Billion Dollar Game: How much money is riding on Bollywood stars in 2015?

Billion Dollar Game: How much money is riding on Bollywood stars in 2015?
Monday, January 05, 2015 15:00 IST
With big money riding on almost all the A-listers as well as fresh-faced actors this year, Bollywood promises to be nothing less than a battle ground

Bollywood is no longer just about the superstars and their films. The burgeoning breed of young actors has also made its presence felt in the last few years, bagging big banner projects and luring the audience to theatres almost as much as their industry seniors do. Last year saw a variety of films catering to the fan base of the top guns as well as the emerging stars. And expectedly, many of their films made it to the 100-crore club too. The film industry has a pretty exciting line-up for 2015 and, no prizes for guessing, big money is riding on the seasoned as well as fresh-faced actors. hitlist takes a look at the Bollywood economics of this year...

Ranbir Kapoor

Big bet:
Rs 275crore
Apart from a cameo in 'pk', Ranbir Kapoor was not seen on screen at all in 2014. But, he seems set to make up for with four back-to-back films this year, although in the first one, 'Roy', he would be seen in a minor role. He will follow it up with Anurag Kashyap's much-awaited 'Bombay Velvet' and then his home production 'Jagga Jasoos' in which he will romance his rumoured ladylove, Katrina Kaif, after nearly seven years. Ranbir will end of 2015 with Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha' co-starring with his ex flame Deepika Padukone.

Akshay Kumar

Big bet:
Rs 300crore
Unlike the three Khans, Akshay is known to go for multiple releases every year. In 2015, his fans will get to see him on the big screen four times - 'Baby', 'Brothers' (both action dramas), 'Gabbar' and 'Singh Is Bling' (both masala movies).

Priyanka Chopra

Big bet:
Rs 250crore
PeeCee has two releases lined up this year viz. Zoya Akhtar's 'Dil Dhadakne Do' and Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani'. Priyanka will play a contemporary character as Ranveer's sister in 'Dil...' and as Ranveer Singh (Bajirao)'s wife in the epic romance. She will also turn producer with Madhur Bhandarkar's 'Madamji'.

Deepika Padukone

Big bet:
Rs 200crore
The leggy actress has some interesting films lined up this year as well. In 'Piku', she has been paired with Irrfan and will play daughter to Amitabh Bachchan. Interestingly, she will compete with herself during the X-mas week with 'Bajirao Mastani' (her second with Bhansali) and 'Tamasha' scheduled to release together. She stars with alleged beau Ranveer Singh in the former and ex Ranbir Kapoor in the latter.

Katrina Kaif

Big bet:
Rs 200crore
She had just one release, 'Bang Bang', last year, but will be seen in two films this year - Kabir Khan's 'Phantom', Anurag Basu's 'Jagga Jasoos'. While the first one stars Saif Ali Khan, the other has Ranbir Kapoor. Kat will also shoot for Abhishek Kapoor's 'Fitoor' with Aditya Roy Kapur this year.

Ranveer Singh

Big bet:
Rs 200 crore
He has two huge releases this year, both being as different as chalk and cheese. He will make a June outing with Zoya Akhtar's 'Dil Dhadakne Do', a light-hearted family drama, and return to the 70mm frame during Christmas as Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Bajirao Mastani', a period romance in which he essays the role of a king.

Salman Khan

Big bet:
Rs 200 crore
Like last year, Salman will again have two releases this year and on festive occasions. He will be seen opposite Kareena Kapoor in Kabir Khan's 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' slated for an Eid release. Sooraj Barjatya's 'Prem Ratan Dhan Payo', on the other hand, will have a Diwali release.

Anushka Sharma

Big bet:
Rs 200 crore
Her last release PK proved to be a blockbuster and the coming year also looks quite promising for the actress. She will be seen in three films, including her home production 'NH10' on women safety and crimes against them. Then there is 'Dil Dhadakne Do' and 'Bombay Velvet', in which she essays the role of a jazz singer.

Kareena Kapoor-Khan

Big bet:
Rs 100 crore
The Kapoor girl, much like her hubby Saif Ali Khan, will have just one release, 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan'. The actress is said to be working out her dates for 'Udta Punjab' but apparently not share a single scene with her ex beau Shahid Kapoor this year.

Varun Dhawan

Big bet:
Rs 100 crore
The young actor, who has mostly been seen as a loverboy so far, will have a sort of an image makeover this year with Sriram Raghvan's thriller 'Badlapur' in which his character has many shades of gret. Then Remo D'Souza's film 'Any Body Can Dance 2' will feature him as a young dancing sensation alongside Shraddha Kapoor.

Sidharth Malhotra

Big bet:
Rs 100 crore
A versatile actor, Sid was a goofy geek in 'Hasee Toh Phasee' and a serious guy in 'Ek Villain' last year. But this year, he does not have a solo hero project and will feature in 'Brothers', an official remake of 'Warriors', in which Akshay Kumar has been cast as his big brother.

Emraan Hashmi

Big bet:
Rs 100 crore
He has an international project titled 'Tigers' with Oscar winner Danis Tanovic in which he will depict a real-life character. After it releases in March, he will follow it up with a science thriller Mr X and a romantic drama 'Hamari Adhuri Kahani' with Vidya Balan.

Saif Ali Khan

Big bet:
Rs 60 crore
2014 was not kind to Saif as both his films 'Humshakals' and 'Happy Ending' did not do well at the box office. This time around, he will be seen only in Kabir Khan's 'Phantom', an action flick, with Katrina Kaif.

Shahid Kapoor

Big bet:
Rs 60 crore
Shahid had a good year as his only film Haider helped him garner many accolades. This year, too, he has just Vikas Bahl's 'Shaandar' in which his half-sister Sana is making her acting debut. Incidentally, his father Pankaj Kapur is also part of this film.

Alia Bhatt

Big bet:
Rs 60crore
She had an eventful 2014 with three releases 'Highway', '2 States' and 'Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania'. Looks like she is taking it easy this year and will be seen in a single film opposite Shahid Kapoor. Titled 'Shaandar', the love story is helmed by Vikas Bahl.

Shah Rukh Khan

Big bet:
Rs 70 crore
For the third consecutive year, SRK will have one release this year - that is, not counting the two cameos he did in 2014. 'Fan' will mark his reunion with Aditya Chopra after a long gap and will be directed by Maneesh Sharma. The actor will have a double role, as the superstar and as his fan. Though the film has gone on the floors, the makers are yet to finalise the leading lady for Shah Rukh.

Giving it a miss this year are...
Parineeti Chopra
Post a couple of duds like 'Daawat-E-Ishq' and 'Kill Dil', Pari has not signed any film so far. She may only seen in commercials and at events but not on the big screen.

Aamir Khan
Known to work on one film at a time, he is yet to start work for his new project 'Dangal' in which he plays a wrestler. The film is slated for a May 2016 release.

Ajay Devgn
He is a taking a break from films this year to devote time to his home production, 'Shivaay', as actor-director. Sayesha, the grand niece of yesteryear actress Saira Banu, has been cast opposite him. Reportedly, Nicole Kidman has also been approached for the film.

Hrithik Roshan
The actor will begin prepping for Ashutosh Gowariker's 'Mohenjo Daro' and wrap it up only by the end of this year.

Aditya Roy Kapur
His fans will have to wait for another year to see Aditya on screen with Abhishek Kapoor having announced that 'Fitoor', which also stars Katrina Kaif and Rekha, will hit the marquee next year.
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