Whom To Watch Out For In 2006

For lovers of Hindi cinema, there's much to look forward to over the next 12 months. New roles, of course, a lot of experimentation, big names that have a lot to prove. All in all, it should be a blast.

To kick things off, the first thing to look forward to is Aishwarya Rai in Umrao Jaan. In recreating an era and aura that Rekha already has, Aishwarya is taking a great risk. Comparisons, as they say, are inevitable. "But Ash's Umrao is diametrically different from Rekha's. Ash is doing it in her own way. And it's certainly unique and outstanding," says movie mogul J P Dutta, all set to prove himself a ladies' director.

Before Umrao, Ash bathed herself in glamorous glory, playing Paro in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas. In Umrao, the scent of this woman is amazing. All those who think she's had her best innings are going to sit up and watch. Says co-star Divya Dutta, "The minute Ash walks in, we are transported into another time zone." Ash laughs, "You know I've been told so many times that I belong to a different era. Maybe Umrao is my chance to really prove it."

Aamir Khan in Rang De Basanti

Aamir didn't exactly cover himself with glory in Mangal Pandey. He goes compulsively contemporary in Rakeysh Mehta's expertly crafted celebration of youthful aspiration, Rang De Basanti. Close watchers believe marriage will prove lucky for Aamir. Says his co-star Madhavan, "Aamir's acting is so effortless, it's a pleasure to share the screen with him. He was not just a co-star, he was also a colleague, comrade and buddy throughout the making of Rang De Basanti."

Wow, Aamir, the mellow do-gooder.

Saif Ali Khan in Vishal Bhardwaj's Omkara (Othello)

Vishal goes back to Shakespeare and turns the arch-villain in Othello into a lout from Uttar Pradesh for Saif who declined Ramu's Sholay to do this. It's a performance that will compete for all the best villain's awards next year.

"I've already started preparing my speech, body language and look," says Saif.

Sooraj Barjatya's Vivah

Vivah la difference! He has been down, but he's certainly not out. Sooraj Barjatya's under-production film, now being shot at Madh Island, carries excellent reports. Says leading man Shahid Kapoor, "Soorajji is so meticulous, he just makes the whole process of performing so easy. Amrita (Rao) and I are learning so much on the job."

Adds Anupam Kher, "With Sooraj, I don't even question the role or price. I've been part of his Hum Aapke Hain Koun...! I hope he makes history again."

Aparna Sen in 15 Park Avenue

The film is being talked about as the most heart-wrenching since Black. The story of two half-sisters features Konkona as the girl lapsing into insanity as Didi Shabana Azmi tries to cope with the crisis.

"It's the kind of film that offers its actors a chance to get seriously involved. And Aparna is in splendid shape," says Rahul Bose, who plays Konkona's guy. The gifted director also goes into her first Hindi film with Govinda, Sharmila, Soha and Konkona (but naturally) later this year.

Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan

Together and apart, the father and son represent a formidable force. After the success of Bunty Aur Babli and Sarkar, they prepare to pair again in Apoorva Lakhia's Just Punjabi. Individually, the senior AB has a walloping year, beginning with Raj Kumar Santoshi's Family and ending with Karan Johar's Kabhi Alvidaa Na Kehna. Says AB, "Yes, it's a good assortment of roles in 2006. I play a very unusual character in Karan's film and in Balkrishnan's Cheeni Kam, where I'm paired with Tabu." As for Abhishek, watch him give contrasting performances in Sanjay Gadhvi's Dhoom 2 and J P Dutta's Umrao Jaan. Yup, it's quite a spectrum.

Ram Gopal Varma, Farhan Akhtar and David Dhawan

They are all set to re-make three Bachchan classics. While Ramu has gone heavily into pre-production for his take on Sholay, Farhan goes on the floors with Don in January 2006. David Dhawan speaks for all of them when he says, "When I remake Amar, Akbar, Anthony with Salman, Arbaaz and Sohail, it will have to be very different from the way Manmohan Desai made it. But I can't lose the spirit of the original."

Seema Biswas in Water, and Shabana Azmi in Umrao Jaan

The senior bracket gets a huge boost. Seema has never had it so good since Bandit Queen and Khamoshi The Musical. Ever since Deepa Mehta's Water released in Toronto, it is Seema who has caught the attention of the international press. As for Shabana (who was supposed to play Seema's role in Water), her performance as Aishwarya's mother will be remembered for ages. "I'm playing the role my mother (Shaukat Kaifi) played in Muzzafar Ali's Umrao Jaan. It's a very emotional moment for me," Shabana says.

Hrithik Roshan in Krrish

Quietly he creeps back into the limelight. So what if Lakshya didn't do as well as expected? Hrithik grew his hair and toned up his muscles to do two sequels for Dhoom and Koi…Mil Gaya. Priyanka Chopra, who co-stars with him in Krrish, the Koi…Mil Gaya sequel, can't stop raving about him. "Every day I learnt something from him on the sets."

Hopefully, the lessons won't go to waste.

Akshaye Khanna as Harilal in Feroz Khan's Mahatma Versus Gandhi

Though the project is being kept completely under wraps by producer Anil Kapoor, the shy retiring Khanna is all set to emblazon the screen with the role of Mahatma Gandhi's neglected, persecuted, angry and frustrated son who sees his father neglect family for nation. It's a role that will finally take Akshaye to places he was meant to go before a sort of stagnancy set in. The fog clears. This year, Akshaye will emerge a clear winner. No one is allowed to talk about the film, but someone who has seen the rushes swears by Akshaye's performance. He is the dark horse of 2006.

Sammir Dattani in Maratthon and Mukhbir

This re-launch has to be seen to be believed. Debutante director Nisha Chainani can't stop raving about Sammir in Maratthon.

In Mani Shankar's Mukhbir, he plays an 18-year old government informer who must change his identity to infiltrate a terrorist outfit. Om Puri, who plays his mentor, is very impressed. "The boy is very disciplined, so unlike some tantrum-throwing newcomers I've worked with."