New Hindi films due to release in 1998



DIL SE

Mani Ratnam's first honest-to-goodness Hindi film toplines Shah Rukh Khan with the Bombay heroine, Manisha Koirala. The details of the story are under wraps. But from what we hear it's a sweet love story with a twist. AR Rahman scores the music to Gulzar's lyrics. The shoot, which was stymied a bit because of the Madras film strike, is on in right earnest. Can't wait to see the final product.

KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI

Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol team up again after Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge in this young, cool, romance, with the third end of the triangle being played by Rani Mukherjee. SRK plays a daddy-o for the first time and Kads is presented in a brand-new light. All eyes are on this feel-good flick, marking the debut of Karan Johar, who assisted Aditya on DDLJ.

MELA

The Raja Hindustani director, Dharmesh Darshan's makes yet another labour of love, showcasing Aamir Khan, Twinkle Khanna and Aamir's younger brother, Faisal. Painstaking attention is being paid to every little detail. The subject isn't being disclosed, but it can be guessed that premium is being placed on sensible entertainment.

GHULAM

Vikram Bhatt directs Aamir Khan and Rani Mukherjee in this movie that was originally to be helmed by Mahesh Bhatt. The Khan boy plays a have-not who inevitably becomes a have-some.
Khan fans are holding their breath for the actor's next release... '98 will also, hopefully, see the completion and release of Aamir's other film, Sarfarosh, being directed by adman John Matthew.

LOVE YOU HAMESHA

Ad guy Kailash Surendranath swings into the feature film terrain with this no-holds-barred entertainer that its hero, Akshaye Khanna, has been raving about. Why shouldn't he? The rushes have been exciting... besides Akshoo gets to do his thing-thang with Riya Sen and Sonali Bendre, not necessarily in that order.

JADH

Techno-savvy and determined to make a walloping impact, ad whiz Shantanu Sheorey aims to assert his credentials in this dramatic conflict of values. Jackie Shroff is an autocratic jailor and fresher Arjun Rampal is his prey, a prisoner with a conscience. Inspired by the celebrated Marathi play, Thank You Mr Glaad, the subject has attracted film-makers (including Hrishikesh Mukherjee) for years. Sheorey has gone ahead and done it. Co-starring Sonali Bendre and Smriti Mishra. Leslie Lewis belts out the music.

LAAWARIS

Shrikant Sharma (okay, okay, you'll be hearing about him more often in the years to come) directs a tale of a conflict between the privileged and the under-privileged. Plenty of shooting was completed on a realistic bustee set constructed at Versova. Jackie Shroff-Dimple Kapadia and Akshaye Khanna-Manisha Koirala make for an appealing foursome.

AA AB LAUT CHALEN

News, news, news was made when Rishi Kapoor announced his decision to turn director. A love story with a difference, set in New York, it has the RK flavour completely. Akshaye Khanna and Aishwarya Rai are supported by Suman Ranganathan, Rajesh Khanna and a cast of hundreds. The RK banner's OK... should be interesting to monitor Chintu's transition from romantic hero to romantic story-spinner.

SILSILA HAI PYAR KA

Karisma Kapoor (wow)and Chandrachur (wow) Singh get together in this romance in which she plays an introvert (surprise surprise) and he an extrovert (ditto ditto). Shrabani Deodhar directs for producer Pravesh Sippy.By the way, all Lolo fans will be pleased to know that she will also be seen in N.Chandra's Shikari, Kundan Shah's Loveria and of course, Dave Dhawan's Biwi No. 1.

SATYA

Ramgopal Varma swears this is the best film that he has ever made. He has gone by his heart while narrating a story set against the backdrop of the Bombay gangland. Action, yes. Hard truths, yes. Reality, yes. Urmila Matondkar, yes again, featured with Telugu cinema's Chakravarthy aka Chakri. If you're expecting another Shiva from Ramgopal, don't. He's absolutely sure that this one's more hard-hitting.

KHUBSOORAT

Urms as we like her. Playing the title role, opposite Sanjay Dutt, she's innocence personified. The plum parts for Urmila and Sanju have been written by Sanjay Chhel, who also makes his bow as director. Yea! Urmila will also jazz up the screen in David Dhawan's Kunwara, Tips' Janam Samjha Karo directed by debutant Andaleep Sultanpuri, and Raj Sippy's Kudrat.

