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Coming up: Fab winter releases
The year may be coming to an end, but Bollywood has just got started with a slew of big releases lined up this winter.
The year started on a rather dry note with the strike and a string of flops but it is closing on a high note.
Gear up for these fabulous winter releases. Sample this:
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
The first release in November, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani is a comedy starring Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif and Upen Patel, with Rajkumar Santoshi at the helm.
The protagonist Prem Chopra (Kapoor) is in love with Jenny (Kaif), who for her part does not show the remotest inclination to reciprocate. This forces Kapoor to extending himself in every conceivable fashion to find ways to please her, and win her heart -- and in the process, he changes from the happy go lucky clown to responsible young man.
Kapoor could use a hit; Kaif seeks to prove that she can deliver hits with actors who are not called Akshay Kumar, and Rajkumar Santoshi returns to comedy 15 years after his 1994 release Andaz Apna Apna, which starred Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Raveena Tandon and Karisma Kapoor.
Releases on: November 6
Jail
The Madhur Bhandarkar-helmed film releases in direct competition with Rajkumar Santoshi, and has Neil Nitin Mukesh, Mugdha Godse and Manoj Bajpai heading the star cast.
Parag Dixit (Neil Nitin Mukesh), who leads a peaceful life with his wife Mansi (Mugdha Godse), ends up in jail thanks to one of those unforeseen incidents -- and that in turn powers a film that is almost entirely about life in prison.
Neil appearing in the nude in a torture sequence has already fuelled much gossip and some controversy; another reason for advance interest is Bhandarkar's ability to peel back the layers of the backdrops he chooses, and to provide a gritty, close up peek at the inner mechanisms.
Releases on: November 6
De Dana Dan
De Dana Dan continues the comedy string of director Priyadarshan and reunites his favourite cast: Akshay Kumar, Sunil Shetty and Paresh Rawal, with Katrina Kaif, Neha Dhupia and Sameera Reddy providing the eye candy.
Most of the film was shot in Singapore in a two month schedule. Asin was supposed to be the lead star, but Katrina stepped in when the former had date issues -- and thus, Katrina gets another chance to try her growing comedic skills.
The underwater sequences of Blue have been much talked about, but De Dana Dan boasts two weeks shooting time of underwater sequences that, industry buzz says, could be a huge highlight.
It's a different matter that these scenes were shot in the not so clean water of Mumbai's Film City, resulting in the lead stars ending up with an impressive collection of colds, coughs and flu.
Releases on: November 27
Kurbaan
Also releasing November 27, the Karan Johar-produced Kurbaan pairs real life couple Saif Ali Khan Kareena Kapoor and is directed by debutant Rensil D'Silva (who co-wrote Rang De Basanti).
The film is billed as a romance against the backdrop of terrorism, with Om Puri and Vivek Oberoi playing other key roles.
Saif and Kareena have steamed up the screen with some bold love-making scenes, and the advance posters already have the audience salivating.
Releases on: November 27
Toonpur Ka Superhero
After Ajay Devgn made the children's film Raju Chacha, he returns to production with another for the younger audience -- with the added attraction that the Kireet Khurana-directed film will be an adventure in 3D.
The film brings Devgn together with real life wife Kajol after U Me Aur Hum, and also features Kajol's real life mother Tanuja in a pivotal role.
The film's tagline says it all: 'A reel life hero accidentally lands into the world of cartoons and becomes a real life hero'.
Releases on: December 11
3 Idiots
This release has to be arguably the most awaited film of the year, with Aamir Khan, R Madhavan, Sharman Joshi, Kareena Kapoor and Boman Irani heading up the cast under the direction of Rajkumar Hirani of Munnabhai fame.
The film is based on the best-selling Chetan Bhagat novel Five Point Someone, and has been shot in Ladakh and in the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore.
Aamir Khan, Madhavan and Sharman Joshi play IIT students -- and to fit the role, Aamir was forced to lose eight kilos and all those muscles he gained for Ghajini.
Releases on: December 25
Paa
Director R Balakrishnan, also known as Balki, releases Paa December 4 with Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan reversing their real life relationships -- Amitabh will play the son to Abhishek Bachchan and Vidya Balan.
The spin is that the Amitabh Bachchan character suffers from a rare kind of disease called Progeria, in which a person ages rapidly.
Releases on: December 4