What's new this summer

Subhash K Jha

The coming months will see a slew of newcomers in Hindi films.

Model John Abraham who, until recently, was dismissed as too Anglicised, has been signed on by Vikram Bhatt for his new film, Aitbaar, with Amitabh Bachchan and Bipasha Basu. Abraham starts work on the film next year.

Here's a closer look at the new faces:

March: A Muthu, who introduced Keerthi Reddy in Tera Jadoo Chal Gayaa, showcases two other newcomers, ex-Miss World Yukta Mookhey and model Zulfi Syed in Pyaasa.

Padmini Kolhapure's sibling Tejaswini makes her big screen debut in Anurag Kashyap's controversial Paanch. Also, Ramgopal Varma introduces Vivek Oberoi in Company.

April: Mehul Kumar, who has a reputation of working with established stars, introduces veejay Malaika Arora's sister Amrita Arora in the love story Kitne Door Kitne Paas.

Legendary actress Vyjayanthimala Bali's son Suchindra stars in Rajesh Kumar Singh's Aanch. Like Vivek who is surrounded by formidable acting talent in Company [Mohanlal, Ajay Devgan], Suchindra's debut is buffered by talented character actors like Nana Patekar, Nirmal Pandey, Paresh Rawal, Raghuveer Yadav and Akhilendra Mishra (Lagaan).

May: Arya Babbar (Raj Babbar's son) debuts in Raj Kanwar's Ab Ke Baras opposite debutante Amrita Rao. Babbar's daughter Juhi features opposite singer-turned-actor Sonu Nigam in Raj Babbar's home production Kaash Aap Hamare Hote.

Former child artiste (he played junior Sunny Deol in Betaab), Sonu is all set to make his debut as leading man in Raj Kumar Kohli's multistarrer Jaani Dushman: Ek Anokhi Kahani. A technically superior remake of Kohli's Naagin, Sonu says he has been well presented among the bevy of stars including Sunny Deol, Akshay Kumar and Suneil Shetty.

The youngest of the Reddy sisters [models Meghna and Sushma] Sameera will lead with director-turned-actor Sohail Khan in Maine Dil Tujhko Diya.

After acting on stage and Marathi films, filmmaker Mahesh Manjrekar and singer Lucky Ali, who worked in Shyam Benegal's Trikaal form part of an impressivle ensemble cast in Sanjay Gupta's Indian adaptation of Reservoir Dogs, Kaante.

Filmmakers, Inc: The first half of this year also witnesses fresh directors including Ravi Shankar, Mani Shankar and K S Adhiyaman with Mulaqat, 16 December and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam respectively.

Writer Anurag Kashyap makes his directorial debut in Paanch while well known Gujarati theatre director Vipul Shah turns feature film director in Aankhen.

Finally, there's ad filmmaker Arjun Sablok's film, Na Tum Jaano Na Hum,starring Hrithik Roshan and Esha Deol.

Also see:
Fresh Faces-2002
Fresh Blood