Your Buttered Popcorn And Big Screens

Half-finished films, cancelled releases, derelict theatres, careworn studios, a desperate workforce scraping together a living바카라�the pandemic sucked the breathing life out of Bollywood in 2020. The annus horribilis spread its stain with the nationwide lockdown, when everything went into a catatonic state, and held on to its ghastly inertia. The financial losses for the Hindi film industry were monumental: hundreds of crores of rupees. Digital platforms such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix emerged as viable, 바카라�at-home바카라� options, but could scarcely fill the void.

Movie aficionados had to wait, then wait some more, for the industry to resurrect. For the majority, the joy of watching a new movie on the small screen in the living room couldn바카라�t just compare with the frisson of exp­ectation, even mystique, of a darkened auditorium when the lights go out. Big filmmakers and actors such as Shoojit Sarkar, Mah­esh Bhatt, Akshay Kumar and David Dhawan did release films on OTT platforms, but Gulabo Sitabo, Sadak 2, Lakshmi or Coolie No. 1 were given a resounding thumbs-down by all.

Theatres have since reopened, and some closed again, with the waxing and waning of the pandemic. The hapless film industry, like humanity, is not out of the woods. Stars like Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan have sought to enc­ourage audiences by going to watch a film in a theatre, but have prom­p­ted little emulation.

Now, with the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, the situation is likely to improve. In the next few months, many big and interesting films helmed by the superstars are lined up, which may well revive the bustle and swagger of old Bollywood. It바카라�s a matter of conclusive evidence that the beating heart of filmdom throbs in the theatres and that the digital option바카라�fine enough for a rainy day바카라�is deemed inadequate, in the entirety of its experience, by a diehard cine-goer. The industry, therefore, cannot return to normality unless theatres come to life across the country.

Hrithik Roshan바카라�s Fighter, opposite Deepika Padukone, announ­ced on January 10, will not release before September 2022, but here is a lowdown of some big ones that have the potential to drag the film industry out of this dispiriting phase in 2021 itself.

Pathan

Star Cast: Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone

Director: Siddharth Anand

SRK has been planning and plotting his comeback ever since his ambitious Zero tanked at the box office in 2018. He has now zeroed in on Yash Raj Films바카라� Pathan, expected to release later this year. Directed by Siddharth Anand of War fame, Pathan will have Deepika Padukone as SRK바카라�s on-screen muse once again.

Cirkus

Star Cast: Ranveer Singh, Jacqueline Fernandez, Pooja Hegde

Director: Rohit Shetty

Shakespeare continues to enchant Hindi film-makers of all hues, from Gulzar to Rohit Shetty. Best known for action-comedies, the auteur of commercial flicks has dared to pick The Comedy of Errors and cast Ranveer Singh to do what Sanjeev Kumar did in Angoor (1982). It will be interesting to see how the Golmaal guy interpolates his pet car blast scenes to give the Shetty touch to the Bard epic.

Prithviraj

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Manushi Chillar

Director: Chandra Prakash Dwivedi

If you have lost count of Akshay Kumar바카라�s recent movies here is one more, where he is playing the legendary 12th-century king, Prithviraj Chauhan. Playing his ladylove Sanyogita is the 2017 Miss World Manushi Chillar, who is making her debut in Bollywood, which desperately needs fresh faces on its revival path.

83

Star Cast: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Pankaj Tripathi

Director: Kabir Khan

Remember June 25, 1983? The earliest millennials were barely two-year-old toddlers then. But Kabir Khan has brought the historic triumph of the Indian cricket team at the third World Cup at Lord바카라�s alive on screen. Ranveer Singh plays Kapil paaji. The film is ready for release for months but the producers apparently don바카라�t possess Kapil바카라�s innate ability to take risks.

Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai

Star Cast: Salman Khan, Disha Patani, Ranveer Hooda

Director: Prabhudeva

Amid unconfirmed reports that Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai has been sold to an OTT platform, exhibitors are looking up to Salman Khan to bail them out by releasing his next in theatres during Eid. It was supposed to be Salman바카라�s gift for the audience last year, but coronavirus dashed hopes. And if an ageing Bhai바카라�s bulging biceps will not be enough this time, there is Disha Patani to sizzle the screen.

Lal Singh Chadha

Star Cast: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mona Singh

Director: Advaita Chandan

After Thugs of Hindostan (2018), Aamir Khan hopes to recapture his magic with  a remake of 1994 Hollywood hit, Forrest Gump, which has Tom Hanks in the lead, 바카라�Mr. Perfectionist바카라� plays the title role in Lal Singh Chadha, which was supposed to release last Christmas, but had to be postponed for the next for obvious reasons.

Bachchan Pandey

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Jacqueline Fernandez, Kriti Sanon

Director: Farhad Samji

After the success of Housefull 4, superstar Akshay Kumar teams up with producer Sajid Nadiadwala and writer-director Farhad Samji for Bachchan Pandey. It is about a gangster who aspires to be an actor, but that does not matter바카라�just remember that it is all about Akshay Kumar only.

Atrangi Re

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sara Ali Khan, Dhanush

Director: Aanand L Rai

Akshay Kumar has been on a roll for almost a decade, delivering hits of different hues. Anand L. Rai바카라�s  Atrangi Re has an interesting star cast with Dhanush in a parallel role. It holds immense promises and should help Rai get over the fiasco of SRK-starrer Zero.

