Journalism of Courage
While 2017 was a dull year for Bollywood releases, the 2018 calendar has set some high expectations in the minds of cinema-goers. Talking of the megastars -- Akshay Kumar's PadMan, Salman Khan's Race 3 and Aamir Khan's Thugs of Hindostan are going to be the year's big releases. But we also have some unconventional films like Diljit Dosanjh and Taapse Pannu's Soorma, Anushka Sharma's Pari and Alia Bhatt's Raazi. On the other hand, looks like Judwaa 2 actor Varun Dhawan is taking a break from commercial films and venturing into social dramas with Shoojit Sircar's October and YRF's Sui Dhaaga.
Meanwhile, considering the quagmire of controversies around the release date of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmavati, it will probably see the light of the day in 2018. Also, Kangana Ranaut and Hrithik Roshan are gearing up for their respective biopics -- Manikarnika and Super 30. Newcomers Sara Ali Khan and Janhvi Kapoor are also set for their Bollywood debuts with Kedarnath and Dhadak.
Here is the list of the most awaited films of 2018.
Padmavat - To be announced
Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus Padmavati, starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone and Shahid Kapoor, has been mirred in controversies since a long time. Earlier scheduled to be released on December 1, 2017, the film is now awaiting clearance on the tables of the Censor Board. Based on the poem titled Padmavat written in 1540 by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi, the film is expected to release in the first quarter of 2018.
Kaalakaandi - January 12
Kaalakaandi, starring Saif Ali Khan in the lead role, is a dark comedy which chronicles the story of six complete strangers living in Mumbai in a span of 12 hours and how their lives intersect. Set to release on January 12, 2018, Kaalakaandi is giving all kinds of Delhi Belly meets Go Goa Gone vibes. It is helmed by Delhi Belly fame Akshat Verma.
Aiyaary - January 26
Baby and A Wednesday director Neeraj Pandey is bringing Aiyaary, a gritty espionage drama starring Sidharth Malhotra and Manoj Bajpayee, to the theaters this Republic Day. While the film's narrative is focused on the rat and mouse chase between Sidharth (an ex-army officer embroiled in an artillage scam) and Bajpayee (an altruistic officer), the film also has an ensemble of Pandey's usual set of actors - Naseeruddin Shah and Anupam Kher who are this time joined by Rakul Preet and Adil Hussain.
PadMan - January 26
Helmed by R Balki, PadMan is inspired by the life of Coimbatore-based Arunachalam Muruganantham, who found a way to manufacture affordable sanitary napkins for the women of his village. Starring Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in the lead roles, the film is produced by Twinkle Khanna, who earlier dedicated a chapter to Arunachalam in her book 'The Legend Of Laxmi Prasad.'
Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety - February 9
Pyar Ka Punchnama director Luv Ranjan is back to tickle our funny bones yet again and this time, the funny duo of Nushrat Bharucha and Kartik Aryan is joined by Sunny Singh. While Sunny plays a stuck ex-lover Titu who finds the perfect 'Bahu' in Sweety (Bharucha), Kartik is the jealous and suspicious best friend. And this time too, audiences better watch out for Kartik's ever-so-famous monologues.
Pari - February 9
While the makers have only released the first look of Anushka Sharma's upcoming Pari, we have high expectations from this supernatural thriller. One, because we haven't seen Anushka play a spooky character like this, second because even though she looks like it, Anushka is not playing the ghost in the film, she is an abuse victim.
Dil Juunglee - February 16
Ad filmmaker Aleya Sen is making her feature film debut with Taapsee Pannu and Saqib Salim starrer Dil Juunglee. While we have seen Taapsee give stellar performances, this time, she is playing a geeky English counsellor who turns rogue when she falls in love with one of her students.
Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran - February 23
John Abraham and Diana Penty's upcoming actioner is based on the nuclear bomb test explosion conducted by the Indian Army at the Indian Army's Pokhran Test Range in 1998 when BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. Directed by Abhishek Sharma, Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran will clash with Rani Mukerji's Hichki.
Drive - March 2
Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez are pairing up for the first time with Dharma Productions' Drive. It is helmed by Tarun Mansukhani who had earlier directed Dostana in 2008. Reportedly, Jacqueline will be playing a racer in the film.
October - April 13
Varun Dhawan has been delivering hit after hit since his debut with Student Of The Year. But unlike most of his films which are commercial Bollywood dramas, his next venture titled October is directed by Shoojit Sircar who has films like Piku and Pink to his credit. October narrates a Delhi-set slice-of-life love story written by Juhi Chaturvedi and also stars Banita Sandhu.
2.0 - April 27
Shankar's 2.0 is easily the most awaited film of 2018 because when Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar feature in a film together, it is hard to let it go unnoticed. This sci-fi action thriller is also the nation's costliest 3D film and it is going to an extravagant film in terms of the VFX and CGI content. It also stars Amy Jackson.
Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi - April 27
Manikarnika, a biographical drama about Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, will feature Kangana Ranaut in the never-seen-before avatar of an iconic freedom fighter. Kangana has had a rough 2017 with Rangoon and Simran both faring only decently at the box office. Written and directed by KV Vijendra Prasad, who also wrote for Baahubali 2: The Conclusion, we have high expectations from this Kangana Ranaut starrer.
Raazi - May 11
Alia Bhatt’s next film Raazi is an adaptation of Harinder Sikka’s Calling Sehmat, a novel inspired by the almost-unbelievable real-life story of a woman who the author named Sehmat. Alia is playing Sehmat, a Kashmiri woman who marries a Pakistani officer (Vicky Kaushal) with the intention to source out intelligence details and pass it off to Indian forces. It is directed by Meghna Gulzar.
Veere Di Wedding - May 18
Kareena Kapoor Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar and Shikha Talsania are coming together in what looks like the ultimate chick-flick of the year. Directed by Shashanka Ghosh, Veere Di Wedding is produced by Rhea Kapoor and Balaji Motion Pictures.
Race 3 - June 15
Popular action thriller franchise Race's upcoming third installment just got bigger as the makers have roped in superstar Salman Khan for the lead role. It also stars Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Saqib Saleem.
Fanne Khan - June 15
Produced by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, Fanne Khan is the official adaptation of the Oscar nominated Dutch film Everybody’s Famous (2000). Veteran actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Anil Kapoor are being joined by Rajkummar Rao and we are anxiously waiting for this star-studded comedy to hit the theaters.
Soorma - June 29
Shaad Ali's next titled Soorma is a biopic on the life of hockey legend Sandeep Singh (ex-captain of the Indian hockey team) starring Punjabi heartthrob Diljit Dosanjh and Taapsee Pannu in the lead roles. The narrative is a poignant yet inspiring tale of a thriving athlete who was grievously injured after he was hit in an accidental gunshot in a train. The tagline in the poster reads 'The Greatest Comeback Story.'
Dhadak - July 6
Dhadak is an official remake of Marathi blockbuster film Sairat. It stars the much-awaited starlets -- Janhvi Kapoor and Ishaan Khatter in the lead roles and is backed by Karan Johar. Dhadak is directed by Shashank Khaitan.
Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar - August 3
Parineeti Chopra and Arjun Kapoor are coming back on screen with Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar after five long years. This time, while Arjun plays a Haryanvi officer, Parineeti features as a fiercely ambitious girl. It is directed by Dibakar Banerjee.
Gold - August 15
Akshay Kumar's upcoming film Gold talks about the era in which we achieved Independence and what happened with hockey particularly at that time. Akshay plays a team manager and the film is being helmed by Talaash director Reema Kagti.
Batti Gul Meter Chalu - August 31
Toilet Ek Prem Katha director Shree Narayan Singh is teaming up with Shahid Kapoor for his next social drama. Titled Batti Gul Meter Chalu, the film is a story of a common man's fight against power distribution companies over the huge amount of bills generated. Shahid, reportedly, plays a lawyer in the film.
Sui Dhaaga: Made In India - September 28
Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma are collaborating for the first time with this upcoming YRF project titled Sui Dhaaga: Made In India. The film is written and directed by Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015) director Sharat Katariya.
Thugs of Hindostan - November 7
Bollywood mavericks Aamir Khan and Amitabh Bachchan are all set to wow fans together with this period actioner titled Thugs of Hindostan. Directed by Vijay Krishna Acharya, the film also features Fatima Sana Shaika, Katrina Kaif and Zeeshan Ayyub. The leaked looks of Big B and Aamir were earlier being compared to Game of Thrones and The Hobbit. Will this Bollywood saga match their standards?
Super 30 - November 23
43-year-old Hrithik Roshan is all set to star in his career's first biopic. Based on the life of Patna-based mathematician Anand Kumar, Super 30 is supposed to trace Anand's rise to fame as the founder of the Super 30 program. It is directed by Vikas Bahl and has been written by Sanjeev Dutta.
Kedarnath - December 21
Sushant Singh Rajput's second film for the year titled Kedarnath also marks the debut of Saif Ali Khnan's daughter Sara. Helmed by Kai Po Che director Abhishek Kapoor, Kedarnath features Sushant in the role of a pitthu while Sara is a pilgrim stuck amidst the devastating Uttarakhand floods of 2013.
Shah Rukh Khan's Zero - December 21
Helmed by Aanand Rai, Zero is also set for a release on December 21. Starring Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma in the lead roles, the film will feature SRK as a vertically-challenged man.
Simmba - December 2018
Karan has joined hands with Golmaal Again director Rohit Shetty for a massy action film titled Simmba featuring none other than the super talented Ranveer Singh. Ranveer looks his vibrant best in the character of the ‘notorious’ policeman named Sangram Bhalerao aka Simmba. It will release in December next year.
