Ishqiya
Abhishek Chaubey’s Ishqiya is also produced by Vishal Bhardwaj (Chaubey assisted him) and stars Naseeruddin Shah, Arshad Warsi and Vidya Balan. The film, set in rural UP, requires the cast to speak in a dialect similar to the one in Omkara.

Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai
Writer Milap Zaveri turns director and Jacqueline Fernandes is again paired opposite Reteish Deshmukh after Aladdin. About an alien’s search for love on Earth, the romantic film set to release late this year is Indian cinema’s first tryst with aliens after Koi...Mil Gaya six years ago.

Kambakkht Ishq
Sajid Nadiadwala’s big-budget Kambakkht Ishq will see Hollywood celebrities making special appearances in the Akshay Kumar-Kareena Kapoor biggie. Sylvester Stallone, Brandon Routh, Carmen Electra and Denise Richards are all sharing screen space with the Indian actors with Kareena and Carmen Electra shaking a leg together to an Anu Malik track. Action hero Akshay Kumar is being trained by a Hollywood stuntman for some adrenaline-pumping action. This is also touted to be one of the most expensive films of the year.

Kaminay
Vishal Bhardwaj’s Kaminay releases in mid-year. The actioner stars Shahid Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra and reportedly Shahid Kapoor even went on a strict diet for the role and also sports a new hairstyle. After Vishal’s critically-acclaimed Omkara, expectations are running high from the filmmaker.

Kites
Anurag Basu’s ambitious project shot in New Mexico and Mumbai is set to be based on Woody Allen’s film on the lust quadrangle, Matchpoint. Hrithik Roshan, Kangana Ranaut and Mexican actress Barbara Mori are the main protagonists. The much-hyped film will see Hrithik Roshan play a dance instructor. But how will the best dancer of Bollywood better his fantastic moves from his previous films? Let’s wait and watch as Rakesh Roshan relinquishes the directorial helm of a film starring his superstar son for the first time to an outside director.

Lamhaa
Rahul Dholakia’s Lamhaa, produced by Bunty Walia, is a story set in the Kashmir valley and Bipasha Basu plays a Kashmiri in the film. Major portions of the film have been shot in the highly-sensitive area of Anantnag. The film also stars Sanjay Dutt. After the unit faced disturbances while shooting in Kashmir, a beautiful and expensive set of Kashmir has been erected at Film City in Mumbai. The film is a cricual test for the director after the acclaimed Parzania.

Little Zizou
Directed by Sooni Taraporevala, Little Zizou is about an eleven-year old soccer-mad Parsi boy whose fervent wish is that his idol, the world-famous French soccer player Zinedine Zidane visit Mumbai. The film deals with the journey of two battling Mumbai families coming together and settling their differences and also stars Boman Irani, Shernaz Patel and Jahan Battivala in the leads. John Abraham will also be making a special appearance in the film. Little Zizou has already bagged two major awards at a New York film festival for Best Director and Best Screenplay.

London Dreams
The Salman Khan-Ajay Devgan film London Dreams is being directed by Vipul Amrutlal Shah will see South sensation Asin play the lead opposite Salman Khan. Salman and Ajay Devgan play struggling musicians in the film who want to become rock stars. Apparently, Asin will also get to sing and play the guitar in the film. London Dreams is being currently shot in London and will release mid-2009.

Luck
Soham Shah’s Luck with Imran Khan and Kamal Haasan’s daughter Shruti Haasan in the lead roles is almost ready for release. Imran Khan sports a completely different look and Shruti and he will be performing plenty of action sequences. According to Shah, Shruti is to the camera born and is easily one of the year’s most promising newcomers. Pritam looks after the music.

Luck By Chance
This film marks the directorial debut of Zoya Akhtar, Farhan Akhtar’s sister. The film, set to release on 30 January, will see Farhan Akhtar and Konkona Sen Sharma playing the lead roles. Farhan plays the role of a struggling actor and Konkona will be seen portraying the role of a junior artiste. The film also has 30 cameo appearances by celebrities like Shabana Azmi, Kareena Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan. It will be interesting to see the talented Farhan Akhtar’s sister’s directorial skills with this Bollywood-based flick.

Main Aur Mrs Khanna
Directed by debutant Prem Soni, Main Aur Mrs Khanna stars Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor and Sohail Khan in pivotal roles. Initially titled Mr Aur Mrs Khanna, the film produced by Sohail Khan and Ronnie Screwvala revolves around the theme of extramarital affairs. A saucy “item” number is filmed on Preity Zinta. Salman and Kareena pair up again after a flop Kyon Ki?... and the aborted Bajirao Mastani. Will the jinx on their pairing end?

My Name Is Khan
Shah Rukh Khan will be seen with co-star Kajol after eight long years in Karan Johar’s new film - their third film together with him. Reportedly based on the story of a real-life Muslim couple in the US and shot in Los Angeles, it also has the backdrop of terrorism, Shah Rukh Khan essays an autistic. After Chak De! India, Om Shanti Om and Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, this could be Shah Rukh’s most challenging role till date.

New York
Director Kabir Khan is back after Kabul Express with yet another film set against the backdrop of terrorism. The film has Katrina Kaif, John Abraham and Neil Nitin Mukesh star in a contemporary story of friendship as three young friends whose carefree lives are turned upside down by a single incident. The film scheduled to release in March is in the post-production stages and will be Yash Raj’s first release in the New Year. The film promises to pack a rare punch as a different offering from a banner known for ‘feel-good’ films.

Paathshala
In choreographer-turned-producer Ahmed Khan’s film Paathshala, Shahid Kapoor essays the role of a teacher. The film deals with the flaws in our education system. The film is based on a group of troubled young students and will release sometime in February. Shahid Kapoor, who is one of our best dancers, will be seen grooving to some new moves in the film, thanks to Marty, a choreographer who has worked for Michael Jackson.

ANIMATION FILMS

Ab Dilli Door Nahi
Produced and directed by Nikhil Advani, the film traces the journey of four animals from Mumbai to Delhi. Ayesha Takia, Govinda, Urmila Matondkar, Suniel Shetty, Akshaye Khanna and Boman Irani will lend their voices to the character. The film went on the floors in last year and is expected to release in summer this year.

Arjun
Directed by Arnab Chaudhari and produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Arjun is the story of the famous Pandava warrior prince from the days of his youthful innocence to his emergence as a warrior prior to the big battle. The film is scheduled to release in mid-2009.

Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena Version 2.0
Pritish Nandy Communications in association with Motion Pixel Corporation is making the animated drama, Ek Khiladi Ek Haseena Version 2.0. In this animated version of the live-action film the same actors will provide the voiceovers.

Koochie Koochie Hota Hai
The Karan Johan animation film is being made to celebrate the 10th anniversary celebration of his blockbuster hit, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai starring Shah Rukh Khan, Karol and Rani Mukerji. The film’s release is scheduled for August 2009.