Saif Ali Khan is a safe bet this year!

By Joginder Tuteja, Bollywood Hungama News Network

Months after the release of Om Shanti Om and Welcome, a film has managed to take a stupendous opening at the box office. Race, the film which Bollywood was looking forward to after a relative lean 2008 (that only had Jodhaa Akbar, has got audience back into the theaters.

The film has worked all over, whether A, B or C centers, and is drawing all segments of audience with family crowds as well as student community thronging the theaters. In addition, Race has turned out to be one of those few films which has broken single screens v/s multiplex audience and taken an exceptional opening all over.

No wonder, Saif Ali Khan is on cloud nine as he, along with Bipasha Basu, has been appreciated most for his performance. With a solid success under his belt, Saif is now turning out to be the most versatile of the top lot after experimenting with Being Cyrus (dark), Omkara (villain) and Ta Ra Rum Pum (candy floss).

Saif has firmly established a quartet of Khans now which was earlier restricted to Shah Rukh, Aamir and Salman. With Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan, we have six most saleable actors in Bollywood now who can afford to have a film run completely on their shoulders even if they have a solo hero release.

With great expectations from him, Saif Ali Khan's four upcoming films in 2008 are being looked at with great interest. Here are the reasons why:

Tashan

Just one week into its promotion and Tashan is already creating amazing buzz. And why not? After all it has super success written all over with names like Aditya Chopra, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Vishal and Shekhar involved. With the film's punch line - The ishtyle, the goodluck, the pharmoola - managing to throw quite a punch, the film is said to have an unabashed entertainment quotient with a holds-no-bar approach towards making commercial cinema.

Kunal Kohli's next

Absolutely nothing is known about this project, not even the title. Still, one thing which is clear is that there are fantasy elements in this film, courtesy Rani Mukherjee's fairy act. Director Kunal Kohli and Saif Ali Khan had given a new lease of life to each other when they came together last in Hum Tum. This time around they also have Amisha Patel for company. Arriving this summer, this film is set as a mandatory candy floss entertainer from the house of Yash Raj Films.

Roadside Romeo

So what if the only thing we get to see (or rather hear) of Saif in Roadside Romeo is his voice! He still has Kareena for company and as a dog and bitch (in Saif's own words), it is going to be quite some pairing at work. Though one wonders if actor turned director Jugal Hansraj would indeed be able to come up with an animation film which would be able to match international standards, Yash Raj Films' backing makes one confident of the project. Arriving this Diwali, the film is being pitched as a festive family entertainer.

Imtiaz Ali's next

Jab Imtiaz Met Saif and also roped in Deepika Padukone, magic to hona hi hai! Yet untitled, this is one of the most exciting projects of the year and already announced as a Christmas release. It is said to be yet another 'different' yet entertaining piece of cinema from Imtiaz Ali who has defied stereotype twice in Jab We Met and Socha Na Tha. With Saif also producing the film and looking at pushing the envelope, audiences won't settle down for anything less than extraordinary. Expect a grand finale to 2008 with the film's release!

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