Jersey

Star Cast: Shahid Kapur, Mrunal Thakur

A gripping sports drama, Jersey stars Shahid Kapoor, who has been on a high since the mega-success of the controversial Kabir Singh (2019).  Directed by Gowtam Tinnanuri, it is a remake of the 2019 Telugu film of the same title.

Antim

Star Cast: Salman Khan, Ayush Sharma

Director: Mahesh Manjrekar

Salman Khan바카라�s love for his younger sister Arpita made him launch her husband Ayush Sharma in a big way with Love Yatri (2018) but it proved to be a non-starter. Now, Salman has taken the final바카라� step to relaunch his brother-in-law in Antim. Giving heft to the film is the presence of the superstar himself. The film incidentally has only two actors. But then, who needs the other one, if Salman happens to be around?

Baaghi  4

Star Cast: Tiger Shroff

Director: Ahmed Khan

Baaghi 4 is the fourth in Tiger Shroff바카라�s wildly-loved series. The first previous three editions of the action-packed franchise have all proved to be huge hits, establishing Shroff as Bollywood바카라�s biggest action star of the new generation. The critics who had once dismissed him as 바카라�wooden바카라�, are now singing paeans to him.

Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali

Star Cast: Salman Khan

Director: Sajid Samji

Bollywood바카라�s Bhai has collaborated with an old friend, Sajid Nadiadwala, for superhits like Judwaa (1997) and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi (2004). Now, they are back with Kabhi Eid Kabhi Diwali, which has raised huge expectations in the trade circles. Bollywood hopes to celebrate both Eid and Diwali on the first weekend of its release this year.

Heropanti 2

Star Cast: Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sannon

Director: Ahmed Khan

Tiger Shroff made a stunning entry into Bollywood seven years ago with Heropanti. His popularity has since soared with superhits like the Baaghi (2016 onwards) series and War (2019). Now, he is back with a sequel to Heropanti, which should be much bigger and better than his launch vehicle.

Sooryavanshi

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgan, Ranveer Singh, Katrina Kaif

Director: Rohit Shetty

Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh, and Katrina Kaif in a Rohit Shetty film! What more can you ask for? Its release on March 24 last year was postponed due to the lockdown. Since then, viewers have been eagerly waiting for its release, but the producers are still biding time.

Brahmastra

Star Cast: Ranveer Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy

Director: Ayan Mukherjee

Directed by Ayan Mukherjee, it has taken a long time in the making, but nobody is complaining.  A fantasy thriller starring Amitabh Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, it is to be made in three parts. Let us watch the first edition this year to know whether it will be a good idea to carry it forward with the next two.

Shamshera

Star Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Vani Kapoor, Ronit Roy

Director: Karan Malhotra

A dacoit drama set in the 19th century, which Bollywood audiences have not seen for many years. Ranbir is in a double role in this film. Its shooting was over in January 2020, but the lockdown halted post-production work.

Animal

Star Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Anil Kapoor, Parineeti Chopra, Bobby Deol

Director: Sandeep Reddy Vanga

One of the most interesting films, Animal is director Sandeep Reddy Vanga바카라�s first Hindi film after Kabir Singh, starring Ranbir Kapoor and Anil Kapoor for the first time. This may be Ranbir바카라�s third film to be released this year alongside Brahmastra and Shamshera. No chance for his fans to complain now.

Jug Jugg Jeeyo

Star Cast: Anil Kapoor, Neetu Kapoor, Varun Dhawan, Kiara Advani

Director: Raj Mehta

Neetu Kapoor will appear in a major role after a long while in the film being directed by Raj Mehta. Shooting has commenced in Chandigarh and it is expected to be released this year.

Jaya

Star Cast: Kangana Ranaut, Arvind Swamy

Director: AL Vijay

Producer: Vishnu Vardhan Induri, Shailesh R Singh

Jaya, being made in Tamil and Hindi, is a biopic of Tamil Nadu바카라�s actress-turned-chief minister Jayalalithaa. Kangana Ranaut plays the titular role while Arvind Swamy is playing MG Ramachandran. The film is set to ruffle a few feathers in Tamil Nadu.

Bell Bottom

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Vani Kapoor

Director: Ranjit Tiwari

Bell Bottom was the first film to begin shooting in Scotland after the lockdown. This spy thriller will pair Akshay for the first time with Vaani Kapoor providing the romantic angle. You cannot get enough of Akshay!

Maidaan

Star Cast: Ajay Devgn, Priyamani, Gajraj Rao

Director: Amit Sharma

Bollywood has taken to sports biopic in a big way. In Maidaan, Ajay Devgn plays a legendary football coach, Syed Abdul Rahim, who is credited with having taken Indian soccer to a new high in the post-Independence era. Slated for Dussehra release.

Takht

Star Cast: Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal, Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Alia Bhatt

The classic Mughal-era saga of Aurangzeb-versus-Dara Shikoh on screen! Karan Johar announced this period drama with a lot of fanfare, but the failure of another period drama, Kalank (2019), proved to be a setback for Dharma Productions. KJo hopes to reverse his fortunes if he is able to make this one this year.