New generation, new stars, new wars....

By Lakshmi Balakrishnan

NEW DELHI, APRIL 7. Suspense, action and drama. That was the recipe offered by Bollywood both off and on screen in the year 2000, particularly with Hindi filmdom unveiling the face of Generation Next. Mr. Hrithik Roshan may have won the race hands down and Ms. Kareena Kapoor may look ready to don the No. 1 crown, but don't strike out the rest of the contenders. Not yet. For year 2000 was only a trailer.

If 2000 was the year of fresh faces, this year could well be the litmus test for those who made it as well as those who did not. Even the find of 2000 will need more than ``Hrithik mania'' to draw people to the theatres as both ``Fiza'' and ``Mission Kashmir'' have shown that his presence is not enough to ensure a hit.

To hold on to his superstar status, Roshan Jr. needs one more runaway success that can set the cash registers ringing. While he has an enviable backing of big banners, the expectations from both the industry and the public just add to the pressure on this ``bankable star kid''. The year will see him sharing the screen with Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and Mr. Shah Rukh Khan in ``Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gam'', with ``Yaadein'' and ``Na Tum Jano Na Hum'' being the other two major releases. Ms. Kareena Kapoor faces an equally challenging year. Having proved her acting skills with her maiden venture ``Refugee'', she is expected to do the job her elder sister Karisma has so far done with elan.

And as trailers of Kareena's soon-to-be-released ``Mujhe Kuchch Kehna Hai'' show, the selling point of this film that has been shot partly in Delhi is surely not the ``Jumping Jack'' Jitendra's son, Mr. Tushar Kapoor.

The stakes will be equally high for the junior Bachchan, who, however, will be under less pressure. He may not have had a dream debut like Hrithik, but if his future offerings are anything to go by, then Abhishekh might be the year's surprise package with ``Shararat'', ``Bas Itna Sa Khwab Hai'' and Mr. Anupam Kher's ``Om Jai Jagdish''.

This will also be the first time since ``Silsila'' that the real life Bachchan couple will play reel life partners in Mr. Karan Johar's ``Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gam''. While the Big B will be his age in ``Ek Rishta'', ``Aks'', ``All the Best'' and ``Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gam'', his better half in real life will play Esha Deol's mother in ``Koi Mere Dil Se Poochche''.

And while the unveiling of fresh faces will continue with Ms. Esha Deol and Mr. Tushar Kapoor's arrival on the big screen, their anxiety will be shared equally by an otherwise calm and composed Mr. Aamir Khan, whose first production `Lagaan'' will hit the screens here in June.

Also in the same boat will be Ms. Raveena Tandon for her controversial film ``Daman''. While a lot has been said about whether she deserves the National Award for Best Actress, the final verdict for her second deviation from the regular heroine roles will eventually be delivered by the audience which will have to wait a while for ``Daman'' and the second round of ``star wars'' within Generation Next.

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