Abhishek as superhero Drona

Hollywood may have its share of onscreen superheroes like Batman, Superman and Spiderman, but the situation in Bollywood is different. There seems to be a drought of onscreen superlative beings in an industry that churns out movies by the dozen every month.

Other than Hrithik Roshan, who took the nation by storm with his leather-clad superhero look in the hit Krrish, there's no other serious contender.

So the big question is, will Abhishek pose a threat to Roshan, who convincingly outran wild horses and jumped from one skyscraper to the other? If first appearances are anything to go by, Abhishek Bachchan's gilded outfit is no match to the leather suit that Roshan poured his sculpted body into. And when it comes to charisma and chiselled looks, Roshan scores higher than Bachchan Jr. He's also known for his down-to-earth charm.

After the debacle of the magnum-opus Love Story 2050, there was a tendency among Bollywood directors to steer away from large-scale fantasy films. But director Goldie Behl, who also happens to be Abhishek Bachchan's best friend, seems to be an exception.

Eager to make good his childhood dream of making a movie that had demons, kings, warriors and sword fighting plenty, Behl is confident that his movie would be treated to a warmer reception. In all fairness, Behl has already won the first leg of the battle by garnering a casting coup of sorts. In the lead are Bollywood A-listers Abhishek Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, Kay Kay Menon and Jaya Bachchan.

"Unlike other Bollywood fantasy fictions, the hero Drona does not belong to the past or the present and so the characters have a timeless appeal. And about the casting coup, my character Drona was perceived with Abhishek in mind. He is like my brother and we hit upon the idea of making such a movie during our growing up years," says Behl over the phone.

Though the premise about translating a long-cherished childhood dream onto celluloid (spurred mostly by teenage angst) and his casting method is questionable, Behl is eager to bolster the confidence of a cynical moviegoer.

"The movie has a bit of everything - a combination of drama and fantasy. We have also worked hard on the stunts [myriad martial arts] and special effects. To me it's like the most comprehensive graphic novel to hit the big screen," explains Behl, about his second release. His debut film - Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai featuring Abhishek Bachchan in the lead - bombed at the box office.

"I enjoy being in the business of making movies and the money it makes is secondary. And Drona will surely provide wholesome entertainment for the whole family," says Behl.

Meanwhile, his gung-ho attitude does not end with Abhishek Bachchan. The curvaceous Priyanka Chopra, also referred fondly as Piggy Chopps by Bachchan Jr, was another rare find, says the director.

Onscreen chemistry

"When I began my hunt for Sonia [the feisty character who is Drona's shadow-cum-protector], I was not clear where to begin. But it was Abhishek who suggested Priyanka Chopra. At that point they were shooting for their movie Bluffmaster and they looked great together," recounts Behl.

Director Ramesh Sippy's comedy caper Bluffmaster (2005) was a tongue-in-cheek flick that was thoroughly enjoyed by the masses. The chemistry between Bachchan and Chopra was also one of the talking points. Unfortunately, for Behl, a lot has changed since then. The arrival of Aishwarya Rai in Bachchan's life has changed the dynamics of Bollywood on-screen hit pairs. Ask Behl about the exclusion of the latest entrant to Bachchan family and he was quick to brandish the diplomatic card and skirt the topic.

"I think Priyanka has done an amazing job. About Aishwarya, what can I say? At the time of casting she was not in the picture. And did you know, Priyanka said yes right away, even without reading the script. I don't think she has ever done that," Behl says.

Though it's hard not to share his child-like enthusiasm, our concern is whether Drona will live up to all the hype and hoopla and give Bollywood's first super hero Hrithik Roshan a run for his title. Can Abhishek fare better than Love Story 2050's Harman Baweja?