PUKAAR

Espionage is on. A spy thriller (wethinks) by Rajkumar Santoshi for producer Boney Kapoor. Those who've sneak-previewed rushes gush that hero Anil Kapoor is mind-blowing and Madhuri Dixit is caught in a decidedly different mode. For that extra tang, there's Namrata Shirodkar. Will it be AK's virasat next year?

BADE MIYAN CHHOTE MIYAN

Inspired by Hollywood's Bad Boys, AB and Govinda whoop it up in this action-comedy handled by David Dhawan. Raveena Tandon and Ramya are the heroines. Being shot at breakneck speed. So will it be BMCM or the Lal fella who'll make it first to the marquee? Chi Chi and Bachchan, incidentally, reunite after Hum.

KARTOOS

Mahesh Bhatt takes on the director's mantle for producer Firoz Nadiadawalla in this story about rebellion, pyaar, nafrat, the works. Sanjay Dutt and Manisha Koirala have been shooting for the film...most recently in South Africa. The made-for-each-other pair also team up in Sanjay Gupta's thriller, Khauff. Sanju's other releases will include Safari and Dus.

LAL BADSHAH

Forget Mrityudaata. Just hope that Amitabh Bachchan gets a movie to return to form. After Aaj Ka Arjun, AB teams up with director KC Bokadia again, ostensibly to catch the pulse of the masses. Manisha Koirala and Shilpa Shetty are the female interests in this product packed with all the box office ingredients.

KOI SHAQUE NAHIN

,this Vinashak will be stunts se bharpur, since action master, Ravi Dewan, helms the project. Sunil Shetty is at the forefront with Raveena Tandon for back-up support. Viju Shah's funky music score are being heard non-stop on the TV channels. Maar maar dekho, aur gaana suno, huh?

HU TU TU

Gulzar is more than likely to complete and release his next film, after Maachis, in '98. Looking at the ways of politics, which can be like a game of kabaddi, the story is set against the backdrop of today's Maharashtra. Tabu returns to Gulzar country again, with Sunil Shetty. Music by Vishal. The heart waits for a rekindling of the Aandhi memories, in which the writer-director also delved into the nexus between politics and human relationships.

ZOR

That's Sunny Deol for you. He even takes off to snow-capped mountains to assert his muscleforce. With Sushmita Sen, this is just one of the Deol's eagerly awaited ventures of '98. This one's directed by Sangeet Sivan. Other Sunny movies that will get to the cinema halls next year are Salaakhen, maybe London, Indian and yes, a film being made by Polygram with Mahima Chaudhary.

DUPLICATE

One's goody-goody and the other baddy-baddy. Shah Rukh Khan essays a double role with one of his favourite heroines, Juhi Chawla, flanked by Sonali Bendre. Directed by Mahesh Bhatt, as the credits tell you, the caper intends to grab your attention with action, laughs and acting pyrotechnics a la SRK.

PYAR KIYA TO DARNA KYA

A fun-filled caper being directed by Sohail Khan (hey guys, forgive him Auzaar), it stars bhais Salman and Arbaaz with Kajol. Dharmendra leads the star list. A camera was damaged in the midst of a shooting spell...it fell into a lake or something like that. But this hasn't dampened the spirits of the Khan boys. Among Salman's other forthcoming releases, count Bandhan, Dus, Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai and, who knows, even Raju Raja Ram.

PYAR TO HOUNA HI THA

Ajay Devgan is at the top of things in this romantic sortie co-starring Kajol. Yeah, you've heard that it's been adapted from French Kiss. But when did such things come in the way of having masti-mazaa at the movies? Anees Bazmee directs.

KAREEB

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's 1998: A Love Story with Bobby Deol and newcomer Shabana. Can't say too much about the rest of the film, because the press was strictly not allowed on the sets.

MAJOR SAAB

Ajay does it again, this time matching swords, words and stares with Amitabh Bachchan. Tinnu Anand directs this film, set against an army backdrop, with Nafisa Ali, Sonali Bendre and plenty of panache (we hope). By the way if you're an Ajay fan, like some of us are, he will be seen in his home production, Hindustan Ki Kasam, being directed by dad Veeru, Kache Dhaage and maybe Chhalia, which Abbas-Mustaan swear they'll complete soon.

SAAT RANG KE SAPNE

Priyadarshan, hot in Mumbai circles today (he's taking over the reins of Dus, we're told) will have two releases next year--the delayed Kabhi Na Kabhi and this dreamy love story, a remake of his Malayalam hit Thenmavin Kombathu featuring Arvind Swamy with Juhi Chawla.

