Future Gazing

At the FICCI meet in Mumbai last year,a forum of multiplex and theatre owners announced that they intend to get 500 screens 3D-ready by 2011. Meanwhile,the success of James Cameron’s Avatar inspired Indian filmmakers to announce their own films — Shekhar Kapur’s Paani that is set in the future; Abbas Mastan’s untitled action thriller; Rohan Sippy’s romantic thriller starring Abhishek Bachchan; Vikram Bhatt’s supernatural thriller Yama Dwar and Ram Gopal Varma’s action thriller Raksha with John Abraham. While Sippy feels that the future of 3D in India will depend on whether the first few people to make 3D films get it right,Bhatt says that the script holds the key. “Fancy car chases and action sequences in 3D will enhance experience,but it can work only if the script is strong,” he explains.

Deadly sirens

After decades of playing second fiddle to ‘heroes’,Indian actresses are ready to take charge in 2011. Rani Mukerji,whose career was declared over last year after the debacle that was Dil Bole Hadippa,plays a firebrand journalist in Raj Kumar Gupta’s No One Killed Jessica. After a feisty performance in Ishqiya,Vidya Balan is ready to break convention with her portrayal of Silk Smitha in Milan Luthria’s The Dirty Picture. The recently-released first look of Vishal Bharadwaj’s 7 Khoon Maaf gives a glimpse of Priyanka Chopra’s deadly performance — she kills her seven husbands — that may push her to the top slot. “The time is passé when films were written for men alone and women were not considered viable,” says Balan.

Clash of Titans

Friends-Turned-Foes Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan battled it out in public and at the box-office in 2008 when Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi and Ghajini released within a week. There could be an encore in 2011. Shah Rukh’s Don 2,directed by Farhan Akhtar,is likely to hit the theatres close to the release of Reema Kagti’s untitled next starring Aamir. Either way,Akhtar is in luck as both the films are his home productions. In mid-2011,Salman Khan is poised for a face-off with Akhtar. Salman’s Ready and Akhtar’s Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,which also stars him alongside Hrithik Roshan and Abhay Deol are releasing on the same day. “It’ll be a battle only if the genres clash,” says trade analyst Ashok Pandit,“However,for Shah Rukh,much depends on Don 2 because the success of Aamir’s film can make the latter the biggest Bollywood star.”

Unexplored territories

Most film buffs agree that Mr India is the best sci-fi film to have come out of Bollywood. This only shows how little this genre has been explored in India despite sporadic attempts such as Koi Mil Gaya and Krrish. Though the Hindi dubbing of Robot,starring Rajinikanth,attempted to bridge the gap in 2010,Shah Rukh’s home production RA.One and the Krrish sequel can help the genre develop. “Indian film industry is technologically proficient today. Whether a sci-fi film would work with the Indian audience depends on how much they can connect with the concept,” asserts V Srinivas M Mohan,the VFX supervisor of Robot.

New avatar

Ranbir Kapoor and Shahid Kapur are both contenders for the younger superstar slot. Next year will see both the actors experimenting with their image. Ranbir,it is being said,is set to play a rakish rock musician in Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar. Shahid,on the other hand,will don the pilot’s uniform in dad Pankaj Kapur’s Mausam. “My character in Raajneeti provided me that leverage where directors are now considering me for roles beyond chocolate hero. The first one to put his trust in me was Imtiaz and I’m looking forward to playing the quirky character he has in mind for me for Rockstar,” confesses Ranbir.

Box-office redemption

Last year spelt disaster for several major films,directors and actors. Hrithik Roshan failed to impress in both Kites and Guzaarish. Abhishek Bachchan’s Raavan and Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey bombed too. Akshay Kumar,considered the most bankable star of Bollywood,delivered back-to-back flops in 2009 and 2010 with Housefull as the only exception. Kumar is now banking on Patiala House and Joker to regain his popularity. Bachchan will work with Abhinay Deo in Game apart from Rohan Sippy’s Dum Maaro Dum. Roshan shares screen space with Abhay Deol and Farhan Akhtar in Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. “All these actors have to prove their worth in 2011. One of the most anticipated films of Hrithik’s career is Agneepath’s remake where he steps into Amitabh Bachchan’s shoes. It might make or break things for him since he has displaced Abhishek in the film,” says Pandit.

Not so small

Don’t get too carried away by the success of smaller and experimental projects in the last two years. The next year may not see a big line-up of these as most of the filmmakers,after succeeding in the smaller format,are dreaming big now. “For now,the only small films to look forward to are Kiran Rao’s Dhobi Ghat,Ekta Kapoor’s Ragini MMS and Shorr and Anurag Kashyap’s That Girl In Yellow Boots. But then,haven’t most hits this year been surprise successes?” laughs filmmaker Dibakar Banerjee.