “Tashan” with Saif and Akshay. Then there is “Golmaal Returns” with Ajay Devgan and company. Not to forget her voiceover in “Roadside Romeo” and the long delayed “Milenge Milenge” with Shahid Kapoor! History?

More than any stars, 2008 can well be the year of experimental cinema. Crossover films with new stars or stars trying something new. Leading the pack might be “Ugly aur Pagli”. Also there will be “Shortcut” where Arshad Warsi and Akshaye Khanna team up, Kukunoor’s “Bombay to Bangkok”, Shyam Benegal’s “Mahadev” both of whom star Shreyas Talpade, still of “Iqbal” fame. Also awaited is “Mittal Versus Mittal” that talks of marital violence. Then there is Sudhir Mishra’s “Devdas”, besides “Sholay”. Yet again. The show has just begun.

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