CHAKRA

Sushmita Sen and Sanjay Dutt--a combustible team. Produced by Dutt Jr's buddy and brother-in-law, Kumar Gaurav, the project is being directed by Dilip Shukla. Can't tell you more because the plot's being kept closely guarded.

WAJOOD

N.Chandra is back with Nana Patekar in this violent love story with Nana Patekar, Madhuri Dixit and Ramya leading the cast. Yes, yes, Anil Kapoor isn't in the cast anymore. Nearing completion, the film presents La Dix as a journalist (this we have to see) and Nana as an obsessed lover. Ek do teen...the countdown for the film's release has begun.

PREM AGGAN

Feroz Khan is back in action with a launch-pad for his good-looking son Fardeen, who teams up with debutante Meghna. Fardeen is already being tipped as a welcome addition to the gallery of star sons. The outcome will be a love story (natch) with the expected sheen and slickness associated with Feroz Khan, who's evidently determined to make waves after the fizzed-out Yalgaar.

DUSHMAN

Kajol in a double role being directed by Tanuja Chandra and produced by Pooja Bhatt.

ARZOO

Produced by Vikas Mohan, directed by Lawrence D'Souza, this romantic bagatelle toplines Madhuri Dixit, Akshay Kumar and Saif Ali Khan teaming up for the first time. Good.

BAROOD

Explosive stuff? Maybe maybe. Veteran Pramod Chakravarthy directs this entertainer with romance, action, tears, laughter, the works. What more could you ask for? Or is that a silly question?

PARDESI BABU

Producer Kulbhushan Gupta, besides releasing the Akshay Kumar-Raveena movie, Vidroh, also intends to get Pardesi Babu to the movie halls next year. Directed by Manoj Aggarwal, whom Chi Chi has been praising fulsomely, this action laugh-raiser features Raveena Tandon (hey she's busy, isn't she?) and Shilpa Shetty.

HUM PANCHHI EK DAAL KE

Should be unusual chemistry up there on the screen, with he-man Sunil Shetty romancing the beauteous Aishwarya Rai for this lighthearted entertainer (complete with a schoolful of children) helmed by Shashilal Nair.

CHINA GATE

Rajkumar Santoshi's tribute (?) to Akira Kurosawa. Adapted from the Japanese master's Seven Samurai, this horseback, fist-'em-hard adventure depends considerably on action, thrills and dialogue baazi. Extensively shot in Hampi, there may not be glamorous star value. But there are actors of the calibre of Naseeruddin Shah and Amrish Puri to name just two. Mamta Kulkarni's around, too.

JOSH

Believed to be inspired by the ageless Hollywood musical, West Side Story, this film by Mansoor Khan features Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Chandrachur Singh. SRK and Ash wear the same kind of coloured lenses since they're playing brother-and-sister. Gang rivalry and love in the time of stress are the pitch. Woooooh, sounds as if Mansoor is more than likely to assert that he's a director of substance and style.

DHADKAN

Do it again, Dharmesh Darshan. If the stars are right and fortune smiles, the director may notch up a second release in '98....with Akshay Kumar, Shilpa Shetty and Sunil Shetty. Action, romance and music are the chief attractions of this much-discussed product from the house of the Venus Jains.

BADSHAH

Abbas-Mustaan go for it with their favourite hero, Shah Rukh Khan. Twinkle Khanna is the leading lady. Will we be privy to the Baazigar ballast once more? Hope so, hope so.

YUGPURUSH

The Agnisakshi team, Nana Patekar-Manisha Koirala-Jackie Shroff come together under the direction of Parto Ghosh again. Manisha's role of a woman compelled to become a prostitute should have us applauding. The music by Rajesh Roshan's just been released...and at least one song sounds as if it'll have us humming along.

GRAHAN

Manisha, Jackie and newcomer Anupama Varma are directed by Shashilal Nair in the first release of Shroff's corporation. Indications are that the story's the thing...and of course, the performances.

JHOOTH BOLE KAUVA KAATE

Barah saal baad, Hrishikesh Mukherjee tells the story of a nice guy, a nice gal and their opposing parents...whom they must placate before they marry. Anil Kapoor and Juhi are the couple who believe in elders first, marriage later. We told you they were nice, didn't we?

QILLA

Dilip Kumar, Dilip Kumar, Dilip Kumar... Rekha... Umesh Mehra. Samajh gaye na?


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