Our Bollywood prophecy for 2013 may not be as grave as the Mayan apocalypse, but it’s a safe bet to expect enough drama and action to keep us thoroughly entertained. As we enter the first day of 2013, tabloid! takes out its crystal ball to give you a round-up of what we hope to see from B-town in the coming months, from exciting TV debuts to the new faces to watch out for
Most Exciting TV Moment in 2013: Anil Kapoor in India’s 24
Come summer 2013, Slumdog Millionaire star Anil Kapoor will invade your TV screens by becoming India’s answer to Jack Bauer, the iconic Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU) leader who’s out to save the world in just 24 hours. Set in Mumbai, the first season of India’s 24 will see him play a modern-day saviour as he thwarts multiple terrorist plots, tackles biochemical threats and obliterates presidential assassination attempts. In an interview with tabloid! Kapoor, who also co-produced this show, called his pet project “bigger than any film he has done”. Plus he has promised to include as many new faces as he can in his TV debut with a few cameos from Bollywood biggies thrown in.
Most exciting on-screen union in 2013: Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone in Chennai Express:
In 2007, Deepika Padukone and Shah Rukh Khan treated us to Om Shanti Om, a splashy masala musical with reincarnation as its core theme. Their next film Chennai Express, tentatively slated for an August 2013 release, doesn’t call for such suspension of belief. All you need to do is take in Khan play Rahul yet again (an on-screen lover boy name that earned him the king of romance title in Bollywood) and enjoy the eventful train ride with him.
“It’s a hard-core commercial film with a romantic angle. The story is about this man’s travel from Mumbai to Rameshwaram and what happens during the journey. There is a lot of romance keeping Shah Rukh in mind but it will also be a typical Rohit Shetty film with cars blowing up and lots of action,” said Shetty at a press briefing. Plus, Shetty has reportedly asked ace choreographer Farah Khan (who also directed Om Shanti Om) to work on a special song featuring the OSO pair. Also, the grapevine has it that the iconic scene from Khan’s hit musical Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge where Khan extends his hand to a girl on a moving train has been weaved into his latest romance. That hand union symbolised everlasting love and chivalry. Need we ask more?
Most exciting man-in-uniform flick of 2013: Dhoom 3
This slick, glossy cops and robbers tale is the third release from the hit Dhoom franchise. The earnest cop team — Abhishek Bachchan and his funny sidekick Uday Chopra — have been retained from the original but the evil, manipulative face has changed. This time around Bollywood A-lister Aamir Khan will play the baddie, while hottie Katrina Kaif will play the butt kicking visual relief. Rumour has it that Abhishek Bachchan lost 11kg and trained relentlessly for his tough cop act. The action drama is tentatively slated for a 2013-end release.
Family reunion (on-screen) of 2013: The Kapoors in Besharam
Bollywood heart-throb Ranbir Kapoor will act alongside his parents Rishi and Neetu in Abhinav Kashyap’s next Besharam. Slated for an October release, Besharam will see Kapoor play a zany car thief who ends up meeting the love of his life while at work. Indo-Australian actress Pallavi Sharda is the chosen one to romance Kapoor. If you go back in time, Rishi and Neetu’s recent on-screen unions have never disappointed us. Between the husband-wife, they have gives us memorable hits like Do Dhooni Chaar and Love Aaj Kal. Plus, father Rishi has always maintained that a good script will only lure him to act alongside his son. Here’s hoping Besharam ticks the legendary box.
New Face of 2013:
Sushant Singh Rajput:
He’s a familiar face on TV with serials such as Pavitra Rishta, but Kai Po Che! will see him make his big screen debut. Based on Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller 3 Mistakes Of My Life, the film directed by Abhishek Kapoor of Rock On! fame will trace the journey of three friends and their quest to fulfil their dreams. This coming-of-age film is slated for a mid-February release.
The big question of 2013:
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan’s comeback:
She may have been missing in action on the big screen for over two years, but Rai Bachchan never stopped being in the news. Be it her charity or brand endorsement drive, the mother to Aaradhya has kept herself busy and splendidly courted public life. But 2013 could also spell some developments on her acting career front. Rumour has it that she is in talks with Karan Johar about a possible comeback in a period drama. She was last seen on the big screen in Guzaarish alongside Hrithik Roshan as a stern yet sexy nurse.
