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Big Daddies
Seven of the country’s biggest directors are readying their films for release. First up is Rakeysh Mehra’s semi-autobiographical Delhi 6. Vishal Bharadwaj is gearing up for his Kaminey, followed by Ajab Prem Ki Gajab Kahani by Rajkumar Santoshi, who’s been lying low after Halla Bol, Lajja and Family. This will also be the comeback year of Mani Ratnam who has teamed up again with Guru couple, Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan, for Ravan. Last heard, Abhishek had lost 15 kilos for the role. Shah Rukh Khan too has got a crew cut for best bud Karan Johar’s My Name Is Khan. Trade buzz is already rife with a possible Diwali clash between SRK’s film and the Aamir Khan starrer 3 Idiots, directed by Rajkumar Hirani, who is keen to shake off the Munnabhai hangover. Movie marathon man Ashutosh Gowariker too has switched gears from epic sagas to directing the romantic comedy What’s Your Rashee?

Pardesi babe
Mexican hottie Barbara Mori, known for her work in Mexican telenovela Azul Tequila makes her debut in Anurag Basu’s Kites. She is paired as a dance student opposite Hrithik Roshan who plays her salsa instructor. The two share a sizzling on-screen smooch. Kangana Ranaut is also in there somewhere but Barbs’ the one we have our eyes on.

A Tale of Cities
Giving a catchy film title is tough. Nikhil Advani played it smart by following the plot to the dots in the Akshay Kumar starrer Chandni Chowk To China. Yash Raj Films’ next which follows the escapades of three friends in New York is titled just that: New York. T-Series is planning a rom antic comedy titled Paris to be shot entirely in the French capital. Vipul Shah couldn’t come up with a better title than London Dreams for his story of two London-based rockers. Add Delhi 6 and Delhi Belly to the list and you’ll feel you’re in a post office!

Re-Relaunch of the Year
Yash Chopra seems adamant on making a star out of son Uday Chopra. YRF’s think-tank had it all planned out—conceive a film series about a cop and a petty thief who becomes his sidekick. That was the idea called Dhoom. The films worked but Uday didn’t. Now, Chopra Sr and elder beta Aditya have decided to re-launch Uday in a romantic film to be directed by Jugal Hansraj, who has obviously been forgiven for the disaster called Roadside Romeo. We just have one question: Is this a re-launch for Uday or Jugal?

Terror Strikes
After A Wednesday, Mumbai Meri Jaan and Aamir, reality bites the BO yet again. Kabir Khan’s New York is already in news for its heavy-duty torture scenes featuring a nude John Abraham. Then, there’s Karan Johar’s Saif-Kareena-starrer tentatively titled Jihad, being directed by Rang De Basanti scriptwriter Rensil De Silva. The buzz is that both films are inspired by Hollywood film, Arlington Road, though the promos of New York seem to have a hangover of Pakistani film Khuda Kay Liye. In Rahul Dholakia’s Lamha, Sanjay Dutt plays a soldier in love with a Kashmiri fundamentalist played by Bipasha Basu. This one’s gonna be a guns-and-roses kinda story.

Once More with Feeling
The return of the legendary SRK-Kajol jodi after seven long years deserves a category of its own. Once again, it’s Johar who has got the DDLJ lovers in his drama, My Name Is Khan. SRK and Kajol play a Muslim couple in post-9/11 Los Angles. Here’s a spoiler: SRK’s character Rizwan Khan has Asperger’s syndrome (a kind of autism). Can’t wait!

The Curious Case of Two Lookalikes
If reports are to be believed, two Katrina Kaif look-alikes are starring in the same film. Wonder of wonders, both co-star opposite Kat’s beau Salman Khan in the period drama, Veer, which is penned by Salman. The actor spotted Zarine on the sets of Yuvvraaj where she was filling in as Katrina’s double. Lisa Lazarus (who is also Miss UK) was signed on by producer Vijay Gilani. Even though Salman rubbishes the rumour with an “all fair and beautiful girls look like Katrina”, we all remember Sneha Ullal who was signed in for Lucky-No Time For Love just because she resembled a certain Ms Aishwarya Rai.

Most Awaited Movie Premiere
Picture the red carpet. Now, imagine desi Khiladi Akshay Kumar, Rambo Sylvester Stallone and Superman Brandon Routh rubbing shoulders. Add Kareena Kapoor and Denise Richards and you have the perfect Bolly-Holly marriage. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has managed the coup for Kambakkht Ishq, his forthcoming film about a Hollywood stuntman played by Akshay Kumar. This is one premiere everyone wants to go to!

The Star Kid of The Year
Kamal Hasan and Sarika’s daughter, Shruti Hasan, has already entered celebdom courtesy her musical escapades. We get to test her acting chops opposite Imran Khan in Soham Shah’s Luck. Sources say Shruti has some heavy- duty action scenes in the thrilling caper. And she’s also singing in the film after Imran convinced her.

Small Wonders
When Aamir Khan gives top billing to 11-year-old Darsheel Safary in Taare Zameen Par, you know the little guys mean big business. So this year, there’s Paathshaala where teachers and students pitch in to save their alma mater from being sold off by greedy stakeholders. Little Zizou is a warm comedy around a Parsi boy. Darsheel is back with Bum Bum Bole which is touted as a remake of The Children of Heaven. Piyush Jha’s Sikandar is a story of how two children get caught in the crossfire between militants, soldiers, politicians and the head of a little Kashmiri town.

Yesterday Once More
Amitabh Bachchan is teaming up with Sarika in Johnny Mastana and Tum Milo Toh Sahi brings Dimple Kapadia and Nana Patekar. Both films are slice-of-life dramas about two elderly couples who rediscover love in the autumn of their lives.

First Directors’ Club
Add new names to the growing who’s who list of directors. Ad guy Anthony D’Souza directs Akshay Kumar and Sanjay Dutt in the underwater treasure hunt Blue. Prem Soni directs the love triangle Main Aur Mrs Khanna with Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Sohail Khan. Karan Johar has given a break to Kajol’s cousin Ayan Mukerji to direct his production Wake Up Sid. Harman Baweja will be hoping to wipe out all traces of Love Story 2050 with debutant Ajitpal Mangat’s Victory. Plus, there’s Abhinay Deo’s Delhi Belly and Sabir Khan’s Kambakkht Ishq.

Age no bar
Times are changing and so are the trends. In three mega splashes, the heroines are older than their heroes. So, Bipasha Basu romances Neil Nitin Mukesh in Aa Dekhen Zara while Konkona Sen Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor are unlikely lovers in Wake Up Sid. Even YRF has changed tracks by pairing Rani Mukerji with Shahid Kapoor for a film that’s being touted as a female Chak De! India.

Ash Goes Pink
Our very own global princess Aishwarya Rai Bachchan has her big moment when Pink Panther 2 releases. Ash co-stars with Steve Martin in the cult comedy. Though there are online whispers of Ash being relegated to a blink-and-miss role, we’d still be watching it!