3 Idiots
Director: Rajkumar Hirani
Cast: Aamir Khan, Sharman Joshi, R Madhavan, Kareena Kapoor
Chetan Bhagat's first novel Five Point Someone based on student life at IIT was a big hit when published some years back. Rajkumar Hirani takes a break from the Munnabhai series to adapt this literary work into cinema. Aamir Khan will once again play a college student post Dil Chahta Hai . With Hirani's expertise this one shouldn't turn out into some Hello , a tacky adaptation of Bhagat's second novel which was way too filmi and formulaic as compared to his much interesting first. And anything with Aamir is usually a safe bet (if you discount the B-Grade Ghajini)
What's Your Rashee?
Director: Ashutosh Gowariker
Cast: Harman Baweja, Priyanka Chopra
More than Harman Baweja, we have faith in Ashutosh Gowariker who has a grand cinematic vision. Just like he directed a simple and small-scaled Swades post Lagaan , he is directing a comparatively undemanding film What's Your Rashee post the exasperating magnum opus Jodhaa Akbar . The film is based on an Indian novel and it will be interesting to see Gowariker recreate the Harman-Priyanka chemistry (if any).
My Name is Khan
Director: Karan Johar
Cast: Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol
Karan Johar takes a U-turn from his candyfloss filmmaking and tackles a more serious issue with My Name is Khan where Shah Rukh Khan plays a Muslim named Rizwan Khan and is detained in LA as a suspected terrorist. Add to it his character also suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, a milder form of autism and his impairment makes his behaviour more suspicious. Shah Rukh has gained weight and will be sporting a new trimmed hairdo for the film. While Karan maintains that the film is a true story based on a couple's life in LA, some say it is inspired from the Oscar nominated Dustin Hoffman - Tom Cruise starrer Rain Man . Incidentally the film is already in news for its alleged similar storyline with Yash Raj Films' New York starring John Abraham, Neil Mukesh and Katrina Kaif. But to us the plot sounds more similar to Naseeruddin Shah's Shoot on Sight . Then again SRK & Kajol is enough to work for me
Kambhakkt Ishq
Director: Sabir Khan
Cast: Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor, Sylvester Stallone, Denise Richards
Expect Sajid Nadiadwala to make his project as grand as possible. His favourite and the current superstar (but after CC2C its a little shaky title) Akshay Kumar plays the lead role with Kareena for company. But the film is making news for its international star cast and this time there are no itsy-bitsy names but established stars like Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards who have cameos in the film.
London Dreams
Director: Vipul Shah
Cast: Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan, Asin
The film was originally launched in 2006 with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan and was being directed by Rajkumar Santoshi then. Some scenes were even canned with Salman Khan in Amritsar's Golden Temple. But then like most Santoshi films, this one too got shelved. In 2008 the film was revived with the same cast but Vipul Shah at the director's seat. London Dreams is seemingly about rock musicians played by Salman and Ajay Devgan and rumoured to be inspired by the Oscar winner Amadeus . It would be interesting to see the Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam duo of Salman and Ajay together after a decade. Another attraction is Asin who is already making her presence felt in Bollywood after Ghajini.
Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani
Director: Rajkumar Santoshi
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Upen Patel
Main Aur Mrs Khanna
Director: Prem Soni
Cast: Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sohail Khan, Govinda
Kareena Kapoor confessed that she was nervous working with Salman Khan in this film despite having shared screen space with him in Kyon Ki . Salman and Kareena play a happily married couple until Kareena falls for a club worker played by Sohail Khan. Govinda plays a marriage counselor who attempts to patch up their strained relationship. Does that sound like Biwi No. 1 with gender-reversal of sorts? Allegedly Main Aur Mrs Khanna is the same film that was responsible for the Shah Rukh - Salman spat on Katrina's birthday party as, reportedly, Salman wanted SRK to play a cameo in the film which he refused.
Raavan 
Director: Mani Ratnam
Cast: Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai, Vikram, Ravi Kishan
After years of speculation on a cinematic version of Indian epics like Mahabharat and Ramayan, finally one director has set to do the honours. This Mani Ratnam project is being directed amidst complete secrecy in the forests of Kerela. All that is conjured about the film is that while Aishwarya Rai is obviously playing Sita, its not husband Abhishek Bachchan but south actor Vikram playing Ram. Rather Ratnam has turned tables with casting Abhishek Bachchan as the Raavan. Let's see what difference Mani Ratnam imparts to the epic, which is known to almost every citizen of the country. And quite frankly even the worst Ratnam film is better than most.
Rajniti
Director: Prakash Jha
Cast: Nana Patekar, Ajay Devgan, Manoj Bajpai, Ranbir Kapoor, Katrina Kaif
Prakash Jha delves into his favourite territory again and as the title clearly suggests Rajniti is a film on present-day politics merged with chapters of Mahabharat. Ajay Devgan will symbolize the character of Karn, Nana Patekar of Krishna, Ranbir Kapoor of Arjun and Katrina Kaif of Draupadi. Also Vivek Oberoi was offered a role in the film but he opted out due to date problems. Katrina's look seems strangely familiar to a certain Mrs Gandhi.
Kaminay 
Director: Vishal Bhardwaj
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra
Kaminay is an action-comedy and, as the title suggests, is about cunning people. Shahid Kapoor has lost weight for this role and his look in this film is being kept as a close-guarded secret. So much so that Shahid has stopped making public appearances until the promos of the film are out. Insiders reveal that Shahid sports a tanned look in the film with beard and different haircuts. Priyanka Chopra, on her part, is learning Marathi for her character in the film. There's also buzz of a passionate lip-lock between the two in the film. This is also Vishal's first film after the critically acclaimed Omkara and who can resist telling your friends
"Let's Go See Kaminey"
Renzil D'Silva - Karan Johar Project 
Director: Renzil D'Silva
Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Tara Sharma
Not much is known about this untitled project other than the fact that it's a political thriller and the first film to have Saif Ali Khan opposite Kareena Kapoor post their couple status (if you could overlook their vocal chemistry in Roadside Romeo ). Tara Sharma (remember the girl from Khosla ka Ghosla) is cast opposite Vivek Oberoi in the film. Plus its directed by the guy who wrote Rang De Basanti. The latest is that both Saif & Kareena are playing terrorists in the film.
Kites 
Director: Anurag Basu
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Barbara Mori, Kangana Ranaut
Wake Up Sid
Director: Ayaan Mukherjee.
Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Konkana Sen Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah
Director: Imtiaz Ali Cast: Saif Ali Khan, Deepika Padukone
Its a good list of films that are in the public domain. Reality these days though is that most unheard films make it to the top of the list- sample this from last year- Aamir, Wednesday, Mumbai Meri Jaan....who knows- maybe there is a dark horse somewhere that will come and take us all by surprise in 09- I hope that is how 2009 turns out. I am personally looking forward to Gulaal, Paanch, Fakir, Kaminay. I am unsure about Raj Santoshi trying his hand at romance, anything to do with Salman and Sohail Khan and Vipul Shah's fake attempts at being artistic a.k.a. London Dreams....I also have a feeling UTV will deliver some sleeper hits which we have not heard of in the press until now....
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