Hindi
Films to lookout for in 2014
MUMBAI: As the year 2013 comes to a close, we realise that the year was not really disappointing. We had some really great films that not just did good business but also entertained the audiences. As we usher in the year 2014, we look at the ten films that created the right buzz in 2013 and the chances of them making a blockbuster release looks bright.
Jai Ho
The year is set to start with a blockbuster. Starring Salman Khan, the film that releases on 24 January is going to be high on drama. The actor started promoting the film on Bigg Boss 7 and also cheekily remarked that “it wasn’t the good way to start the promotion”. But we know promotions or no promotions, if the bhai of Bollywood stars in a film, it’s ought to do well!
Gunday
Starring Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra, the film started making noise from the time it was announced. The tongue-in-cheek humour by the two lead actors on the chat show Koffee With Karan has increased the interest around the film even more. A Yash Raj Films venture, the film is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and is set to release on February 14.
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Happy New Year
The film brings back the trio – Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone and Farah Khan, who together created magic with Om Shaanti Om in 2007. With an interesting cast including actors like Sonu sood, Jackie Shroff, Boman Irani among others, the film is set to release in October, 2014.
Biopic on Mary Kom
Biopics on sports stars is the new love of the Indian audience, it seems, at least that is what we get from the way Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was embraced. Now, the coming year is set to see another film featuring a sports star – the life of boxer Mary Kom played by Priyanka Chopra. The sportstar has brought many glories to the country. Hope with a film on her, the film industry gains as well.
Kick
Salman Khan may have missed an Eid release in 2013, but for 2014 Eid, he is all set with Kick. There were a few problems in starting this maiden directorial venture of producer Sajid Nadiadwala, but all’s well when Salman’s the hero and when the film’s releasing during Eid.
2 States
The film is being jointly produced by Karan Johar and Sajid Nadiadwala and is based on Chetan Bhagat’s novel, 2 States: The Story Of My Marriage. Starring Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt, the film has created the right buzz even though not much is known about the film.
PK
So this film brings together the duo of Aamir Khan and Rajkumar Hirani who created magic with 3 Idiots. While the film doing good business is a known fact keeping in mind the past records, the only question is if it will be bigger and better than 3 Idiots. With only few leaked out posters, the film that would release on 6 June has managed to keep the audience’s curiosity intact.
Bang Bang
With Krissh 3, Hrithik Roshan has already proven his mettle. Though the production of Bang Bang has been delayed because of multiple reasons, the film would make its way in 2014 with the actor focusing entirely on the project. The film also stars leggy lass Katrina Kaif.
Highway
The cute-looking Alia Bhatt made everyone take notice of her when she starred in Student of the Year. Now, it’s Imtiaz Ali’s Highway for which she is making news. The film, shot in different parts of India, is being looked forward by many.
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Singham 2
The sequel to the 2012 Devgn blockbuster, Singham, has been postponed a bit because Rohit Shetty got busy with his small screen venture as a host for Fear Factor. However, now everything is in place and the duo are set to create the magic that they created with the Golmaal franchise.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
