Old worlds are rebuilt with new faces, and Hindi cinema is always on the lookout for fresh blood to flood the ticket windows. We look at the latest crop of newcomers trying their luck to be audience favourites.
Sooraj Pancholi
Sooraj Pancholi has been in the news for quite some time, albeit in the murky shadow of Jiah Khan’s mysterious death. The son of Aditya Pancholi and Zarina Wahab will be launched in the remake of Subhash Ghai’s Hero which made Jackie Shroff an immediate star in 1983. It will be directed by Nikhil Advani.
Kapil Sharma
A comedian with a massive fan following, Kapil Sharma making a Bollywood debut was foreseeable. His first film was supposed to be produced by Yash Raj Films titled Bank Chor, but he chose to opt out of it. Now his debut will be a comedy film titled Kis Kisko Pyaar Karu, by director duo Abbas Mustan. The film also includes Manjari Fadnis, Simran Kaur Mundi, Elli Avram, Varun Sharma and Supriya Pathak among others.
Athiya Shetty
Suneil Shetty’s daughter, Athiya, will be introduced to filmdom as Sooraj Pancholi’s love interest in the stylised remake of Hero. The film will be produced by Salman Khan.
Harshvardhan Kapoor
Anil Kapoor’s son, Sonam Kapoor’s brother and Arjun Kapoor’s cousin – Harshvardhan Kapoor – will be facing the audience for the first time in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s next, Mirziya. The film is inspired by the tragic love story of Sahiban and Mirza, and is penned by Gulzar. Harshvardhan was an assistant to director Anurag Kashyap earlier.
Pooja Hegde
A former beauty pageant contestant, Pooja already has a successful career down south. But her first release in Bollywood is going to be a big ticket one where she will be paired opposite Hrithik Roshan. The film in question is Ashutosh Gowariker’s period epic, Mohenjo Daro, set against the backdrop of the Indus Valley civilisation. She had to say no to a Mani Ratnam film because of her commitment to this film.
Kunal Kohli
Kunal Kohli is the latest director to join the list of director-turned-actors. He will be seen as the leading man in a romantic comedy titled Phir Se... which he will also be co-directing.
Saiyami Kher
Saiyami Kher, niece of Tanvi Azmi and granddaughter of yesteryears’ leading lady Usha Kiran will be seen as Sahibaan in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s Mirziya. A former model, she will be paired opposite Harshvardhan Kapoor in the film.
Mahira Khan
After making waves in Pakistani soaps and films, Mahira Khan is crossing borders with a dream project. Titled Raees, the film will have Shah Rukh play a Gujarati bootlegger while Mahira will play the role of a Muslim girl. Directed by Rahul Dholakia, the film will also have Nawazuddin Siddiqui in an important role.
Kyra Dutt
Already an established model, Kyra Dutt was recently in news for signing the nudity clause for XXX, a portmanteau film produced by Ekta Kapoor. Directed by Ken Ghosh, it’s been touted as the film that will kick-start the erotic genre in India. Kyra will also be seen in an important role in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Calendar Girls.
Isabel Kaif
Katrina Kaif’s sister, Isabel Kaif is ready for her launch pad, Dr. Cabbie, a romantic comedy that revolves around an Indian immigrant in Canada. Produced by Salman Khan, the film will also have Kunal Nayyar of The Big Bang Theory fame and Vinay Virmani.
Diljit Dosanjh
Diljit Dosanjh, hailed as Punjab’s current superstar, will be making his Bollywood debut with Abhishek Chaubey’s next, Udta Punjab. A gritty crime thriller based on drug trafficking in Punjab, the film will also have Shahid Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and Alia Bhatt.
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