Welcome 2018: Bollywood watch list for the New Year

We take movies seriously, given the fact that 2017 has given us only handful of films that really clicked, SHUBARNA MUKERJI SHU is looking anxiously at the coming year and what it has in store for us

Movies is our business and business hasn’t been particularly happening this last year (We are of course waiting to see how much does the sleeping Tiger rake in, but the numbers are yet to come in) with the most awaited films from the Khans like ‘Raees’, ‘Tubelight’ and its ilk failing to make wonders for us at the box office, the distributors and audience are both waiting to see what the coming year brings. Of course, the year will start with the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Padmavati’, but enough has been said and done about this Deepika Padukone film. Moving on we will have…

Also Read: PadMan to Super 30: These 10 Bollywood biopics will release in 2018

Aiyaary

The ultimate trickery starring Manoj Bajpai and Sidharth Malhotra gets a mention amongst the best simply because it is directed by Neeraj Pandey. Over the years, Sid has tried his best to push the envelope and try new tricks, however success has been deluding him. Perhaps, all that will change with Aiyaary. Simply because it has the ingredients that always touch the hearts of the audience, mind-games and the army! Pandey has also squeezed in a tiny love story for Sid – we see a winner all through.

2.0

If you thought it doesn’t get bigger than ‘Baahubali’, you don’t know the power of Thalaiva aka Rajinikanth, and this time he is pitted against the Lord of the box office – Akshay Kumar. This S Shankar science fiction is the first in India to be shot in 3D. With a budget of 450 Cr, this gargantuan venture is greatly anticipated by the audience as well as the distributors.

Pari

Anushka Sharma’s first release post her grand Italian wedding fit this chart for many reasons. The fact that the actress has come up with a thriller, edging towards horror, is enough for us to applaud her attempt. The film stars Parambrata Chatterjee (of Kahani fame) and is directed by Prosit Roy who worked on Sharma’s Phillauri too.

The Sanjay Dutt Biopic

From the moment Rajkumar Hirani declared his intentions of giving his ‘Munnabhai’, Sanjay Dutt’s life an ode; he has etched it for posterity by recreating it on celluloid. The audience have all been waiting anxiously to know how Ranbir Kapoor under the skin of his role, as Dutt. The glimpses we have seen of Ranbir’s metamorphosis as the aging actor has been enough to know the filmmaker has yet another winner on his hands. Here’s hoping it is a winner like all other works by Hirani.

Sui Dhaga

Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma will be coming together for the first time with this film, directed by Maneesh Sharma and Sharat Katariya, who gave us Dum Laga Ke Haisha. If the lead pair are not enough to get you to the theatre, Varun Dhawan has been promising fireworks to everyone one. “I am proud to take the mantra – Made in India and endorse it through our film to millions of movie lovers. It is an entertaining and relevant film,” vouched Dhawan.

SRK’s untitled dwarf film
Anand L Rai hates it when you call his film with Shah Rukh Khan – the Dwarf Film, but that’s what happens when you refuse to give your film a title for so long. Anand L Rai and Shah Rukh Khan coming together in coming year, has been one of the most speculated films. The film stars the gorgeous Katrina Kaif and Anushka Sharma and it has only added to the drool quo, yet the filmmakers and actors have been absolutely tight-lipped about the project. Knowing the sensitivity with which Rai works, he will certainly make his dwarf tough the skies.

Gold

Akshay Kumar has been the force to reckon with, his film Padman has already had everyone waiting and watching to see what he will be about. But it is his film Gold, that might be the slow and steady winner in 2018. Directed by Reema Kagti, Gold is a biopic based on the life of hockey player Balbir Singh Sr. The film also stars Kunal Kapoor and Amit Sadh.

Gully Boy

Directed by Zoya Akhtar starring Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt, Gully Boy is yet another film that will have the audience sit up and take notice. To begin with the film is based on the lives of street rappers. We all know how much Ranveer likes to rap, it is a given that the actor will make this film a personal journey which will only add to the frenzy associated with this rather unique musical.

Dhadak

The only reason this film features in the list of the big guns is the curiosity that comes with the film. We have danced on jhingat and loved Sairaat – and every film lover has been curious about seeing Sridevi’s daughter – Jhanvi coming onscreen. Plus Ishaan Khattar (Shahid Kapoor’s brother) comes with his own fan following. Given its Dharma that’s giving them their big launch, this one will be huge.

Chanda Mama Door Ke

Bollywood’s first space fiction! Sanjay Puran Singh Chauhan’s film makes a default entry. This Sushant Singh Rajput starrer boasts of Nasa trips and some rather interesting chemistry between R. Madhavan and Rajput.

Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi

The canvas on which this epic biopic of Rani Lakshmibai is pegged is huge, the action sequences are already the talk of the town. Directed by Krish, this historical saga is set to recreate Bollywood history. And Kangana Ranaut is all set to put her controversial life of 2017 behind and look for a successful professional year.

Simba

The fact that this is a Rohit Shetty film is enough to know this will be one of the most awaited films of 2018, the film stars Ranveer Singh – which makes it gargantuan. The poster is at par with Singham, as this one too is a police story, something that Shetty seems to have really mastered.