The 6 most eagerly awaited Bollywood films of 2022
While 2020 was a near-blank in the movie theatres, 2021 showed a gradual revival of the movie-theatre business with Rohit Shetty’s 'Sooryavanshi', and especially 'Spiderman No Way Home' bringing the audience back into theatres. 2022 has an impressive lineup of potentially explosive blockbusters. Here are the ones that are likely to bring audiences back in the first half of the year.
Gangubai Kathiawadi
Because it’s Sanjay Leela Bhansali. This means something extraordinary. This time Bhansali moves out of his comfort zone.Abandoning the epic opulence of 'Devdas', 'Bajirao Mastani' and 'Padmaavat' he has carved a no-flab slinky and sinewy gangster epic which is not dark and dingy but actually great fun to watch. Alia Bhatt’s career will move to the next level with this. Don’t expect Rajamouli’s RRR to do anything for her career.
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RRR
SS Rajamouli…. Baahubali !!! Do we need to say anything more? This will be the 'Spiderman No Way Home' of 2022, although on the minus side, Ramcharan Teja and NTR Jr, the two lads looming over the lush stunts, have a zero market in the cow belt. But then, who knew Prabhas before 'Baahubali'? Rajamouli’s trademark grandeur and incredible storytelling prowess are the two heroes of this breathlessly awaited film.
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Shamshera
Ranbir Kapoor returns to the screen after a hiatus of almost three years. Was he missed? We shall soon know. Is he convincing as a ferocious dacoit, a role that his super-talented Dad Rishi Kapoor would never have touched with a bargepole? We shall soon know. Will director Karan Malhotra make a hash of it the way he did with the remake of 'Agneepath'?Why is 'Shamshera' in my list of the most awaited films of the year? Because I am told it is not a routine dacoit drama like 'Mera Gaon Mera Desh' or 'Mujhe Jeene Do'. It is raw and real. And there are no galloping horses. Because the Chambal Valley never had any horses.
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Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2
When every Hindi movie was getting flopped at the box office, Kartik Aaryan's 'Bhool Bhulaiya 2' become the biggest opener of the year and the movie's blockbuster run has helped Bollywood in terms of business.
Anees Bazmi’s hilarious film become the third highest-grossing Hindi film of 2022 with an earning of ₹266.88 crores (US$33 million).
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Laal Singh Chadha
Because it is Aamir Khan. And because it is Aamir Khan doing a Tom Hanks in 'Forrest Gump'. I have always thought of Aamir as India’s Hanks,and that’s a huge compliment. Like Hanks, Aamir seldom errs in the selection of his films and roles. 'Laal Singh Chadha' has Aamir reliving the entire history of India,from the Partition in 1947 to the fall of the Babri Masjid. Salman Khan attempted something similar in Bharat and failed. That’s where this Khan steps in.
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Maidaan
According to me Ajay Devgn is the top most box office draw of Bollywood in present times. In 'Maidaan' he plays the legendary football coach Syed Abdul Rahim. All the football matches are played with real footballers from the worldover. The director is Amit Sharma who made the ground-breaking 'Badhaai Ho' in 2019. Sharma is one of the brightest directorial talents of the post-Bhansali generation. This film will do what Kabir Khan’s ’83 couldn’t do to the sports genre.
(Photograph:WION Web Team)