This is the reason why films like Dhoom 3 and Jai Ho hold much more importance than ever before. When there is so much hype associated with these films and such huge moolah expected to flow in, just in order to make a recovery, there is seemingly no point in talking about a 100-crore club anymore. 200-crore is the new benchmark in today's times and that is the bare minimum expectation that both films would be carrying.

Understandably so, since Hrithik and Papa Roshan are now already targeting 250-crore for Krrish 3, after surpassing the 225-crore target set by Chennai Express.

While Shah Rukh Khan knows that he has a job in hand to score much higher with his Diwali 2014 release Happy New Year, Aamir and Salman have much the target waiting for them much sooner.

Being the founder member of the 200-crore club with 3 Idiots, Aamir certainly knows that this is one position he can't afford to slip. When his Talaash didn't enter the 100-crore club, it was understandable since the film wasn't a true commercial entertainer. However Dhoom 3 is, and hence he has to go all out.

On the other hand, Salman is the big daddy of the 100-crore club, with five back to back centuries. Though he missed a double by just a crore for Ek Tha Tiger, he has to go much higher with Jai Ho.

The dice has been rolled and the play is set. It is now for Aamir and Salman, who started their Bollywood journey 25 years ago, to take on Hrithik and Ranbir, who entered much later, and set newer benchmarks for the other superstars to score.

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Arjun Kapoor: Trusts Salman and Adi


Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor (r) in "Gunday."

His last release, Aurangzeb, was around six months back while his next release Gunday is around 100 days away. However Arjun Kapoor, who shot to fame with Ishaqzaade, is happy that in a relatively quick time spent in the industry, he has managed to build good relationships. Two people whom he mentions prominently are Aditya Chopra and Salman Khan.

“Yes, Adi and Salman are two people in my life whom I trust and have tremendous respect for,” says Arjun, “They have been around for so many years and have seen it all. It makes you happy that they are backing you, no matter what. They are backing the kind of capability they see in you.”

While Salman Khan was one of the first people in the industry to inspire Arjun when it came to fitness and preparations as an actor, Aditya Chopra has taken him under his wings ever since the days of Ishaqzaade.

“More than humbling, it is a sense of happiness which comes in that your hard work is paying off. I was offered Aurangzeb after the rushes of Ishaqzaade were seen. Then soon, Gunday came in as well. Meanwhile Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala gave me 2 States. I am glad to be working with so many interesting and fascinating people,” says Arjun who is also expected to begin a film with dad Boney Kapoor soon.

He isn't signing films in a jiffy though and is happy to be enjoying a steady run.

“I am excited to present my work with people. Films are what excite me but currently I am only dealing with one film at a time,” adds Arjun.

From being an underdog in the industry who is now being taken seriously as one of the most promising younger actors around, one can well believe Arjun to be feeling great about his stint so far.

“I can't take my success so seriously though. Every Friday to Friday, the barometer of your success changes. You should not fly too high; this is something very true that both Adi and Salman have shared with me,” concludes Arjun.

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John Abraham: Eventful Year Ahead


John Abraham in "Shootout at Wadala."

Year 2013 has been kind to John Abraham. Notwithstanding the forgettable run of I, Me Aur Main, John started the year with a 100-crore hit Race 2, enjoyed his biggest solo hero film Shootout at Wadala and then gained some added reputation as well as earned moolah with his Madras Café. For someone who wasn't given much of a chance when he started a decade back with Jism, it has been quite a journey.

Your next production is unusually titled “Banana.” Guess you are looking at forming a niche for yourself?

The challenge is to take a step further ahead of Vicky Donor and Madras Café. It is a tough act to follow and there are only ways that I can take now. Either I could feel all excited and elated that I have arrived and rest on my laurels or I could put my head down and concentrate on what to make next. I am choosing the latter. There is no time for elation, no time to celebrate and that's the reason why I didn't shout from the rooftops after Madras Café did so much for me, and Hindi films in general. I am looking at my current phase as an opportunity to take the momentum to the next level.

You seem to be in control of your stint as an actor too, right?

I can't be picking and signing movies at random. I am enjoying shooting for Welcome Back. I would soon be beginning work with Nishikant Kamat as well. Meanwhile I am looking forward to working with Sanjay Gupta again. He presented me beautifully in Shootout at Wadala. He is someone who knows how to handle me. I am fortunate to be working with directors who are giving me a little bit more.

