Post the success of biopics like ‘Neerja’, ‘Dangal’, ‘Padman’, ‘Raazi’, ‘Parmanu’ and historical and period films like ‘Baahubali’ and ‘Padmaavat’, Bollywood seems to have dropped the pen and pick up stories that are already available in the bookshelves or on the internet. So let us look at the list of upcoming releases –

1. ‘Sanju’ – Ranbir Kapoor as Sanjay Dutt

© Fox Star Studios

Ranbir Kapoor has emulated Sanjay Dutt in every aspect including his mannerisms and physical looks. Hope this time, Rajkumar Hirani’s film plays a major relief in Ranbir’s career and the audience gives him his well-deserved Jaadu ki Jhappi on 29th June 2018.

2. ‘Soorma’ – Diljit Dosanjh as Sandeep Singh

© Sony Pictures Releasing

Diljit Dosanjh as Sandeep Singh looks promising in Shaad Ali’s ‘Soorma’. It looks like another ‘Sultan’, where the sport has changed from wrestling to hockey. We have to wait until 13th July to find more.

3. ‘Gold’ – Akshay Kumar as Balbir Singh

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Expected to release on Independence Day, Reema Kagti-directed ‘Gold’ takes us on the journey of India’s first Gold win at the Olympics.

4. ‘Manikarnika: The Queen Of Jhansi’-  Kangana Ranaut as Rani Lakshmibai

© Zee Studios

Kangana Ranaut as Rani Lakshmibai looks promising after Sushmita Sen’s dream project never took off. It would be interesting to see her in this brave avatar after playing intense and funny characters in ‘Fashion’ and ‘Queen’ respectively.

5. ‘Super 30’ – Hrithik Roshan as Anand Kumar

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With ‘Super 30’, Vikas Bahl also enters into the biopic zone with Anand Kumar’s Super 30 class of IITians. Classes are opening in cinemas on 26th January 2019.

6. ‘Kesari’ – Akshay Kumar

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Starring Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra, ‘Kesari’ is based on the Battle of Saragarhi in which an army of 21 Sikhs fought against 10,000 Afghans in 1897. Releasing on Holi, i.e. March 20, 2019.

7. Saina Nehwal untitled biopic – Shraddha Kapoor

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While we have seen Shraddha Kapoor preparing for her role as Saina Nehwal and also meeting her family members at Hyderabad, this Amole Gupte film is yet to have a name as well as a release date.

8. ‘Salute’ – Shah Rukh Khan as Rakesh Sharma

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Based on astronaut Rakesh Kumar, ‘Salute’ is rumored to feature Shah Rukh Khan and Kareena Kapoor in a space adventure for the first time. The film is yet to go on the floors.

9. ‘Mogul’ – Akshay Kumar as Gulshan Kumar

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Based on T Series founder Gulshan Kumar, Subhash Kapoor’s film will have Akshay Kumar as the lead. Not much is known as the film is still yet to go on the floors.

10. ‘Gully Boy’ – Ranveer Singh

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Based on the lives of rappers Vivian Fernandes aka Divine and Naved Shaikh aka Naezy known for their song “Mere Gully Mein” in Mumbai, this Zoya Akhtar-directed film stars the energetic Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. The rap begins on 14th February 2019.

Other Films

11. ‘1983’ – Ranveer Singh as Kapil Dev releasing on 5th April 2019

12. ‘Panipat’ – Sanjay Dutt, Arjun Kapoor, Kriti Sanon to release on 6 December 2019

13. ‘Rannbhoomi’ – Starring Varun Dhawan to release on Diwali 2020

14. Vikram Batra untitled biopic – Sidharth Malhotra

15. Abhinav Bindra untitled biopic – Harshvardhan Kapoor

16. Shakeela untitled biopic- Richa Chaddha

17. ‘Shamshera’ – Ranbir Kapoor

P.S. – Kalpana Chawla’s biopic has not seen the light since Jean-Pierre Harrison, her husband, has not granted the rights to any filmmaker. However, it still remains one biopic that we wish to see someday. Hope Jean gives the nod.

But, let’s ask ourselves as an audience – Do we really need so many biopics/period films?

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It is good to bring inspiring stories on the silver screen but bringing it in heaps gives the impression of a biopic fest or period mela. Such a trend is not a good one primarily for three reasons –

1. First, everyone knows the true story and there is no excitement or suspense factor in this genre

2. Secondly, such biopics are altered and manipulated to play to the masses 

3. With every major actor doing one or the other biopic, it looks like they and production houses are looking only to play safe and not take any risks by bringing something new on the table in terms of content.

Either way, a biopic is not a foolproof business model as there have been major disappointments like ‘Haseena Parkar’, ‘Daddy’, ‘Simran’, ‘Mohenjo Daro’ and ‘Omerta’, which hardly enjoyed more than a week of theatrical run.

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If periodic films or biopics continue to be produced in such a manner, the new screenwriters will never find a voice and creativity shall soon be lost. Bollywood needs to up their game and brew new content.

Nevertheless, we have a breath of fresh air lined up with films like ‘Happy Phir Bhaag Jaayegi’, ‘Fanne Khan’, ‘Manmarziyaan’, ‘Sui Dhaaga’, ‘Thugs of Hindostan’, ‘Zero’, ‘Kalank’ and ‘Brahmastra’ – which are different in their own league.

‘Race 3’, the latest entry to the Race franchise has got lot bigger in terms of star presence and production values. But will this magnanimity help the film? Yes entirely because of Salman Khan’s presence. Though the movies in the Race franchise are a multi-starrer affair, it would be rightful to tag Remo D Souza’s ‘Race 3’ as a Salman Khan film, as he will be the sole reason that masses will turn up to the theatres.

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Remo D Souza has never tried the thriller genre and has only made 3 films so far – ‘ABCD’, ‘ABCD 2’ and ‘A Flying Jatt’. While the ABCD series stood in his comfort zone, the last one being his first chance at the superhero genre was a disaster the box office which even Tiger Shroff could not make it fly. Now Remo is trying his hand at the thriller genre with ‘Race 3’ and took the charge from Abbas Mastaan who are masters of this genre – ‘Baazigar’, ‘Aitraaz’, ‘Tarzan’, ‘Race’, ‘Race 2’ and a few more. 

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While Remo D Souza has its own style of direction with ‘Race 3’, the trailer and the songs looks quite unpromising. Further, his love with 3D technique looks forced and misunderstood. 

The only reason why ‘Race 3’ will fly and get a good box office opening is because of Salman Khan’s starry presence. If not for Salman, neither Daisy Shah or Bobby Deol would have seen themselves on the silver screen again in this grand fashion.

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On the other hand with innumerous trolls floating across social media, ‘Race 3’ is clearly not what fans had expected in the future of the franchise –  the boldness quotient, twists and turns in the action-revenge drama and the wonderful songs from the album. All of these ingredients seem to be missing to create that spark in ‘Race 3’ and the major missing is Saif Ali Khan with that Abbas Mastaan touch. 

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Sometimes I wonder what the writers were smoking while scripting ‘Race 3’, especially the dialogue writer. From Saqib Saleem saying “I am so sick of this sikko” to Salman’s “Family” dialogue, you know how cringe worthy it is. 

No matter how ‘Selfish’, the song and the film looks, Bhai fans will show up in huge numbers. The producers will go to the bank and say to all those trollers, “Our business is our business, none of your business.”