Fresh Crop

2011 will see a lot more new faces aiming to make it big on and off the camera. Some of them are already creating a buzz. They include ace tennis star Leander Paes who will be seen in Rajdhani Express,former Miss India Sarah Jane Dias sizzling the screen with Abhishek Bachchan in Game and Pakistani model Nargis Fakhri romancing Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Alis Rockstar.

There will also be actors and directors hailing from reputed filmi families who will strive to make a mark in the coming year. Kiran Rao,better known as Mrs Aamir Khan,will be making her directorial debut with Dhobi Ghat. Abhinay Deo,son of yesteryear actor Ramesh Deo,will test the waters with Game,produced by Farhan Akhtar. Following his father David Dhawans footsteps,Rohit Dhawan will be directing a comedy with Desi Boyz. Naseeruddin Shahs younger son Vivaan will make his debut opposite Priyanka Chopra in Vishal Bhardwajs Saat Khoon Maaf and Rana Daggubbati,grandson of D Rama Naidu,will heat it up with Bipasha Basu in Rohan Sippys Dum Maaro Dum.

Proteges of renowned filmmakers like Prakash Jha and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra will also kick-start their directorial career this year. Ali Abbas Zafar,who has worked with the Yash Raj banner as an assistant director will make his debut with Mere Brother Ki Dulhan,starring Imran Khan,Katrina Kaif and Ali Zafar. TV host Roshan Abbas has adapted his play Graffiti into a movie for Red Chillies Entertainment. It stars newcomer Zoa Morani and Giselli Monteiro of Love Aaj Kal fame. Choreographer Remo DSouza makes his directorial debut with Vashu Bhagnanis F.A.L.T.U starring Jackkie Bhagnani and former Miss India Pooja Gupta. Looks like 2011 will be one action-packed year!

Abhinay Deo,director

Who is he: Son of yesteryear actors Seema and Ramesh Deo and brother of actor-director Ajinkya,Abhinay Deo is a former ad filmmaker. He first made headlines after it was reported that he will be directing Aamir Khans Delly Belly. The ensemble film stars Imran Khan,Vir Das,Kunaal Roy Kapoor and Shehnaz Treasurywala but its release has been delayed due to various reasons. It is slated to hit the screens later this year.

Film debut: Though Delhi Belly was shot earlier,Deo8217;s second film Game will release first. Starring Abhishek Bachchan,Kangna Ranaut,Boman Irani,Jimmy Sheirgill and Anupam Kher,Game is an action thriller. It is produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani,who have earlier given us hits like Dil Chahta Hai and Rock On!!

Watch out for: When Aamir Khan and Farhan Akhtar,known for their eye for talent,are producing your first two films,it means you are worth something. All eyes are on Abhinay Deo this year.

Alankrita Srivastav,director

Who is she: After assisting acclaimed filmmaker Prakash Jha for eight years and working behind the scenes for Khoya Khoya Chand and Raajneeti,30-year-old Alankrita Srivastav decided to spread her wings and turn director. Rather than making an issue-based film like her mentor,she chose a subject that was close to her heart and included real characters. Instead of roping in A-list stars and making a big-budget film,the first-time director chose Gul Panag and Purab Kohli to retain the story8217;s freshness.

Film debut: Turning 30 is a humorous tale of a single young woman,Naina,played by Gul. The movie traverses her journey of self-discovery and how she blossoms into a woman of substance.

Watch out for: Turning 30 is touted to be India8217;s first chick-lit film and Alankrita has already got an offer from Harper Collins for the publishing rights of the script. It will be interesting to see how the audience receives this film. We cant wait to watch if Alankrita will follow her mentor8217;s footsteps and soon veer towards making issue-based films.

Kiran Rao,director

Who is she: Kiran Rao started off her career as an assistant director in the critically-acclaimed Lagaan and followed it up with Monsoon Wedding and Swades. After tying the knot with Aamir Khan,she assisted him as a producer in Taare Zameen Par,Jaane Tu8230; Ya Jaane Na and Peepli Live. Her desire to create an identity prompted Kiran to write and direct Dhobi Ghat.

Film debut: Dhobi Ghat Mumbai Diaries revolves around four people from different backgrounds whose lives intersect in Mumbai. The film stemmed from Kirans personal experience as a tenant in the city and also examines the class and caste prejudice. Kiran had no plans of roping in Aamir,but when she couldnt get an actor to play the part,she auditioned him.

Watch out for: Dhobi Ghat has won rave reviews at the Toronto and London Film Festivals. The movie8217;s innovative marketing strategy,which involves Kiran writing personal notes on postcards,and Aamir Khan playing a middle-aged painter has generated enough curiosity amongst viewers.

Kriti Malhotra,actor

Who is she: Kriti Malhotra was seen in the first season of reality adventure show MTV Roadies. Later she produced and directed MTVs Style Check,a show based on fashion. She has also worked as an assistant costume designer and wardrobe supervisor for Hindi feature films.

Film debut: Kriti will be seen as a married Muslim woman Yasmin in Dhobi Ghat. She will be romanced by Aamir Khan in the film.

Watch out for: It will be interesting to see how Kriti manages to hold her own against Aamir Khan in her debut film.