Well, better late than never …

(Smiles) Exactly. Since the last two years, people have started recognizing that John isn’t someone with just a body and a face. Yes, I am appreciative of these traits but then there is a third dimension added too, which is that of me being an actor-producer as well.

Are you happy to be finding yourself in the current state of affairs?

I like it when people tell me that even though you are so young, you are trying to bring in a change. People ask me how come I am so confident about roping in newcomers but then I feel that if I don't encourage newcomers then who will? Even I was a complete newcomer when I started and an outsider as well. People showed trust in me. Today if I can be a flag bearer of change then let me respect that tag. People know that I am institutionalizing alternate cinema and making it commercial. In fact someone even told me that “Now we have a new ‘John-re’ (genre) of films.” For me, that came as the biggest compliment.

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Bobby Turns Director with Ghayal Returns?


Bobby Deol

Sunny Deol may be busy with the promotion of Singh Saab The Great, but one film that his fans have been eagerly waiting for all these years is Ghayal Returns. Though over a couple of decades have gone by since the release of Ghayal, the film is still fresh in the minds of the audience. With number of directors being considered but nothing really leading to any concrete developments, a few well wishers have wondered if the solution could be in-house itself, with Bobby Deol stepping behind the camera and making his debut as a director.

A little background, the film was first announced with Ashwini Chaudhary as the director and there was even a teaser released back in 2011. It made a very good first impact but later Sunny and Ashwini parted ways amicably owing to creative differences. Then there was Rahul Rawail considered for the film as well and while there was progress being made on the script, the developments soon went on hold even though Sunny promised that the film hadn't been shelved.

Last heard, Rajkumar Santoshi was the man considered for the job, and that seemed apt, considering he was the architect of Ghayal.

However, with none of these options working out, there isn't much spoken about the film.

When quizzed on whether he would be the right guy to take over the job for the sequel to such an iconic film, Bobby just laughed it away. “If there is any director in the family, it is my brother. I can’t even think of wearing a director's hat,” he said.

However, considering that he is soon going to look after the production aspects of films coming from his family banner, won’t it be just the right kind of move that would keep all the Deols together?

“Yes, production is certainly on but then it is too much to handle the responsibilities of being a producer, actor as well as a director,” he says in a characteristic soft tone, “See, we Deols are not businessmen. We don't look at films that way.”

Guess that’s one family decision for now but then as the saying goes, “never say never.”

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Ranveer Singh: Taking the Masala Route


Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone in "Ram Leela."

If one thinks that in Kishore Lulla's Ram Leela, Ranveer Singh was playing the most masala character, then hold your thoughts, there is more. If those attached to Gunday are to be believed, this Sanjay Leela Bhansali film is just the tip of the iceberg. For his next film Gunday, Ranveer has taken a full on masala route, something that will show him in a different light altogether.

Naturally, no one is talking about it yet since Ram Leela is in focus and Gunday is still a while away from it's Valentine's Day release. However if his “Tattad Tattad” act in Ram Leela has managed to fetch attention then in Gunday, he has taken many steps ahead.

Agrees Ranveer, “Gunday is an even more masala and mainstream than what I have done so far.”

Director Ali Abbas Zafar, who had taken a classy route in his debut flick Mere Brother Ki Dulhan, has apparently taken a complete 180 degrees shift in Gunday. Though Ranveer is currently tight lipped about his part in the film, he does acknowledge that Gunday would be a worthy follow up to Ram Leela. “It is quite amazing to see the way Ali directs. He knows the movie that he is making,” he says.

While the film is set in Bengal, Ranveer Singh won’t be shown in a quintessential Bengali milieu, as was the case in his last release Lootera. Instead, the film would have a massy flavor to it with Ranveer Singh and Arjun Kapoor pairing up for an action drama affair.

“I am enjoying all the songs, dialogbaazi and action in there,” smiles Ranveer who is currently busy fetching all the accolades coming his way for Ram Leela.

Meanwhile when it comes to Gunday, Yash Raj Films is said to have pushed the envelope as far as commercial Hindi films are concerned and their blue-eyed boy Ranveer hasn’t disappointed them. Reports are in that yet again, he is playing to the gallery and is unapologetic in his act.

Ranveer refuses to share further details. Politely declining to reveal anything more about the film, his look and the plot, Ranveer smiles, “Let the first look come and we would have a lot more to talk. Till then, it is Ram Leela.

With the theatrical promo of Gunday expected to be unveiled with Dhoom 3, it is indeed going to be one masaledaar (spicy) outing for Ranveer.

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