/> Singh Is Kinng has cracked the boxoffice. Big time. It is the first hit since Border with a Sardarji as a hero although this isn't first film where a Sardarji plays a Sikh hero.

Years ago a Punjabi hero Dharmendra got into a turban in Jeevan Mrityu. Two decades later Sunny Deol played a Sardarji in J.P. Dutta's Border and later in Rahul Rawail's Jo Bole So Nihal.

That Akshay who's a diehard fan of Dharamji should reprise a Sikh's role is a measure of Akshay's newly-found status as the coconut he-man who's a combination of muscles and heart. He gets tough only with the bad guys.

The turban is all set to make another grand entry into the theatres next year when Ranbir Kapoor (the leading man of this week's big release Bachna Ae Haseenon) returns as a Sadarji in Yashraj Films' Rocket Singh Salesman Of The Year. In spite of being a Punjabi (and therefore well-versed with the ways of the Sikh world) Ranbir will be attending intense workshops before playing Rocket Singh.

Interestingly, the one Sardarji in our industry, Kunal Kapoor is a Mona (clean-shaven) Sardar. And when Kunal played a Sardar in Milan Luthria's Hat Trick he played him as a clean-shaven one.

Even more interestingly almost everyone who plays a Sardar in Singh Is Kinng from the talented Yashpal Sharma to Sonu Sood to Javed Jaffry to Manoj Pahwa, is not a Sikh in real life.

The one principal actor in Singh Is Kinng who does NOT play a Sardarji is Ranvir Shorey. And he has much to be embarrassed about it. After a sterling performance in Ugly Aur Pagli, Ranvir played Katrina's nerdy suitor in Singh Is Kinng.

Not only that, the proficient actor also ended up making an utter fool of himself in last week's frozen turkey Good Luck in a corny cameo supporting producer Keshu Ramsay's son Aryaman who made his debut as Akshay Kumar's brother two years ago in Raj Kumar Santoshi's Bachchan starrer Family and is today reduced to being part of a cheesy d-grader.

Ranvir says it's a question of his paapi pet. I say, damn the belly. Where was your brain when you signed these brainless films? Why would Ranvir want to take the Ranbir route?

And if he does he can only end up being on the wrong side of the fence. Ranbir has a lot to be nervous about. His second release has opened yesterday.

Outwardly Bachna Ae Haseenon looks like a foolproof project. It's got the Saawariya star surrounded by three glamorous women. But guess what a superstitious part of the industry is saying?

Yashraj Films made the biggest mistake by cutting out Katrina Kaif's track in Bachna Ae Haseenon. While the three other ladies Bipasha, Deepika and Minissha are part of the plot, director Siddharth Anand decided not to shoot the portion with Katrina since the film would have become too long.

That leaves out the industry's hottest luck mascot. From Namaste London to Welcome to Race and now Singh Is Kinng, Katrina Kaif has had an unbroken string of super-hits.

And the two lucky 'K's in her name have nothing to do with. If, God Forbid Bachna... doesn't work, the blind believers will bellow against Katrina's expulsion from the script.

But we must not forget the Star Of The Week. No doubt Akshay Kumar in Singh Is Kinng is the star of the week. Playing the disarming ingenuous do-gooder busybody Sardarji who leaves his village to go to Australia, Akshay Kumar gives a reined-in endearing and thoroughly enjoyable performance.