Tashan promises to be a wild trip

Starring Bollywood's hottest couple, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, the eagerly awaited Tashan promises to be slick, entertaining and action-packed.

If the success of a Bollywood movie is directly proportional to the hype and buzz that it creates prior to its release, then Tashan stands a good chance of striking gold. From the cast, which includes Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, to the actors colouring their hair blonde to the debate triggered by Kareena Kapoor when she went on a liquid diet to look dazzling for a bikini scene, every detail of this action flick has been dissected with great relish by the media.

Intensifying the publicity blitzkrieg were statements made by Bollywood's hottest off-screen pair, Saif and Kareena, about falling in love during the making of this film. Tashan was shot in picturesque locations such as Kerala, Ladakh and Greece. When it comes to off-screen drama by the lead actors, director Vijay Krishan Acharya could not have asked for more.

And what's more is that Akshay Kumar, the hero who can turn romantic comedies into blockbusters, will be seen performing some dangerous stunts in a genre that he capitalised on at the start of his career.

Even its strap-line, which reads 'The Ishtyle... The Goodluck... The Pharmoola' has been generating some interest. But let's step back for a moment and sift through the hype and hoopla and get to the crux of the plot.

A situational action flick, it focuses on a hip call-centre executive, Jimmy Cliff (Saif Ali Khan), a wannabe gangster named Bachchan Pande (Akshay Kumar) and a dazzling but untrustworthy lady named Pooja (Kareena Kapoor). The three embark on an exciting journey across India which will alter their lives in more ways than one. And there's also a villain – a maverick gangster named Bhaiyajji (Anil Kapoor). "Tashan is one of the movies that will remain close to my heart for professional and personal reasons. I am looking forward to its release," says Kareena in interviews posted on various websites.

It's evident that the actors are relying on Tashan to further consolidate their positions in Bollywood. They've all got a lot riding on this film – Saif and Kareena are probably anxious to see whether their off-screen chemistry translates into on-screen success. Akshay Kumar will definitely be waiting to see what audiences have to say about his return to the action genre while Anil Kapoor will surely want to cement his reputation as a conniving comedian.

Tashan tip-off

- Saif Ali Khan's son Ibrahim also appears in a cameo role. This film is his debut vehicle.

- Kareena Kapoor went on a diet to flesh out the lard from her body for the much-talked about bikini scene. Her 23-inch waist triggered the size zero debate in India.

- Anil Kapoor agreed to shave his chest to look the part of a maverick gangster.

- Kareena Kapoor agreed to go bottle blonde provided her boyfriend as well as her co-star Akshay Kumar did the same.

- If the buzz is to be believed, Akshay Kumar was a tad insecure about his role. He reportedly feared being over-shadowed by the high-profile couple, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor.