With a new year on the calendar, it’s time to go trendspotting. Here’s a quick look at all that should grab the eyeballs from the world of entertainment in 2020.
Ayushmann Khurrana: Having scored clear box-office winners that have also impressed critics over seven consecutive films now, any film starring Ayushmann automatically becomes a newsmaker. In 2020, he will play a gay character in Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan and also team up with Amitabh Bachchan in Shoojit Sircar’s Gulabo Sitabo. Looks like a surefire strategy to extend his strike rate to nine consecutive winners!
Social media superstars: These days, you don’t necessarily need a film release to be popular. Ask Priyanka and Nick, Deepika and Ranveer, or Alia and Ranbir. In a nation obsessed with filmstars, the simple act of posting a picture on Instagram can guarantee much more mileage than the months of labour that shooting for a film entails. Sunny Leone, Shraddha Kapoor, and Sonam Kapoor continue to be darlings of the nation simply by intelligent utilisation of the power of social media, as do Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar.
The heroine-oriented flick: Deepika Padukone in Chhapak, Alia Bhatt in Gangubai Kathiawadi, Kangana Ranaut in Panga and Thalaivi, Kriti Sanon in Mimi and Kiara Advani in Indoo Ki Jawaani are but only a few heroine-centric films that will continue the wave of projects that present strong and authentic women to actresses and also celebrate the spirit of womanhood.
Bhatts’ union: Mahesh Bhatt will direct both daughters, Alia and Pooja, together in Sadak 2 his return to direction for the first time two decades, since Zakhm in 1999. Sadak 2 opens in July, 2020.
Comeback of Irrfan Khan: After fighting neuroendocrine tumour, Irrfan Khan is back in action. He will be on the big screen after almost three years in Angrezi Medium, which is scheduled to release in March. Directed by Homi Adajania and co-starring Kareena Kapoor, the movie is a sequel to the multiplex hit, Hindi Medium.
Small films: Although most of Bollywood’s biggest grossers at the box-office are still out-and-out commercial biggies (think War, Dabangg 3 or Kabir Singh), the volume of the small, content-driven film has increased gradually over the years. In a multiplex-centric market, content is king, and modestly-mounted films such as Article 15, Bala and Uri prove that fact. Small, content-driven fare will continue to dominate most Fridays in 2020, too.
Newcomers: Ex-Miss World Manushi Chillar makes her debut opposite Akshay Kumar in the mega-budget period drama Prithviraj, while Shalini Pandey is Ranveer Singh’s heroine in Jayeshbhai Jordaar. National Award-winner Keerthi Suresh will be seen opposite Ajay Devgn in the sports drama Maidaan. Krystle D’souza, who has made her mark on TV, makes her debut in the Amitabh Bachchan-Emraan Hashmi-starrer Chehre. There are Bollywood’s industry kids, too, lined up for debut. Sunil Shetty’s son Ahan Shetty (Tadap), Chunky Pandey’ son Ahan Pandey (project yet to be declared), Pooja Bedi’s daughter Alaia F. (Jawaani Jaaneman), and Katrina Kaif’s sister Isabelle Kaif (Kwatha) will be seen on the Hindi screen for the first time this year.
Remixes and recreations: Sadly, these will dominate the music scene, no matter what. We all know how obsessed Bollywood is now with remixes these days. The year of 2020 also seems to give the audience the same dose of recreations. Actor Saif Ali Khan is all set to give his fans some ’90s nostalgia as he will be recreating his hit song Ole ole from movie Yeh Dillagi. The revamped version will feature in Saif and Tabu-starrer upcoming film Jawaani Jaaneman. (IANS)
