What lies beyond the grand New Year bash in Bollywood? Well, this could be the industry's most 'hatke' year, (to borrow a Bollywoodism!) filled as it is with some of the most derring-do performances and the most controversial subjects. It has the thrills of new pairings on-screen and some old friendships being rekindled. Expect some shocking makeovers and some tantalising biopics. harshikaa udasi does a quick scan of what's on the roster. 

 

It's a racy start to the new year with the duo in white, Abbas-Mustan, bringing the multi-starrer Players (January 6) to screens. The film bears the Abbas-Mustan stamp with super stunts, a-thrill-a-minute plot and 'hot' actors, including the likes of Abhishek Bachchan, Sonam Kapoor, Bipasha Basu, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Bobby Deol. 

Hriday Shetty's Chaalis Chauraasi (January 13) is hitting high decibels mainly because of its strong cast-quartet of Naseeruddin Shah, Kay Kay Menon, Atul Kulkarni and Ravi Kishan. The plot is interesting with a police van being the centre piece and the genre is being described as crime comedy. 

But the biggest film in the inaugural month is Agneepath where Dharma Productions brings Hrithik Roshan in the angry young man's avatar as Vijay Dinanath Chauhan of the 1990 film of the same name. Karan Johar has entrusted newbie Karan Malhotra with the direction of this one. Priyanka Chopra, Rishi Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt join Hrithik in the film. And if you were wondering about 'Chikni Chameli,' the song which has become bigger than the film now, Katrina has only that item number! 

 

A common man's film against corruption, here's one that will warm the cockles of your heart. Gali Gali Chor Hai (February 3), starring Akshaye Khanna, Shriya Saran and Mugdha Godse, comes from director Rumi Jaffrey. 

It is followed by Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu (February 10), which has the unusual pair of Imran Khan and Kareena Kapoor, from the Dharma Productions banner to set the tone right at the outset. The story of two diametrically opposite people who get married in a tipsy state and want to annul their marriage may be just what the audiences want around Valentine's Day. For Karan Johar, this is yet another debutant director — Shakun Batra. 

Gautham Menon's Ekk Deewana Tha (February 17), starring Prateik and Amy Jackson, is a remake of the director's own Tamil film, Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa. 

Lovebirds Genelia D'Souza and Riteish Deshmukh make a long-awaited screen appearance with their romantic Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya (February 17). 

The month is a blockbuster one, considering even Saif's home production, starring him and Bebo, Agent Vinod, might see a release too with their wedding reportedly around the same time. 

Madhavan and Bipasha Basu's Jodi Breakers (February 24) features the duo as the ultimate relationship dissolvers till Cupid strikes them! 

Pakistani actor Ali Zafar's next film London Paris New York might also be a February release. 

 

Vidya Balan is expected to deliver another power-packed performance in Sujoy Ghosh's Kahaani. 

Kunal Khemu will play the naïve yet ambitious protagonist in Mahesh Bhatt's survival thriller Blood Money (March 23). 

Priyadarshan's action thriller Tezz (March 23) sees Ajay Devgn and Anil Kapoor come together to rev up the mood. 

Sajid Khan's multi-starrer comedy Housefull 2 (Akshay Kumar, John Abraham, Riteish Deshmukh, Shreyas Talpade, Asin, Zarine Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shazahn Padamsee, Rishi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor and Mithun Chakraborty) hits the screens on April 5. 

There's more to tickle your funny bone with Tusshar Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh's Kyaa Super Kool Hain Hum (April 6) and Bitto Boss (April 20), starring Pulkit Samrat and Amita Pathak, coming from the makers of last year's quiet hit Pyaar Ka Punchnama. 

Vidhu Vinod Chopra's production will bring its first film after 3 Idiots — Ferrari Ki Sawaari (April 27) by Raju Hirani's protégé, Rajesh Mapuskar. 

The month will end with Emraan Hashmi's return in Jannat 2. 

 

A gourmet comedy, Luv Shuv Tey Chicken Khurana, starring Kunal Kapoor, will tantalise your taste buds this summer. 

YashRaj Films will have their first release of the year, Ishaqzaade, starring youngsters Arjun Kapoor and Parineeti Chopra. Expect to see a war of the clans in small town India and love arising from there. This will now be Arjun's launch pad as his 2011 release Virus Diwan has been reportedly put on the backburner. 

 

With this month, Bollywood gets into overdrive. Aamir Khan gets back in full form with two leading ladies by his side — Kareena Kapoor and Rani Mukherji — in Reema Kagti's thriller Talaash. Obviously the film is laden with expectations as the Farhan Akhtar-Ritesh Sidhwani-Aamir Khan trio is getting back together after a decade. 

Akshay Kumar too gets back in full action mode with Rowdy Rathore (remake of the superhit Telugu film Vikramarkudu which was also remade in Tamil as Siruthai, another superhit) under Prabhudeva's tutelage. It shows off the Akshay-Sonakshi Sinha pairing for the first time. 

Karisma Kapoor's comeback vehicle, horror film Dangerous Ishq, might also be released.

Meanwhile, Preity Zinta will release the first movie under her home banner PZNZ Media — Ishkq in Paris, starring herself and French actress Isabelle Adjani. 

 

Starring the challenger to the superstars — Ranbir Kapoor — Barfii is the story of a boy who can neither speak nor hear but who creates an impression wherever he goes. Being described as a Chalu Chaplin movie, Barfii is supposed to be not just Ranbir's most difficult role but also his co-star Priyanka Chopra's most challenging one as she plays a mentally retarded person. Ileana D'Cruz is also part of the film. 

Bol Bachchan (July 6) by Rohit Shetty will also be a July release. While Ajay Devgn, Abhishek Bachchan, Asin and Prachi Desai share screen space in this one, not much is known about the film. 

 

Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif decide to greenlight a YashRaj project, Salman's first ever with the banner. Directed by Kabir Khan, Ek Tha Tiger will be a romantic thriller. 

This month will also see the release of Joker 3D (August 30), featuring Akshay Kumar and Sonakshi Sinha (for the second time this year). The story of a small town that is supposedly invaded by aliens is being directed by Shirish Kunder who says this one is a cool alien comedy. Add to it the 3D factor! 

Raaz 3 (August 31) with Emraan Hashmi, Jacqueline Fernandez and Bipasha Basu ends the month. 

 

There is only one film that stands out this month and that is Madhur Bhandarkar's Heroine. Kareena Kapoor is giving it her all and the director too is out to prove himself after being 'abandoned' by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. Madhur has confessed it is his biggest film till date and that it will let people in on life behind the glamour with all its dirty secrets! 

 

Come November and Shah Rukh Khan is back with his favourite director — veteran Yash Chopra. Expect delicious romantic fare with SRK and Katrina appearing on screen together for the first time. Anushka Sharma will also be romanced by the King Khan. 

Abbas-Mustan are ready to close the year with another film — Race 2 (November 30) starring Saif Ali Khan, John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anil Kapoor and Ameesha Patel. The formula remains the same — fast cars, mind-boggling stunts and sensational skin show. 

Ajay Devgn Ffilms are ready with their next by November — Son of Sardar (November 30) with Ajay himself in the lead and Sonakshi (yet again!) paired with him. The film is reportedly a remake of Telugu super hit Maryada Ramanna. 

 

Sonakshi's fourth film in 2012 and her second with mentor Salman Khan, Dabbang 2, will be ready for release by Christmas. 

Talking points

· Sridevi is making a comeback after 15 years with R Balki's wife Gauri Shinde's English Vinglish (Summer of 2012). Balki is producing the film. 

· Vikramditya Motwane (director of the much-acclaimed Udaan) is back with Lootera, a stylised film set in the 1950s, produced by Balaji Motion Pictures and Phantom. It features Ranveer Singh and Sonakshi Sinha and is Ranveer's first film outside of YashRaj. It is also Sonakshi's fifth film this year. 

· Balaji's Rock The Shaadi starring Abhay Deol and Genelia D'Souza and directed by Navdeep Singh (Manorma Six Feet Under) is already making news for being a zombie movie. Earlier titled Shaadi of the Dead, the morbid name was later changed to a Punjabi one that's more fun! 

· Vishal Bhardwaj's Maatru Ki Bijli Ka Mandola will see Imran Khan's complete makeover. He is undergoing physical training too to look the part. The film is a rustic Rajasthani humorous film. Anushka Sharma pairs with Imran for this one. 

· Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra's official biopic of Milkha Singh called Bhaag Milkha Bhaag will star Farhan Akhtar who is undergoing an extensive training of six months and will start shooting in March. 

· Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2 with Akshay Kumar will also see a 2012 release. 

· Ram Gopal Vama's Department starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt, Rana Daggubati and Anjana Sukhani might be the only Big B release this year. 

· David Dhawan's remake of the 1981 film Chashme Buddoor will star Ali Zafar and Siddharth. 

· Casanova John Abraham strikes in 2012 with I Me Aur Main. His co-stars include Chitrangada Singh, Prachi Desai and Zarina Wahab. 

· John's own production banner JA Entertainment will release Vicky Donor directed by Shoojit Sarcar. A film in which he will not act though. 

· Boman Irani will team up with Farah Khan to act (yes, you heard it) in the film titled Shirin Farhad to be produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and directed by his sister Bela.