Despite dud, Akshay has four-midable 2009

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Sexy Lara

Being fit is the new mantra in Bollywood and everyone is hitting the gyms with a vengeance. The new entrant into the fit celebrity pack is our sexy Lara Dutta, whose new look is the talk of the town.

Lara states, "I am healthier than ever before because of all the working-out I have been doing and feel that I am in my best form ever. I have never wanted to be waif-thin, but to have a fit and lean figure, which I have achieved all thanks to the strenuous training that I have been going through preparing for the movie BLUE."

We wish more good health to this lustrous actress.

Katrina to do an dance number in Blue

The good times continue for Katrina Kaif. The actress who had the unique distinction of delivering 4 hits last year (Namstey London, Apne, Partner and Welcome) has been signing some really big and lucrative deals. However this one probably beats them all.

Katrina has been offered a whopping Rs 1.5 crore for doing a dance number and a few more scenes in Shree Ashtavinayak's Blue, which stars Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, and Lara Dutta in lead roles. The hot-n-happening actress didn't deny the amount and has apparently allotted around ten days for the film in the month of May.

Parag Desai, the media consultant of Shree Ashtavinayak confirmed having signed Katrina for Blue but didn't really confirm or deny the amount paid. In fact he even said that Katrina has a proper role in the film and not just an item number.

Looks like the sun is indeed shining bright for the Bollywood's current sunshine girl.

Bollywood Hungama

Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision's next 'Blue'

2008 should mark the revival of the action genre. Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Salman Khan will be performing daredevil and death-defying stunts in their forthcoming films. Shree Ashtavinayak Cinevision, makers of BHAGAM BHAG, MAINE PYAAR KYUN KIYA, GOLMAAL and JAB WE MET, are ready to make one of the most expensive films ever made in India. The genre is action.

Titled BLUE, the top production house has assembled an impressive line up of stars, which includes Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Lara Dutta and Zayed Khan. Tony, a new director, has been entrusted the directorial reins of this project.

“Major action portions of the film will be shot underwater in Bahamas. In fact, the cast will be undergoing extensive training in underwater stunts before we begin filming,” Suniel Shetty tells me. Reportedly, the film is budgeted at more than Rs. 100 crores.

Taran Adarsh, Bollywood Hungama