2009 may have begun on a debacle of a note for Khiladi Kumar with CC2C going under but he has many chances to regain his lost glory. Unlike his competitors, who have only one or two films each scheduled for release this year (My Name is Khan for SRK, 3 Idiots for Aamir, London Dreams and Veer for Salman, and Kites for Hrithik), Akki has four.
Here are the films he will be hoping will keep him in the A-hero slot that he fought so hard to get last year.
Interestingly, he has films in all sorts of genres.
Interestingly, he has films in all sorts of genres.
Film: Kambakkht Ishq
Genre: Action
Akshay's character: Stuntman
Release: May
X-Factor: Sylvester Stallone, Kareena in a golden bikini
The chick factor in Kambakkht Ishq comes from Kareena Kapoor and Bond Girl Denise Richards, and it is likely to be one of Akshay's two big films this year. A quintessential big budget Bollywood potboiler it has more going for it than just big stars from Hollywood. The jodi of Kareena and Akshay clicked in Aitraaz and though Tashan flopped, Kareena's performance and look were the rage. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has delivered blockbusters like Heyy Babyy and Mujhse Shaadi Karoge and so understands what hit films are about (even if Jaan-e-Mann flopped). Writer Anvita Dutt Guptan (Dostana and Bachna Ae Haseeno) also has the touch. Shot in US, Italy and France, the film also has Playboy Playmate Carmen Electra with Sean Kingston and Beyonce Knowles on the soundtrack. This will help with desi audiences abroad. The movie's editors tell us that Kareena has filled out her bikini a little more voluptuously than she did in Tashan.
Genre: Action
Akshay's character: Stuntman
Release: May
X-Factor: Sylvester Stallone, Kareena in a golden bikini
The chick factor in Kambakkht Ishq comes from Kareena Kapoor and Bond Girl Denise Richards, and it is likely to be one of Akshay's two big films this year. A quintessential big budget Bollywood potboiler it has more going for it than just big stars from Hollywood. The jodi of Kareena and Akshay clicked in Aitraaz and though Tashan flopped, Kareena's performance and look were the rage. Producer Sajid Nadiadwala has delivered blockbusters like Heyy Babyy and Mujhse Shaadi Karoge and so understands what hit films are about (even if Jaan-e-Mann flopped). Writer Anvita Dutt Guptan (Dostana and Bachna Ae Haseeno) also has the touch. Shot in US, Italy and France, the film also has Playboy Playmate Carmen Electra with Sean Kingston and Beyonce Knowles on the soundtrack. This will help with desi audiences abroad. The movie's editors tell us that Kareena has filled out her bikini a little more voluptuously than she did in Tashan.
Film: Blue
Genre: Thriller
Akshay's character: Scuba Diving Thief
Release: Christmas
X-Factor: Underwater shots, sharks
Tagged Bollywood's most expensive flick ever (its budget has crossed 100 crore) Blue is not an Akshay solo movie; it also stars Sanjay Dutt, Lara Dutta, Zayed Khan and Katrina Kaif. If such things matter anymore, given that most films are shot abroad, it also stars the islands of the Bahamas as well as what are promised to be very slick stunts. This is the second movie that Akshay will circle as one of his two big hits of '09. AR Rahman has scored the music, which features the singing of Aussie pop sensation Kylie Minogue. Lara and Katrina have been given the pretext of taking off their clothes, while the men are apparently looking bronzed and fit. If the movie has a half-decent story, it should fly.
Genre: Thriller
Akshay's character: Scuba Diving Thief
Release: Christmas
X-Factor: Underwater shots, sharks
Tagged Bollywood's most expensive flick ever (its budget has crossed 100 crore) Blue is not an Akshay solo movie; it also stars Sanjay Dutt, Lara Dutta, Zayed Khan and Katrina Kaif. If such things matter anymore, given that most films are shot abroad, it also stars the islands of the Bahamas as well as what are promised to be very slick stunts. This is the second movie that Akshay will circle as one of his two big hits of '09. AR Rahman has scored the music, which features the singing of Aussie pop sensation Kylie Minogue. Lara and Katrina have been given the pretext of taking off their clothes, while the men are apparently looking bronzed and fit. If the movie has a half-decent story, it should fly.
Film: De Dhana Dhan
Genre: Comedy
Akshay's character: ?
Release: Second half
X-Factor: Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty and Akshay team up again after Hera Pheri 1 and 2
The last time Akshay worked with director Priyadarshan, they delivered Bhool Bhulaiyya. Before that, Hera Pheri and Garam Masala. This time they're making a comedy that sees another reunion: Akshay with Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, who also starred in Hera Pheri.
While the movie does not have the makings of a top rate blockbuster, given its comic tilt, its success will keep Akshay in that zone where people will assume that just the star and a decent script are needed for a film to rock.
Genre: Comedy
Akshay's character: ?
Release: Second half
X-Factor: Paresh Rawal, Suniel Shetty and Akshay team up again after Hera Pheri 1 and 2
The last time Akshay worked with director Priyadarshan, they delivered Bhool Bhulaiyya. Before that, Hera Pheri and Garam Masala. This time they're making a comedy that sees another reunion: Akshay with Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal, who also starred in Hera Pheri.
While the movie does not have the makings of a top rate blockbuster, given its comic tilt, its success will keep Akshay in that zone where people will assume that just the star and a decent script are needed for a film to rock.
Film: Eight By Ten
Genre: Sci-Fi
Akshay's character: Fortune Teller
Release: April
X-Factor: Arty film
This is Akshay's riskiest movie this year, and is being directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. Risky on three counts. First: Nagesh's last film, Aashayein starring John Abraham, is yet to release because apparently its producers find it too arty. Second: Nagesh has never worked with an A-star before and might not know how to handle one, given that his films are plot-focussed. Third: Fantasy and Sci-Fi have never worked in India with a couple of exceptions (think of the disaster of Love Story 2050). Akshay has Ayesha Takia for company and her role in Dor for Nagesh, while it was splendid, was not heroine material for Bollywood.
While the movie has a small budget (apparently Akshay also isn't charging as much as normal), if it releases early in the year it might cause more mouths to chatter and speculate if Akki really deserves to be in the top bracket after all.
Genre: Sci-Fi
Akshay's character: Fortune Teller
Release: April
X-Factor: Arty film
This is Akshay's riskiest movie this year, and is being directed by Nagesh Kukunoor. Risky on three counts. First: Nagesh's last film, Aashayein starring John Abraham, is yet to release because apparently its producers find it too arty. Second: Nagesh has never worked with an A-star before and might not know how to handle one, given that his films are plot-focussed. Third: Fantasy and Sci-Fi have never worked in India with a couple of exceptions (think of the disaster of Love Story 2050). Akshay has Ayesha Takia for company and her role in Dor for Nagesh, while it was splendid, was not heroine material for Bollywood.
While the movie has a small budget (apparently Akshay also isn't charging as much as normal), if it releases early in the year it might cause more mouths to chatter and speculate if Akki really deserves to be in the top bracket after all.
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