Return of the Bollywood khakee

Trade analysts inform that Bollywood always had a fair share of cop films to boast of, but they do agree that this year will see a bumper season of cops! "Everyone seems to have caught the cop bug in Bollywood," they share.

"Every star in Bollywood has played a cop on screen at some point in their lives. Besides, the audiences love to see their heroes in a position of power and as protectors of good. As men in uniform they fit the profile perfectly. Besides, women arealsoknown to have a soft spot for men in uniform, so they win brownie points there too," explains trade pundit Amod Mehra.

For Shahid, getting into the uniform as an Air Force pilot was a dream come true. "The uniform instantly adds a lot of respect and pride to the character. You personally feel so proud that the confidence also reflects in the way you carry yourself. It catapults you into feeling like a hero already!" says Shahid.

Playing a cop legitimises the actor's action of punishing the bad guys, feels Abhishek. "Every man wants to believe in a hero. In real life it would usually mean these men in uniform, who are seen as the protectors. So, playing the upholders of law brings in a lot of authority and depth to their characters naturally," explains the actor, adding that Pa Amitabh Bachchan's Zanjeer is the best cop-act ever on screen.

For actor Ajay Devgn, the attraction of playing a cop lies in the fact that the uniform has an image of its own. "The uniform does half the work of an actor. The audiences feel for the uniform before they fall for the character," he says.