It's Akki's turn now

SRK has proved it. Aamir has, well, taken a big leap. It's Akki's turn now. With RAB NE BANA DI JODI and GHAJINI setting new records at the box-office and emerging true saviours for the strife-torn industry, all eyes are on the next-in-line biggie, CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA.

This film is more crucial for all those associated with it. Nikhil Advani made a tremendous debut with KAL HO NAA HO, but slipped with SALAAM-E-ISHQ. He has to fire the salvo with CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA. Hollywood giant Warner Bros., associated with this film in the capacity of its presenters, need to spread their wings in India and if CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA works -- this being their first biggie in Hindi -- the studio would get the confidence to go all out and try their luck in Bollywood.

Most importantly, CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA is an acid test for Akshay Kumar, whose status is at par with SRK and Aamir. While SRK and Aamir's latest movies are thrashing all previous records at the ticket window, one expects Akki to follow suit. Will CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA supersede these two films?

Going by the trends, CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA is expected to fetch a hurricane-like start when released. There's tremendous hype for the film and soothsayers [most exhibitors this writer spoke to] are predicting a thunder storm at the box-office on January 16, when CHANDNI CHOWK TO CHINA opens.