Reflections – Is Bollywood only about Kareena and Katrina? : Bollywood News

The other day when I was penning my thoughts on the amazing journey of Katrina Kaif over the years, a thought crossed my mind - 'What is indeed the state of affairs in Bollywood that every second biggie which gets launched has either Kareena Kapoor or Katrina Kaif as their first choice?'. In fact I remember penning a piece around the same lines exactly a year ago - Super six in charge of Bollywood today where the choices, though topped by Kareena and Katrina, were still much wider. There were Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai in close contention for that No. 3 slot while Deepika Padukone and Kangna Ranaut were fighting it out to make their presence felt in Top-5 as well. While the top order remains intact, seems like there is some reshuffle round the corner when it comes to the other slots. This is what leads me to this week's 'Reflections'.

The 'heroines'

Well, the way Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif are battling it out right at the top, one just wishes that it forever stays on the way it is! After all, it is always interesting to see two hardcore professionals making intelligent choices and not allowing the other to nudge past by. With both ladies writing and rewriting records with each of their films, it is apparent that both Kareena as well as Katrina would divide all top projects between them.

So when Kareena goes on to enjoy the super-success of 3 Idiots, Golmaal 3 and Bodyguard in quick succession, Katrina too doesn't make any false moves with Tees Maar Khan being known most for her 'Sheila' act and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara as well as Mere Brother Ki Dulhan turning out to be very good successes. Where Kareeena scores higher though is the fact that each of her aforementioned films managed to top the Rs. 100 crores mark while Katrina is yet to enjoy that tag against her name.

Reflections – Is Bollywood only about Kareena and Katrina?

However, when it comes to getting the top projects, both Kareena as well as Katrina are pretty much neck to neck. Both of them are enjoying a piece of each of the Khans. In the bargain, Shah Rukh Khan (Ra.One, an untitled film with Yash Chopra), Aamir Khan (Dhuaan, Dhoom 3), Salman Khan (Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger) as well as Imran Khan (Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu, Mere Brother Ki Dulhan) are enjoying the best of both worlds with only Saif Ali Khan (Agent Vinod) ensuring that his loyalties stay on with Kareena.

Meanwhile, Kareena has got biggies like Heroine and Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2 under her belt as well, hence ensuring that her 2012 would be as super-eventful as the current year.

Who is the next in line?

The obvious question here is - 'Who is the one R-E-A-L-L-Y challenging Ms. Kapoor and Ms. Kaif here?' A year ago one could immediately point a finger towards Priyanka Chopra. After all she has been quite prolific right through her career and post Fashion and Dostana, it was time for Priyanka to announce that big arrival. She did that as well with quite a few interesting films in her kitty. In fact when Kaminey hit the screens, it was she who got quite some critical acclaim coming her way despite the fact that it was a 'made-to-order' film for Shahid Kapoor.

But call it bad luck with some of her intended blockbusters not quite making the mark that have resulted in Priyanka holding on for a while before she can make that big announcement all over again. What's Your Raashee? and Pyaar Impossible didn't click at the box office while Anjaana Anjaani too did just fine. She (rightly) pegged all her hopes on 7 Khoon Maaf but with the film being director's failure more than anyone else, it was totally understandable that Priyanka felt disheartened.

One still continues to maintain that when it comes to combination of looks and talent, she is blessed with a lethal combination and leave aside Top-3, she could move right up there on the ladder. However, this is where Kareena's long stay in the industry as well as Katrina's golden run gives them further impetus. Moreover, what has certainly not worked in favour of Priyanka is the long gap between 7 Khoon Maaf and Don 2, a film which is all set to be a blockbuster and give Priyanka that much needed box office super success.

As of now Priyanka is doing well by doing a film each with Hrithik Roshan (Agneepath), Ranbir Kapoor (Barfee) and Shahid Kapoor (Teri Meri Kahani). However, the golden four letter word here - KHAN - is missing in her repertoire. Moreover with no chances of a film happening with Akshay Kumar and Yash Raj too having their hands full for all of 2012, Priyanka has to fight this challenge entirely on her own.

Ash's exit eases some competition though

With Aishwarya Rai looking at motherhood, other leading ladies can breathe easy for one more year at the least. Of course things would have been a lot different had she been doing Heroine since it was pretty much that solid hard hitting drama that would have put Ash back in the reckoning after three Bollywood flops in a row - Action Replayy, Guzaarish and Raavan. However, with no new film signed yet and a question mark over when would she eventually come back on the big screen, Ash is certainly not disturbing the good going for Kareena and Katrina in near future.

