Abbas-Mastan's action thriller 'Race' has set the mood and Yash Raj Film's first release of the year, 'Tashan', seems set to reap the dividends. Experts say that the most awaited film of the year will keep the audience on the edges of their seats.

'The highlights of the film are its star cast and the packaging. It is surely going to rock,' Saurabh Varma, chief marketing officer Reliance Entertainment, told on phone from Mumbai.

The action thriller stars Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor and is directed by Krishna Acharya. The film will have its worldwide release Friday.

Vikas Mohan, editor of Mumbai-based trade magazine Supercinema, said: 'This is a perfect time to release the film. The holidays are starting, so people will throng the cinema halls.'

After a long time Akshay has teamed up with Saif in a film. The duo had worked together in Yash Raj's 'Yeh Dillagi' for the first time in 1994 and later featured in the hit flick 'Khiladi'.

With four hits under his belt in last year alone, Akshay is considered a bigger and more bankable name now and with his versatile performances Saif too has stronger box office prospects.

However, many feel Saif and Kareena pair would be the main highlight of the film, but Mohan differs: 'People will certainly come to see Saif and Kareena. But don't forget that the film also has Akshay, who is a bankable actor. He gave four hits last year.'

The audience, as well as the exhibitors, are eagerly awaiting the release of 'Tashan'.

The film is expected to have a good start, said Mohan and added, 'The initial earnings of the films are so good these days that most of the filmmakers recover their investments. Being a Yash Raj production, 'Tashan' will get good initials. It is a commercial film, so it will work in every centre.'

Just like 'Race', censor board has given U/A certificate to this film as well.

The story of the film goes like this:

Jimmy Cliff (Saif Ali Khan), a cool call centre executive, Bachchan Pande (Akshay Kumar), a desi-wannabe gangster and Pooja (Kareena Kapoor) are thrown together and embark on a journey to explore the spectacular India, a journey that alters the course of their lives.

And to top it all there is the evil eye of Bhaiyyaji (Anil Kapoor), a maverick gangster who enjoys killing people as much as he enjoys speaking English.

Keeping up with the Yash Raj tradition, the trailer of their next film 'Bachna Ae Haseeno', will also be unveiled with 'Tashan'.