The Film: Aankhen
Starring: Amitabh Bachchan, Sushmita, Akshay, Bipasha, Paresh Rawal
Director: Vipul Shah

It’s now time for the high and mighty talks of Amitabh Bachchan’s supposedly disappointing performance in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham to come to an end. The fever is finally over and 2002 has finally begun. Surely enough, much like last year, Bachchan has proven that he will not be left far behind even if he has been designated as past his prime. The film is Aankhen- A Dangerous Game , once titled All the Best and now wishing all the best to those that contend to challenge it at the box office, that which includes Hrithik Roshan’s Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage.

This is director Vipul Shah’s first film. Last year saw many fresh directors setting trends in Bollywood, Rakesh Mehra, Farhan Akhtar, Rajat Mukherji to name a few. Irrespective of the box office outcome of their films, their works were highly appreciated and to a major extent set standards for Bollywood. It’s clear that there seems to be certain raw-ness in a fresh director’s work, which gives us high hope that this fresh mind will give us something to die for.

After AKS, we will finally see Amitabh in a negative role again, that too with Kaante to follow. Aks may have failed at the box office but it surely had Amitabh’s fans craving for more. As a bank robber, something a bit more conventional than a person possessed by a dead spirit, Amitabh’s character is bound to appease his fans and the general audience much more without having them say,What the hell was that.

Of course, there is Paresh Rawal. Arguably the most intriguing of the cast members he has been touted as the surprise packet of the film. We all know he’s a scene stealer , now its time to see him at work.

Amitabh Bachchan is a powerful and reputed bank manager. Much like the man in real life, he is very fervent about his work and everyone involved. Amitabh is fired when he learns that the employees at the bank have been robbing the bank and their customers under the table and decides that he should punish them himself.

So begins the game, the dangerous game that is. Amitabh embarks on his journey to avenge the bank by robbing them himself. This would prove easy since he once worked there himself. In order to do this successfully he takes up the aide of three men, Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal and Arjun Ramphal.

After sizzling the screen in Ajnabee, Bipasha and Akshay will pair up again. Sushmita is paired up with Arjun Ramphal and Paresh rides solo. What more can someone ask for? A well made film of course. Given the latest trends in Bollywood, producers and directors themselves seem to be losing touch of important things in making a good film (irrelevant of box office success). Let’s hope that Vipul Shah hasn’t or else he’ll have the industry, fans and critics alike wishing him All the Best.