On the other hand, Kangna is continuing to fight it all out in her own little space. She would be looking at forgetting the Rascals experience pronto while the likes of No Problem, Game and Knock Out can be done away with as well. Also, even though a Double Dhamaal can lend her that much needed success, eventually for her to reach the top; she needs to have more of the likes of Tanu Weds Manu in her repertoire.

Thankfully for her, the volume of films that she picks up doesn't seem to cease. This means even in months to come she has films like Miley Naa Miley Hum, Tezz, I Love New Year, Dedh Ishqiya and Tanu Weds Manu Season 2 lined up. She would be praying though that her success rate stays on to be intact so that these films also lead her to the wish list of top actors in the industry which is not just restricted to Khans but also the likes of Ranbir Kapoor and Imran Khan - two hot-n-happening actors with whom she hasn't worked till date.

The new entrants

Even though Vidya Balan wasn't quite considered as a serious contender for a top position (despite Paa and Ishqiya in her kitty) till a year back, response to whatever has been seen of The Dirty Picture so far has changed the game for the lady. Of course given the kind of persona she carries and the genre of films she works, she can't be seen doing the likes of a Bodyguard or a Mere Brother Ki Dulhan. However, if only she had a massive repertoire of films in her kitty, the lead role of Heroine could well have been served to her on a platter.

On the other hand, Asin is pretty much enjoying her current stint in Bollywood, what with two her three releases managing box office collections of over Rs.100 crores each. With Bol Bachchan as well as Housefull 2 ensuring that she would be the only actress other than Kareena Kapoor who would be scoring centuries whenever they would hit the field, it has been a dream run for Asin, something that filmmakers would be definitely observing.

The one who are Next-Gen superstars

This is where competition intensifies between Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Sonakshi Sinha and Sonam Kapoor. Of course they can't be looking at displacing Kareena and Katrina from the position where they are today, mainly because of the wide difference in experience and the sheer volume of films done by them. But the least they can do is to prepare for their move up in the ladder.

What is disheartening though is the case of Sonam who recently suffered a major setback with Mausam. Needing that big hit flick fast, her eyes would be set on Players to get her back in the reckoning. Deepika Padukone doesn't have to think much though as she has been enjoying a steady stint in Bollywood ever since her impressive debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in Om Shanti Om. Politically correct and not quite belonging to any camps per se; she is happily juggling between Akshay Kumar/John Abraham (Desi Boyz), Saif Ali Khan (Cocktail, Race 2) and even Ranbir Kapoor (Yeh Jawani Hai Deewani).

Ditto for Anushka who has one of the better success rates in the country today, what with Patiala House being her only flop. With a hat trick of successes with Yash Raj and two of her upcoming films (Ladies v/s Ricky Bahl, untitled film opposite Shah Rukh Khan) under the same banner, Anushka is mixing it up well by doing an 'outside' film - Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola (with Ajay Devgn) as well. With good advice coming from her mentors, Anushka has in it to be a force to reckon with in three-four years from now.

On the other hand, a newcomer who could be scaling further heights in similar time frame is Sonakshi Sinha who is actually turning out to be one of the foremost choices when it comes to a new face being looked at as a leading lady in a major biggie opposite a top star. Films like Joker and Rowdy Rathore (both opposite Akshay Kumar), Kick (Salman Khan), Race 2 (John Abraham) and Son of Sardar (Ajay Devgn) are pretty much a testimony of that fact.

It's time to look into the future

Kareena, Katrina, Priyanka, Aishwarya, Deepika, Asin, Anushka, Vidya, Kangna, Sonakshi and Sonam - Choices are still limited for Bollywood filmmakers out there, which means competition is much lesser between the leading ladies when it comes to occupying a slot in Top-10. However, what is important is for No. 2 till No. 10 to do something impressive enough that manages to shuffle Kareena and Katrina who are ruling from the top. With chances being quite bleak that either of the two actresses would end up doing something drastic for a few movies in succession that would displace them from the enviable position that they occupy, the ground is set for the rest to make some intelligent choices and then pray for that massive box office success that brings them in close contention at the least.