Leander Paes,actor

Who is he: He has put India on the global tennis map after winning several doubles titles at Grand Slam events. Earlier this year,Leander Paes became the first male tennis player since Rod Laver to win any Wimbledon title in three different decades.

Film debut: Paes will play a common man in Ashok Kohlis Rajdhani Express. He decided to try his luck in acting as he wanted to satisfy his creative instincts. He is also a trained dancer.

Watch out for: Several sportsmen have tried to make a mark in Bollywood but all of them have failed miserably. Paes is the first tennis star to tread this path. Lets see if he can break this jinx!

Monica Dogra,actor

Who is she: She is better known as one half of Shaa8217;ir Func,an electronica band from Mumbai and New York. Daughter of Kashmiri immigrants,Monica Dogra was born and raised in Berlin. Later she studied musical theatre at New York and did theatre for three years in the US. She was seen briefly as part of her band in Rock On!!

Film debut: Monica bagged a plum role in Kiran Raos directorial debut Dhobi Ghat after the latter saw her pictures in a magazine. She plays Shai,an NRI in the film,who strikes an unusual friendship with Pratik.

Watch out for: If Dhobi Ghat fares well,then she might well become one of the first Indian actresses who is also a musician.

Nargis Fakhri, actor

Who is she: Born and raised in New York,the half- Czech and half-Pakistani Nargis Fakhri is a model. She featured in the 2009 Kingfisher calendar and the American Top Model a model talent hunt show hosted by supermodel Tyra Banks.

Film debut: She was spotted by director Imtiaz Ali who cast her in his next film Rockstar opposite Ranbir Kapoor. She is playing a dancer in the film.

Watch out for: With her drop-dead looks,Nargis can be one of the hottest newcomers in 2011. Imtiaz Ali is known for his eye for talent. So we wont be surprised if Nargis makes an impact in Bollywood!

Pankaj Kapur,Director

Who is he: Whether it was the bumbling detective in tele-serial Karamchand or an underworld don in Maqbool,National Award-winner Pankaj Kapur has enthralled us with his performances. Kapur,who had earlier helmed Mohandas B.A. L.L.B,a detective serial in the 90s,will be turning to film direction.

Film debut: The actor is directing son Shahid Kapoor in his debut film,Mausam. The love story has Sonam Kapoor as the female lead. Shot in Edinburgh and Punjab,it features Shahid as an Air-Force officer.

Watch out for: Kapur aims to portray son Shahid in a more mature role. This will also be the first time Shahid and Sonam will act opposite each other. Lets see if this fresh pair becomes a hit jodi!

Rana Daggubatti,Actor

Who is he: Hailing from an illustrious family of actors and filmmakers,it was no surprise when Rana Daggubatti decided to become an actor. Son of popular Telugu film producer D. Suresh Babu,grandson of veteran D. Rama Naidu and nephew of Telugu actors Venkatesh and Nagarjuna,Rana produced his first film,A Bellyfull Of Dreams,in 2006 and also won a National Award for it.

After undergoing training,he made his debut as an actor earlier this year in Telugu political thriller Leader. He also runs a visual effects and animation studio in Hyderabad.

Film debut: The one-film-old Rana will make his debut in Hindi cinema with Rohan Sippy8217;s Dum Maaro Dum and will be seen with Abhsihek Bachchan and Bipasha Basu. He is playing a musician in the action drama that revolves around the drug racket in Goa. In order to play the role convincingly,Rana underwent formal training for several weeks.

Watch out for: His uncles Venkatesh and Nagarjuna tried their luck in Hindi cinema but failed to make an impact. With his lineage and unconventional looks,Rana seems to be a contender. But will he change the norm? Only time will tell.

Sarah Jane Dias,Actor

Who is she: After starting off as a model,Sarah Jane Dias was a veejay on Channel V. After gaining enough experience in front of the camera,she decided to pursue her childhood dream of becoming Miss India. She won the Pantaloons Femina Miss India pageant in 2007.

Film debut: She will be seen as Abhishek Bachchans love interest,Maya,in Abhinay Deo8217;s Game and share the screen with Kangna Ranaut,Boman Irani and Jimmy Sheirgill. Her raunchy item number in the film,Kaise sunaoon yeh dastaan,is touted to be a potential chartbuster.

Watch out for: Rarely do we see a model doing a raunchy number in her debut film. It will be interesting to see if Sarah leaves her mark in the song. Will it be the Munni badnaam hui of 2011?

Vivaan Shah,Actor

Who is he: It came as no surprise when news broke that Vivaan Shah,younger son of actors Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah,is making his debut in films. After all,it runs in the family! The 20-year-old has always stayed away from the limelight and apparently never had any plans for an acting career at such a young age. But Vishal Bhardwaj spotted him and felt he was the perfect for a role in his next film.

Film debut: Vivaan will make his debut in Bhardwajs ambitious project 7 Khoon Maaf wherein he will play Priyanka Chopras youngest husband. In fact,the composer-turned director is so happy with the young lad that he has signed a three-movie deal with him. Vivaan will be in Bhardwaj8217;s next film titled Dreams where he will share screen space with Deepika Padukone and Priyanka again.

Watch out for: His cute boy-next-door looks belie his talent. After all,how many 20-year-olds ink a three- film deal with an award-winning filmmaker!